Are you a Windows 11 user who relies on VMware for virtualization needs? If so, you may have encountered the frustrating Failed to Start the Virtual Machine error. Don’t worry, as we’re here to help you troubleshoot this issue and get your virtual machine up and running again. In this article, we’ll delve into what VMware is and why it’s such a popular choice among users. We’ll also provide step-by-step instructions on how to resolve the Failed to Start the Virtual Machine error in Windows 11.
What is VMware? How does it works?
VMware is a virtualization and cloud computing software provider based in Palo Alto, Calif. Founded in 1998, VMware is a subsidiary of Dell Technologies. EMC Corporation originally acquired VMware in 2004; EMC was later acquired by Dell Technologies in 2016. VMware bases its virtualization technologies on its bare-metal hypervisor ESX/ESXi in x86 architecture.
With VMware server virtualization, a hypervisor is installed on the physical server to allow for multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on the same physical server. Each VM can run its own operating system (OS), which means multiple OSes can run on one physical server. All the VMs on the same physical server share resources, such as networking and RAM. In 2019, VMware added support to its hypervisor to run containerized workloads in a Kubernetes cluster in a similar way. These types of workloads can be managed by the infrastructure team in the same way as virtual machines and the DevOps teams can deploy containers as they were used to.
Virtual machines enable you to try out multiple operating systems without removing your main operating system. VMware is one such popular third-party hypervisor that supports multiple operating systems. However, some users face the ‘Failed to start the virtual machine’ error when they power on any virtual machine in VMware. As a result, they are unable to launch any virtual machine in VMware and are stuck at the error screen. We will discuss multiple methods to resolve this issue and help you successfully launch the virtual machine. Let’s begin.
How to Fix VMware's "Failed to Start the Virtual Machine" Error in Windows 11?
There are 9 Ways to fix VMware’s “Failed to Start the Virtual Machine” Error in Windows 11. They are
- Close and Restart the VMware Virtual Machine
- Check if Virtualization is active
- Update VMware App
- Disable Memory Integrity in Windows Security
- Remove other Windows virtualization features
- Disable VBS
- Remove any other Virtualization based program
- Reinstall the VMware App
- Use system restore
1. Close and Restart the VMware Virtual Machine:
VMware can face a glitch and can face issues while launching the virtual machines. So, you must completely close the app and run it with administrator rights. Here’s how:
- Right-click on the Start button to launch the Power User menu. Click on the Task Manager option.
- Click on the search bar and type vmware. Press the Enter key to search for all the related processes.
- Right-click on the process and select the End Task option.
- Similarly, close all the related processes and then close the Task Manager window.
- Press the Win key, type vmware, and click on the Run as administrator option.
- The User Account Control window will open. Click on the Yes button.
- Try to launch a virtual machine and check if you face the error again.
2. Check if Virtualization is active:
Every virtualization program including VMware needs hardware virtualization to work on a Windows PC. So, if you have turned off virtualization from BIOS, you must re-enable it. Repeat the following steps:
- Restart your Windows PC.
- Repeatedly mash the designated F-key (or even Esc key in some cases) to enter the BIOS. You can find out the designated F-key for your PC by searching its model name.
- Switch to the Advanced Settings page.
- Locate the Hardware Virtualization settings. In our Asus PC, it shows up as “SVM” mode, but you may see other names like VT-x, AMD-V, or Vanderpool. Use the arrow key to highlight and press the Enter key to enable the feature.
- Press the F10 key to save the changes and exit the BIOS.
- Boot to the desktop and launch VMware. Check if you can launch a virtual machine without any error.
3. Update VMware App:
An outdated and buggy build of VMware can cause issues with certain features. So, you must update the app to install the latest build and fix issues with new Windows updates. Here’s how to do it:
- Press the Win key and type vmware. Then press the Enter key to open the app.
- Go to the top menu and click on the Player button.
- Navigate to the Help > Software updates option.
- Click on the Check for updates button.
- Wait for the utility to search the servers for new updates if any. Download and install the updates on your PC.
- Restart your PC and launch VMware. Power on a virtual machine and check if the error pops up or not.
4. Disable Memory Integrity in Windows Security:
Memory Integrity is a feature listed under the Core Isolation setting in the Windows Security app. It protects high-security processes from malware and requires hardware virtualization. Since hardware virtualization can only be used by one program at a time, VMware can encounter errors when you power on a virtual machine.
So, you must disable memory integrity on your PC. Here’s how to do it:
- Press the Win key, type Windows Security, and press the Enter key.
- Click on the Device Security option.
- Locate the Core Isolation section and click on the Core Isolation details option.
- Now, click on the toggle below Memory Integrity to disable the feature.
- Close the Windows Security app.
5. Remove other Windows Virtualization features:
VMware relies on the Windows Hypervisor Platform feature which offers support for third-party hypervisors. But if you have other Windows virtualization features also installed on your PC, it can conflict with VMware’s virtual machine. So, you must remove these features. Repeat the following steps:
- Press Win + R to launch the Run command box. Type appwiz.cpl and press the Enter key.
- The Programs and Features window will open. Click on the Turn Windows features on or off option.
- Scroll down and uncheck Hyper-V, Virtual Machine Platform, and Windows Subsystem for Linux features in the list.
- Click on the OK button
- Now, click on the Restart now button to apply the changes and remove all these features from your PC.
6. Disable VBS (Virtual Based Security):
Virtualization-based security can interfere with third-party hypervisors, so you must disable it. Check out how to disable VBS to increase performance in Windows 11 for more information. After disabling VBS, launch VMware and run a virtual machine to check if the ‘Failed to Start the Virtual Machine’ error persists.
7. Remove any other Virtualization Based Program:
If you use other third-party hypervisors like VirtualBox on your PC, you must uninstall them for some time and then run VMware. You won’t lose any virtual machines because you are only removing the hypervisor program. The virtual machine files will remain intact.
Repeat the following steps to remove other hypervisors:
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box. Type appwiz.cpl in the text box and press the Enter key.
- The Programs and Features window will launch. Scroll down and locate the other third-party hypervisors in the list.
- Right-click on the program and click on the Uninstall option.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to remove the program from your computer.
8. Reinstall the VMware App:
If the existing installation of VMware is corrupt or crucial files are missing from the installation folder, you must reinstall the app. It will remove all the installation files and install a new copy of the app on your PC.
Repeat the following steps to install VMware using Winget:
- Right-click on the Start button to open the Power User menu. Click on the Terminal (Admin) option.
- The User Account Control window will pop up. Click on the Yes button.
- Type the following command and press the Enter key to uninstall VMware.
Winget uninstall VMware.WorkstationPlayer
4. Wait for Winget to remove the app package from your PC.
5. Now, execute the following command to install VMware from the Winget repository:
Winget install VMware.WorkstationPlayer
6. It will take a while to download and install the app on your PC.
7. Close the Terminal app window.
8. Launch VMware and power on a virtual machine to check if it runs without any issues now.
9. Use System Restore:
If VMware was running fine on your PC before installing a new update or making changes to your PC, you can use System Restore to revert to an earlier state. All your personal files will stay unaffected, and you won’t have to reset your PC for an app.
Get VMware working again:
These were the nine methods to fix VMware’s ‘Failed to Start the Virtual Machine’ error on Windows 11. Check virtualization settings in BIOS, update the app, and disable memory integrity. After that, disable VBS, uninstall optional virtualization features, and reinstall the app to fix the issue.
In conclusion, VMware is a powerful virtualization software that allows users to run multiple operating systems on a single computer. However, encountering the Failed to Start the Virtual Machine error in Windows 11 can be frustrating. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to fix this problem. From ensuring that your system meets the minimum requirements to reinstalling VMware Tools and updating your graphics drivers, these solutions can help resolve the issue and get your virtual machine up and running smoothly again. By following these troubleshooting steps, you can overcome the Failed to Start the Virtual Machine error and continue using VMware without any interruptions. Don’t let this error hinder your virtualization experience; take action today and get back on track with VMware!
