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16 October 25, 10:24
Quote:We’re excited to announce VMware Workstation 25H2 and VMware Fusion 25H2, the latest updates to our desktop hypervisors. These releases introduce a new versioning model, deliver new features, and expand support for the latest operating systems and hardware — all designed to make virtualization more seamless, powerful, and up-to-date.
A Clearer Versioning Model
Staying current with your tools should be simple. With calendar versioning, it’s now easier to understand when your release was published and plan upgrades accordingly.
We’re moving away from traditional version numbers (e.g., Workstation 17.6.x, Fusion 13.6.x) and adopting a new naming format — 25H2 — that reflects the year (2025) and the half of the year (H2). This provides consistency across releases and ensures clarity for customers.
Key New Features
The 25H2 release brings new tools and capabilities that simplify automation, enhance compatibility, and make day-to-day tasks faster and more reliable.- dictTool (Workstation & Fusion)
A new command-line utility that allows customers to inspect and edit VMware configuration files (.vmx, preferences). This provides more flexibility and automation for advanced users — a capability that was highly requested by our community.
- USB 3.2 Support (Workstation & Fusion)
Faster data transfers and improved compatibility with modern USB devices.
- Hardware Version 22 (Workstation & Fusion)
Ensures virtual machines (VMs) take advantage of the latest hardware capabilities for improved performance and compatibility.
- Hyper-V/WHP Detection (Workstation only)
Helps to identify the VM’s running mode in Workstation by clearly showing Hyper-V/WHP status.
Expanded CPU and OS Support
Running the latest workloads and platforms is critical for today’s users. Workstation and Fusion 25H2 expand CPU, host, and guest OS compatibility so you can confidently virtualize on the newest technologies.- New CPU Support (Workstation): Intel Lunar Lake, Arrow Lake, and Meteor Lake.
- New Guest Operating Systems:
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Fedora Linux 42
- openSUSE Leap 16.0 (RC)
- SUSE Linux 16 (Beta)
- Debian 13
- Oracle Linux 10
- VMware ESX 9.0 (Workstation: general, Fusion: Intel systems only)
- macOS Tahoe (Fusion: Intel systems only)
- New Host Operating Systems:
- Workstation: RHEL 10, Fedora Linux 42, openSUSE Leap 16.0 (RC), SUSE Linux 16 (Beta), Debian 13
- Fusion: macOS Tahoe (Intel and Apple Silicon)
Bug Fixes and Improvements
25H2 also delivers important refinements that make the platforms more stable, secure, and user-friendly. These fixes address common customer pain points across both Workstation and Fusion.- Security fixes across both Workstation and Fusion.
- Accessibility enhancements to improve usability.
- Workstation-specific fixes:
- Resolved UI issues on Windows with resizing and window controls.
- Optimized Linux support bundles for easier handling.
- Reduced excessive logging by the VMware Authorization Service (vmauthd) in Windows Event Viewer.
- Option to discard VM suspend states.
- Fixed Linux full-screen crash and Intel GPU 3D acceleration issues.
- Fusion-specific fixes:
- Resolved dead key input issues.
- Fixed USB “Plug in Action” settings persistence.
VMware Workstation & Fusion 25H2: Embracing Calendar Versioning and New Features
VMware Workstation Pro 25H2 | 14 OCT 2025 | Build 24995812
Downloads
Log in to the Broadcom Support Portal and download the latest version of VMware Workstation for Windows and Linux.
VMware Workstation Pro is now free for commercial, educational, and personal use. You no longer require a license key.
VMware Workstation Pro 25H2 Release Notes