VMware Fusion
VMware Fusion is a macOS desktop hypervisor that lets you run Windows, Linux, and other virtual machines on a Mac without rebooting.
What is VMware Fusion?
VMware Fusion is a desktop virtualization app for macOS that helps users run additional operating systems inside virtual machines on a Mac. It is commonly used by developers, IT professionals, testers, and advanced users who need Windows, Linux, or isolated lab environments alongside macOS. Fusion supports creating and managing VMs, taking snapshots, sharing files between host and guest systems, and configuring virtual networking for testing different setups. It is also used for software compatibility checks, training environments, and secure separation between work tasks. On newer Macs, Fusion supports Windows 11 for Arm and many Linux distributions, making it useful for cross-platform workflows without leaving the Mac desktop. VMware publishes Fusion as part of its desktop hypervisor product line.
Key features
- Run Windows, Linux, and other guest operating systems in virtual machines on a Mac
- Create snapshots and roll back a VM to an earlier state for testing and recovery
- Share files and folders between macOS and guest systems
- Configure virtual networking for isolated labs and multi-system testing
- Connect to remote vSphere or ESXi environments to manage virtual machines
- Use full-screen and other view modes to work with guest systems alongside macOS
Review app leftovers with diCleaner
Inspect caches, support files, containers, and login items before cleaning.
Safety overview
Status: Mostly safe
VMware Fusion is a legitimate virtualization tool, and the permissions it may request for system integration, networking, USB device access, and virtualization are consistent with its purpose. Because it can run separate operating systems and connect removable devices or remote virtualization environments, you should install it only from VMware and review any virtual machine images you import from other sources. If an app on your Mac claims to be VMware Fusion but uses a different bundle ID than com.vmware.fusion, treat that mismatch as a sign to inspect the installation before trusting it.
Recommendation: Keep VMware Fusion if you use virtual machines for development, testing, legacy software, training, or isolated workloads on your Mac. If you no longer run VMs, you can remove it to recover disk space and reduce background components tied to virtualization features, but your virtual machine files may still need separate cleanup.
Common paths
/Applications/VMware Fusion.app
Cache paths
~/Library/Caches/com.vmware.fusion
Support paths
~/Library/Application Support/VMware Fusion
Preference paths
~/Library/Preferences/com.vmware.fusion.plist
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