VMware Shared Folders: Setup, Usage, and Troubleshooting Guide

VMware Workstation makes it easy to run another operating system inside a virtual machine, but moving files between the host computer and guest operating system can sometimes be inconvenient. Shared folders solve this problem by allowing a guest operating system to access selected folders stored on the host.

Instead of repeatedly copying files through USB drives, network shares, or cloud storage, you can create a shared folder and access it directly from the virtual machine.

This guide explains how VMware Workstation shared folders work, how to set them up, where to find them, how to use them, and what to do when they stop working.

What Are Shared Folders in VMware Workstation?

A VMware Workstation shared folder is a directory on the host computer that is made accessible to a virtual machine.

For example, suppose your Windows host has:

C:\VM-Shared

You can configure VMware Workstation to share this directory with an Ubuntu virtual machine.

The guest operating system can then access files stored in that folder without requiring a separate network file-sharing service.

Shared folders are commonly used for:

• Moving files between host and guest
• Sharing installers and software packages
• Accessing documents from both operating systems
• Software development and testing
• Virtual machine administration
• Sharing scripts and configuration files
• Transferring screenshots and logs

How VMware Shared Folders Work

Shared folders depend on integration between VMware Workstation and the guest operating system.

The host directory is configured in the virtual machine’s settings. VMware then exposes that directory to the guest through VMware’s guest integration components.

For many supported guest operating systems, this functionality relies on VMware Tools or the corresponding guest tools package.

The basic process looks like this:

Host folder → VMware Workstation → VMware guest integration → Guest operating system

This means that simply selecting a folder in VMware Workstation may not be enough. The guest operating system must also have the necessary VMware components installed and working.

Also Read: How the Hosts File Works and How to Edit It Correctly

Requirements for VMware Shared Folders

Before configuring a shared folder, check the following:

• VMware Workstation is installed and working correctly.
• The virtual machine is supported by your VMware Workstation version.
• VMware Tools or the appropriate guest integration package is installed.
• The host folder exists.
• You have permission to access the host folder.
• The virtual machine is configured to allow shared folders.

If any of these components are missing, the shared folder may not appear inside the guest.

How to Enable Shared Folders in VMware Workstation

The exact interface can vary slightly between VMware Workstation versions, but the general process is similar.

Step 1: Shut Down or Suspend the Virtual Machine

For the cleanest configuration, shut down the virtual machine before changing hardware or integration settings.

You can also configure some settings while the VM is powered off.

Step 2: Open Virtual Machine Settings

Select your virtual machine in VMware Workstation.

Open:

VM > Settings

You should see the virtual machine’s hardware and configuration options.

Step 3: Open Shared Folders

Look for Shared Folders under the VM settings.

If the feature is disabled, enable it.

Depending on your VMware Workstation version, you may see options such as:

• Always enabled
• Enabled until next power off or suspend
• Disabled

For a shared folder that you want to use regularly, select the appropriate persistent option.

Step 4: Add a Shared Folder

Click Add and follow the wizard.

You will normally need to select:

1. The folder on the host
2. A name for the shared folder
3. Whether the folder should be enabled
4. Whether the guest should have read-only access

For example:

Host path: C:\VM-Shared
Share name: VM-Shared

The share name is the name VMware presents to the guest.

Step 5: Start the Virtual Machine

Start the guest operating system after saving the configuration.

If VMware Tools is installed and the shared-folder service is functioning correctly, the folder should become available inside the guest.

Also Read: What Are Windows Log Files and Why They Matter for Server Management

How to Access VMware Shared Folders in Windows Guest

If your guest operating system is Windows, shared folders may be available through Windows Explorer.

Open:

File Explorer → This PC

Depending on the VMware configuration and guest tools version, the shared folder may appear through VMware’s shared-folder integration.

You can also try accessing the VMware shared-folder namespace using a path similar to:

\\vmware-host\Shared Folders

The exact presentation can depend on the installed VMware Tools version.

Mapping a Shared Folder as a Drive

If you frequently use a VMware shared folder, mapping it as a network drive can make access more convenient.

In File Explorer:

1. Right-click This PC.
2. Select Map network drive.
3. Choose a drive letter.
4. Enter the VMware shared-folder path.
5. Enable reconnect options if appropriate.
6. Finish the setup.

This gives the shared folder a drive letter that can be used like other storage locations.

How to Access VMware Shared Folders in Ubuntu

Linux guests require the appropriate VMware guest integration components.

On Ubuntu, depending on the release and VMware environment, this may involve open-vm-tools and its desktop integration package.

For a desktop Ubuntu installation, you can commonly install them with:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install open-vm-tools open-vm-tools-desktop

After installation, reboot the virtual machine if necessary.

Check the Shared Folder Location

A common location for VMware shared folders is:

/mnt/hgfs/

You can check whether it exists:

ls /mnt/hgfs/

If the shared folder is named VM-Shared, you may see:

/mnt/hgfs/VM-Shared

You can enter it with:

cd /mnt/hgfs/VM-Shared

Then list its contents:

ls

How to Access Shared Folders From Linux Terminal

Once the shared folder is mounted, you can work with it like a normal directory.

For example:

cd /mnt/hgfs/VM-Shared

List files:

ls -la

Copy a file from the shared folder:

cp example.txt ~/Documents/

Copy a file into the shared folder:

cp report.txt /mnt/hgfs/VM-Shared/

You can also use standard Linux commands such as:

mv
cp
rm
mkdir
touch

Be careful with commands such as rm because deleting a file from the shared folder can remove the actual file from the host’s shared directory.

Also Read: Ubuntu List Users: How to List All Users on Ubuntu

Automatically Mount Shared Folders in Linux

If your Linux guest does not automatically mount shared folders, you can configure a mount point manually.

First, create a directory:

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/hgfs

Then check whether VMware shared-folder support is available.

On systems using open-vm-tools, the VMware service and guest integration components are responsible for managing shared folders.

You can inspect the service with:

systemctl status open-vm-tools

If the service is not running, try:

sudo systemctl restart open-vm-tools

The exact behavior can vary between Ubuntu versions and VMware Tools implementations.

VMware Shared Folders Not Showing Up

One of the most common problems is that the shared folder has been configured in VMware Workstation but does not appear inside the guest.

There are several possible causes.

Check That Shared Folders Are Enabled

Open the virtual machine settings and confirm that Shared Folders are enabled.

Make sure the folder is:

• Enabled
• Pointing to the correct host directory
• Assigned the expected share name
• Configured for the current virtual machine

If shared folders are disabled, the guest will not be able to access them.

Check VMware Tools or open-vm-tools

Shared folders rely on VMware guest integration.

On Ubuntu, check:

systemctl status open-vm-tools

You can also check whether the package is installed:

dpkg -l | grep open-vm-tools

If necessary:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install open-vm-tools open-vm-tools-desktop

Then restart the VM.

Check /mnt/hgfs

On Linux, try:

ls -la /mnt/hgfs

If the directory exists but is empty, check the VMware shared-folder configuration and guest tools.

If /mnt/hgfs does not exist, you can create it:

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/hgfs

Then restart the VMware guest tools service.

Shared Folder Permission Problems

Another common problem is being able to see the shared folder but not being able to create, modify, or delete files.

This may happen because of differences between host permissions, guest permissions, and the way VMware mounts the shared folder.

Check Linux User Permissions

On Linux, inspect the directory:

ls -ld /mnt/hgfs/VM-Shared

Also check your current user:

whoami

and groups:

groups

Depending on the VMware Tools implementation and configuration, membership in the appropriate VMware shared-folder group may be required.

If your installation uses the vmware-hgfsclient mechanism, you can check available shares with:

vmware-hgfsclient

If it returns the shared-folder name, VMware can see the configured share from the guest.

Manually Mounting a VMware Shared Folder

If automatic mounting is not working, a shared folder can sometimes be mounted manually using VMware’s host-guest filesystem support.

For example:

sudo mount -t fuse.vmhgfs-fuse .host:/VM-Shared /mnt/hgfs/VM-Shared -o allow_other

Before doing this, create the mount directory:

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/hgfs/VM-Shared

The exact command and options can vary depending on your Linux distribution and version of open-vm-tools.

If the share name contains spaces, use appropriate escaping or quoting.

Also Read: What Is a GPU Server and Why Is It Needed for AI?

Making Shared Folders Available After Reboot

If the shared folder works until you reboot the Linux guest, the issue may involve automatic mounting.

Check whether the VMware tools service starts automatically:

systemctl is-enabled open-vm-tools

You can also check:

systemctl status open-vm-tools

If the service is installed but not enabled, the appropriate configuration can depend on the Ubuntu release and package setup.

For production environments, test any automatic-mount configuration carefully before relying on it.

VMware Shared Folders vs Network Shares

VMware shared folders and traditional network shares solve similar problems, but they work differently.

For a single virtual machine running on your computer, VMware shared folders are often easier than configuring SMB or NFS.

When Should You Use VMware Shared Folders?

Shared folders are particularly useful when the host and guest frequently need to exchange files.

For example, developers might keep project files on the host while using a Linux virtual machine for testing.

They are also useful for:

• Moving ISO files or installers
• Sharing configuration files
• Testing applications
• Accessing source code
• Collecting logs
• Moving documents between operating systems
• Running development tools in a VM

When Should You Avoid Shared Folders?

Shared folders are not always the best option.

For example, you may want to avoid them when:

• The guest should be completely isolated from the host
• Sensitive host files must remain inaccessible
• You need high-performance storage
• You need a share accessible by multiple physical computers
• You require strict network-based access controls

For highly isolated virtual machines, limiting host-guest integration can be an important security consideration.

VMware Shared Folder Security Considerations

A shared folder creates a bridge between the host and guest.

If you share a directory containing sensitive files, software running inside the guest may potentially access those files according to the permissions and capabilities provided by the shared-folder mechanism.

For this reason, it is better to create a dedicated directory for VM sharing.

For example:

C:\VM-Shared

rather than sharing your entire user profile or system drive.

Use Read-Only Access When Possible

If the guest only needs to read files, consider configuring the shared folder as read-only.

This reduces the chance that software inside the guest can modify or delete host files.

Do Not Share More Than Necessary

A good rule is to share the smallest directory that meets your requirements.

Instead of:

C:\

use something like:

C:\VM-Shared

This follows the principle of limiting access to only what is necessary.

Troubleshooting Checklist

If VMware shared folders are not working, go through the following checklist:

1. Confirm the VM has the correct shared-folder configuration.
2. Verify the host folder exists.
3. Check that the shared folder is enabled.
4. Confirm VMware Tools or open-vm-tools is installed.
5. Restart the guest tools service.
6. Check /mnt/hgfs on Linux.
7. Run vmware-hgfsclient when available.
8. Check the user’s permissions.
9. Check for read-only configuration.
10. Reboot the guest if necessary.
11. Verify that the host directory is accessible.
12. Test with a simple file before troubleshooting complex applications.

Common Questions About VMware Shared Folders

Do VMware shared folders require VMware Tools?

In general, the guest needs VMware’s guest integration components for shared-folder functionality. On modern Linux distributions, open-vm-tools is commonly used instead of the traditional VMware Tools package.

Where are VMware shared folders mounted in Ubuntu?

A common mount location is:

/mnt/hgfs/

Individual shared folders can appear as subdirectories beneath this location.

Can I share a folder between Windows and Ubuntu in VMware?

Yes. A folder stored on the Windows host can be configured as a VMware shared folder and accessed from an Ubuntu guest when the required VMware guest integration is installed and functioning.

Can VMware shared folders be read-only?

Yes. VMware Workstation allows shared folders to be configured with access restrictions, including read-only access in supported configurations.

Why is my VMware shared folder empty?

Check that Shared Folders are enabled, the host directory exists, and VMware Tools or open-vm-tools is running correctly. On Linux, also check /mnt/hgfs and run vmware-hgfsclient if available.

Final Thoughts

VMware Workstation shared folders provide a convenient way to exchange files between a host computer and a virtual machine without setting up a separate network file server. Once configured correctly, they can make development, testing, administration, and everyday file transfers much easier.

For Linux guests, paying attention to open-vm-tools, the /mnt/hgfs directory, mounting behavior, and permissions will solve many common problems. Windows guests generally provide an easier graphical experience, but administrator privileges and correct VMware Tools installation are still important.

The safest approach is to share a dedicated directory rather than an entire drive, use read-only access when possible, and remove temporary shares when they are no longer needed.

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