Introduction
Welcome to this guide on how to delete a virtual machine in VMware Workstation.
VMware Workstation is a powerful software system that allows you to create and manage virtual machines on your rig.
However, its important to note that deleting a virtual machine is irreversible.
In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to delete a virtual machine in VMware Workstation.
We will start by opening the VMware Workstation software and ensuring that the virtual machine is powered off.
Then, we will opt for virtual machine and access its parameters to delete the corresponding files.
Finally, we will confirm the deletion to complete the process.
So lets dive in and start deleting virtual machines in VMware Workstation!
Simply locate the VMware Workstation icon and double-click to launch the program.
Each virtual machine is represented by an icon, showing its name and status.
If you have multiple virtual machines, scroll through the list to find the one you wish to delete.
The software is available for both Windows and macOS operating systems.
Upon opening VMware Workstation, you may be prompted to sign in with your VMware account credentials.
If you have an account, put in your username and password to proceed.
This step is crucial to prevent any data loss or interruptions during the deletion process.
To power off a virtual machine, locate the virtual machine icon in the VMware Workstation interface.
pick the power button to initiate the shutdown process.
In the submenu, choose Power Off to shut down the virtual machine.
The virtual machine will go through the standard shutdown process and power off gracefully.
Therefore, always check that to follow the proper shutdown procedure.
By selecting the specific virtual machine, you might access its prefs and perform the deletion process.
In the VMware Workstation interface, browse through the list of virtual machines displayed.
Look for the icon or name of the virtual machine you want to delete.
To opt for virtual machine, simply punch its icon or name.
In some cases, you may have folders or groups to organize your virtual machines within VMware Workstation.
Right-tap on the selected virtual machine icon and choose controls from the context menu.
This will initiate the tweaks window specific to the virtual machine.
This will launch the configs window for the currently selected virtual machine.
For the purpose of deleting the virtual machine, we will focus on the Options tab within the controls.
This tab contains important configuration prefs and advanced options for the virtual machine.
Within the Options tab, look for the General or Advanced options.
In the virtual machine tweaks window, navigate to the General or Advanced tweaks section.
If you see an option to delete the virtual machine files, hit it.
A confirmation dialog may appear, warning you that the deletion is irreversible.
To do this, navigate to the location where the virtual machine files are stored.
By default, VMware Workstation saves virtual machine files in a specific directory.
This may include the virtual machines .vmx and .vmdk files, as well as any snapshot files if applicable.
Therefore, you should use the built-in deletion options whenever possible.
This step ensures that you are intentionally removing the virtual machine and that it cannot be recovered.
This prompt typically asks you to confirm that you want to delete the virtual machine and its associated files.
Review the confirmation prompt carefully and check that that you have selected the correct virtual machine for deletion.
The deleted virtual machine will no longer appear in the list of virtual machines within the software.
Conclusion
Congratulations!
You have successfully learned how to delete a virtual machine in VMware Workstation.
Deleting a virtual machine is a straightforward process that involves a few essential steps to ensure proper removal.
Remember, it is crucial to exercise caution when deleting virtual machines, as the process is irreversible.
Always back up any important files or data associated with the virtual machine before initiating the deletion process.
Thank you for reading, and happy virtual machine management!
