How to Install VMware Tools in Linux

The VMware Tools package give your virtual machine better graphics support in the guest operating system, as well as the ability to drag and drop files between the host and guest system, and configure shared folders. After installing Linux into a new virtual machine, it should be the first software you install directly after.

These instructions cover installation instructions for all Linux systems, including Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, Arch Linux, Manjaro, openSUSE, etc.

Step 1. First, check to see if VMware Tools is already installed.

$ vmware-toolbox-cmd -v

The bash: vmware-toolbox-cmd: command not found... error means VMware Tools is not currently installed.

Step 2. Next, install the appropriate VMware Tools package on your Linux system.

The open-vm-tools-desktop is for systems running a GUI:

# Ubuntu, Debian-based distros:
$ sudo apt update && sudo apt install open-vm-tools-desktop

# Fedora, Red Hat-based distros:
$ sudo dnf install open-vm-tools-desktop

# Arch Linux-based distros:
$ sudo pacman -Syu open-vm-tools-desktop

# openSUSE:
$ sudo zypper install open-vm-tools-desktop

If your system is terminal-only, install the open-vm-tools package instead:

# Ubuntu, Debian-based distros:
$ sudo apt update && sudo apt install open-vm-tools

# Fedora, Red Hat-based distros:
$ sudo dnf install open-vm-tools

# Arch Linux-based distros:
$ sudo pacman -Syu open-vm-tools

# openSUSE:
$ sudo zypper install open-vm-tools

If any of the VMware Tools packages were already installed, these same command will also update them.

Step 3. Lastly, start the related systemd service(s) to begin taking advantage of VMware tools (a system reboot will also work):

# Ubuntu, Debian-based distros:
$ sudo systemctl start open-vm-tools.service
$ sudo systemctl start vgauth.service

# Fedora, Red Hat-based distros:
$ sudo systemctl start vmtoolsd.service
$ sudo systemctl start vgauth.service

# Arch Linux-based distros:
$ sudo systemctl start vmtoolsd.service

You should now have the ability to copy and paste between the host and guest OS, as well as automatic window resizing, etc.