How to open a .vmdk file
Quick, free ways to open VMDK on any system.
A .vmdk file is a VMware Virtual Disk. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads VMDK yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .vmdk file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .vmdk. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with VMware Workstation or VirtualBox.
- On Mac, use VMware Fusion or VirtualBox.
- On Linux, try qemu / qemu-img or VirtualBox.
- Still stuck? Convert the .vmdk to vhd, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .vmdk files
Windows
- VMware Workstation
- VirtualBox
- qemu-img
macOS
- VMware Fusion
- VirtualBox
- qemu-img
Linux
- qemu / qemu-img
- VirtualBox
- VMware
!
Before you open it: Safe as a container; it holds a full system image. Only run images from sources you trust.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .vmdk file?
Almost always because no installed app understands VMDK. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
How do I open a VMDK file?
Attach it to a VM in VMware or VirtualBox, or convert and inspect it with qemu-img. It is a virtual hard disk, not a document.
Can VirtualBox open a VMDK?
Yes. VirtualBox reads VMDK directly; when creating a VM you can attach an existing .vmdk as its disk.