How to open a .ova file (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Q: Why can't I open my .ova file?

Usually your computer lacks an app that understands OVA. Install one of the apps listed here, or convert the file to a more common format.

A .ova file is a Open Virtual Appliance. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads OVA yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.

Open a .ova file step by step

Confirm the file really is a .ova. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
On Windows, open it with VirtualBox (import appliance) or VMware Workstation.
On Mac, use VirtualBox or VMware Fusion.
On Linux, try VirtualBox or virt-manager (after conversion).
Still stuck? Convert the .ova to ovf (extract), which opens more widely.

Best apps to open .ova files

Windows

VirtualBox (import appliance)
VMware Workstation
7-Zip (inspect as tar)

macOS

VirtualBox
VMware Fusion
tar (inspect)

Linux

VirtualBox
virt-manager (after conversion)
tar (inspect)

Before you open it: Caution. An OVA is an entire machine from someone else: it can contain anything, and it runs with network access once imported. Import appliances only from vendors you trust, and verify checksums when provided.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I open my .ova file?

Almost always because no installed app understands OVA. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.

How do I open an .ova file?

Import it: File > Import Appliance in VirtualBox, or Open in VMware. To just look inside, extract it with tar or 7-Zip, since an OVA is a tar archive.

What is the difference between .ova and .ovf?

.ovf is the XML descriptor (usually alongside separate disk files); .ova is the whole set, descriptor plus disks plus manifest, packed into a single tar archive.