Are you looking to Uninstall VMware Workstation Linux system? Whether you’re switching to a different virtualization platform, freeing up system resources, or troubleshooting issues, properly uninstalling VMware Workstation is essential.
Simply deleting files won’t completely remove the software, which can lead to system conflicts and wasted storage space. This guide will walk you through how to uninstall VMware completely, ensuring no residual files remain on your system.
Key Takeaways
- Use the VMware bundle installer to uninstall VMware Workstation from any Linux distribution
- Run sudo vmware-installer -u vmware-workstation in the terminal to begin uninstallation
- Remove residual configuration files from /etc/vmware/ and ~/.vmware/ directories
- Uninstall VMware Tools separately using sudo vmware-uninstall-tools.pl if needed
- Verify complete removal by checking for remaining VMware files and kernel modules
Why Remove VMware Workstation Completely?
When you remove VMware Workstation from Linux, it’s important to do it thoroughly. Incomplete removal can cause several problems:
- System conflicts: Leftover files might interfere with other virtualization software like VirtualBox or KVM.
- Storage waste: VMware and its associated files can take up several gigabytes of space.
- Security concerns: Old software components might have vulnerabilities if not properly removed.
- Performance issues: Residual kernel modules and services can slow down your system.
Properly removing VMware Workstation ensures your Linux system remains clean, secure, and optimized for other applications or virtualization solutions you might want to use in the future.
How to Uninstall VMware Completely from Linux?
The process to uninstall VMware Workstation is similar across most Linux distributions. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Close all running VMware applications: Make sure VMware Workstation is not running and no virtual machines are active.
- Open a terminal: You’ll need command-line access to run the uninstallation commands.
- Run the uninstaller: Execute the following command: sudo vmware-installer -u vmware-workstation
- Confirm uninstallation: The system will ask if you want to keep configuration files. Choose “No” for complete removal.
- Enter your password: Provide your administrator password when prompted.
- Wait for completion: The uninstaller will remove all VMware Workstation components. This might take a few minutes.
- Verify removal: Check if VMware is completely removed by trying to run it or looking for remaining files.
This method works for most Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Fedora, CentOS, and Debian. The uninstaller script handles removing the application files, but you might need to manually remove configuration files and kernel modules for a complete uninstallation.
Remove VMware Workstation from Ubuntu: Step-by-Step
If you’re using Ubuntu, the process to remove VMware Workstation is straightforward. Ubuntu users have both GUI and command-line options:
Command-Line Method (Recommended)
- Open a terminal with Ctrl+Alt+T.
- Run the VMware uninstaller:
sudo vmware-installer -u vmware-workstation - Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation.
- Remove any remaining configuration files: sudo rm -rf /etc/vmware/rm -rf ~/.vmware/
GUI Method
- Open Ubuntu Software Center.
- Search for “VMware Workstation”.
- Click on VMware Workstation and select “Remove”.
- Authenticate with your password when prompted.
- After removal, manually delete configuration files using the commands above.
For Ubuntu users, it’s important to note that the Software Center method might not remove all configuration files, which is why the command-line method is recommended for a complete uninstallation.
How to Delete VMware Workstation Configuration Files?
Even after uninstalling VMware Workstation, configuration files might remain on your system. Here’s how to remove them:
System-wide configuration files: sudo rm -rf /etc/vmware/
User-specific configuration files: rm -rf ~/.vmware/
Kernel modules (if they weren’t removed during uninstallation): sudo rm /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/misc/vm*.ko
VMware services (if still present): sudo rm /etc/init.d/vmware*
These commands will help you delete VMware Workstation completely from your system, ensuring no residual files remain that could cause conflicts with other software.
VMware Tools Uninstall Linux: Separate Process
VMware Tools is a separate component from VMware Workstation and requires its own uninstallation process. If you’ve installed VMware Tools in your virtual machines, you’ll need to remove them separately:
A) Open a terminal in the virtual machine where VMware Tools is installed.
B) Navigate to the VMware Tools directory: cd /usr/bin/vmware-tools
C) Run the uninstaller: sudo vmware-uninstall-tools.pl
D) Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation.
E) Remove any remaining files: sudo rm -rf /etc/vmware-tools/
It’s important to note that VMware Tools is installed within each virtual machine, not on the host system. You’ll need to repeat this process for each virtual machine where you want to remove VMware Tools.
Common Problems When Removing VMware Workstation
Sometimes, you might encounter issues when trying to remove VMware Workstation from Linux. Here are solutions to common problems:
Permission Denied Errors
If you get permission errors, ensure you’re using sudo before your commands. If the issue persists, check file ownership: sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /path/to/vmware/files
Uninstaller Not Found
If the vmware-installer command isn’t found, you might need to navigate to the installation directory first: cd /usr/bin/sudo ./vmware-installer -u vmware-workstation
Dependency Conflicts
Sometimes, other software depends on VMware components. Use your distribution’s package manager to identify conflicts:
sudo apt-get remove –auto-remove vmware-workstation # For Ubuntu/Debian
sudo dnf remove vmware-workstation # For Fedora
Incomplete Uninstallation
If VMware still appears after uninstallation, manually remove remaining files:
sudo find / -name “*vmware*” -type f -delete
sudo find / -name “*vmware*” -type d -exec rm -rf {} +
Be cautious with the last command, as it will delete all files and directories with “vmware” in the name.
Comparison: Uninstall VMware Workstation Windows 10 vs Linux
The process to uninstall VMware Workstation differs between Windows 10 and Linux systems:
Windows 10:
- Uses the standard Windows uninstaller through Control Panel
- Generally requires fewer manual steps
- Less likely to leave residual files
- Doesn’t require command-line knowledge
Linux:
- Requires command-line operations for complete removal
- Often needs manual removal of configuration files
- Might require removal of kernel modules
- Provides more control over what gets removed
While uninstalling VMware Workstation on Windows 10 is typically more straightforward, Linux offers more granular control over the removal process, allowing for a more thorough cleanup if done correctly.
Uninstall VMware Workstation Windows 11: What’s Different?
The process to uninstall VMware Workstation from Windows 11 is similar to Windows 10 but with slight interface differences:
- Open Settings by pressing Win + I.
- Navigate to Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for VMware Workstation in the list.
- Click the three dots next to VMware Workstation and select “Uninstall”.
- Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation.
Unlike Linux, Windows 11 doesn’t typically require manual removal of configuration files or kernel modules, making the process simpler but potentially less thorough.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I completely remove VMware Workstation from Linux?
To completely remove VMware Workstation from Linux, first run the uninstaller with sudo vmware-installer -u vmware-workstation. Then manually remove configuration files using sudo rm -rf /etc/vmware/ and rm -rf ~/.vmware/. Finally, remove any remaining kernel modules with sudo rm /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/misc/vm*.ko. This ensures a complete removal of all VMware components from your system.
What’s the difference between removing VMware Workstation and VMware Tools?
VMware Workstation is the main virtualization application installed on your host system, while VMware Tools is a suite of utilities installed within each virtual machine to improve performance and enable features like shared folders. When you remove VMware Workstation from Linux, you’re uninstalling the host application. To remove VMware Tools, you need to run the uninstaller within each virtual machine where it’s installed using the command sudo vmware-uninstall-tools.pl.
Why won’t VMware uninstall completely from my system?
VMware might not uninstall completely due to several reasons: permission issues, running processes, corrupted files, or dependency conflicts. To resolve these, ensure all VMware processes are stopped before uninstallation, use sudo for administrative privileges, manually remove remaining files and directories, and check for dependency conflicts using your package manager. Sometimes, a system reboot before attempting uninstallation can also help resolve stubborn issues.
Do I need to remove kernel modules after uninstalling VMware?
Yes, it’s recommended to remove VMware kernel modules after uninstalling VMware Workstation. These modules can remain in your system even after the main application is uninstalled and might cause conflicts with other virtualization software or future kernel updates. You can remove them with the command sudo rm /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/misc/vm*.ko. This ensures a clean system without any residual VMware components.
Can I reinstall VMware after removing it?
Yes, you can reinstall VMware Workstation after removing it from your system. In fact, completely removing the old version before installing a new one is often recommended when upgrading or troubleshooting issues. After removal, simply download the latest version from VMware’s website and run the installer. The installation process will create new configuration files and set up all necessary components fresh on your system.
How do I remove VMware configuration files?
VMware configuration files are typically stored in /etc/vmware/ (system-wide) and ~/.vmware/ (user-specific). To remove them, use the commands sudo rm -rf /etc/vmware/ and rm -rf ~/.vmware/ respectively. These files contain settings, preferences, and license information that aren’t always removed during the standard uninstallation process. Removing them ensures no residual configuration remains that could affect future installations or other virtualization software.
Will uninstalling VMware affect my virtual machines?
Uninstalling VMware Workstation from your host system won’t delete your virtual machines, but you won’t be able to run them until you reinstall VMware or migrate them to another virtualization platform. Your virtual machines are stored as files on your hard drive (typically in a directory like “~/Documents/Virtual Machines”). To use them again, you’ll need to either reinstall VMware Workstation or convert them to a compatible format for another virtualization solution like VirtualBox or KVM.
Conclusion
Removing VMware Workstation from Linux doesn’t have to be complicated. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can completely uninstall VMware Workstation and all its components from your system. Remember to use the VMware uninstaller command first, then manually remove any remaining configuration files and kernel modules for a thorough cleanup.
Whether you’re using Ubuntu, another Linux distribution, or even comparing with Windows methods, the key is to ensure all VMware components are properly removed. This prevents system conflicts and frees up valuable resources on your machine.
If you encounter any issues during the uninstallation process, refer to our troubleshooting section for solutions to common problems. And don’t forget to remove VMware Tools separately from any virtual machines where it’s installed.
