How to Download VMware Workstation and VMware Fusion Without A Broadcom Account

Background

On May 14, 2024, VMware made an important announcement: VMware Desktop Hypervisor Pro Apps Now Available for Personal Use. This announcement means that VMware now allows personal users to use their professional desktop virtualization software for free, which is excellent news for technology enthusiasts and professionals alike.

However, during the actual download process, many users have discovered that the VMware website requires creating and logging into a Broadcom account. This is because VMware has been acquired by Broadcom, and the download process has changed accordingly. For users who simply want to download the software, this step seems cumbersome and unnecessary.

Direct Download Solution

The good news is that we can bypass the Broadcom account login requirement and download the latest versions of the virtualization software directly from VMware’s software update server. Here are the direct download links:

For Windows and Linux – VMware Workstation

Visit the following URL:

https://softwareupdate.vmware.com/cds/vmw-desktop/ws/

This link will display all available VMware Workstation versions. Select the latest version number (usually the last one in the list), then:

Click to enter the version number folder
Choose the installation file appropriate for your operating system
- For Windows users, look for the .exe file
- For Linux users, look for the package suitable for your distribution (.bundle, .rpm, or .deb files)

For macOS – VMware Fusion

Visit the following URL:

https://softwareupdate.vmware.com/cds/vmw-desktop/fusion/

Similar to Workstation, select the latest version number, then:

Click to enter the version number folder
Navigate to the installation file suitable for your macOS version (.dmg file)

Post-Download Considerations

Verify Downloads: For security, it’s recommended to verify the integrity of downloaded files before installation.
Licensing: According to VMware’s new policy, personal users can use these professional versions for free, but must still comply with the relevant terms of use.
Updates: Software downloaded this way may need to be manually checked for updates since it’s not associated with a Broadcom account.

Conclusion

By using VMware’s software update server to download directly, we can avoid the Broadcom account registration step and obtain VMware Workstation and Fusion more quickly. This is a simple and practical solution for developers, testers, and technology enthusiasts who need to rapidly deploy virtual environments.

I hope this guide helps you easily obtain VMware’s excellent virtualization tools!

Note: This information is current as of May 2024. VMware and Broadcom policies may change at any time; please refer to the latest official announcements.