VMWare Fusion Sharing Files

The question gets asked on how do I use files on my Mac with my VMWare Session. Well let me quickly share some settings that will make this easier for you to share files with your mac and utilize your USB thumb drive.

Click on your VMWare icon to open the Library of VMWare images you have on your mac.

Highlight the VMWare session you would like to share files with and click on the Settings button at the bottom which will bring up the Setting Screen

You'll notice the settings are grouped in two columns (System Settings and Removable Devices)

Let's first make sure you are allowing USB devices so your thumb drive will be recognized. Under the Removable Devices Column, click on USB Devices. Make sure you have Enable USB 2.0 support and I prefer that Automatically connect USB devices. Click Show All to return back to the Settings Menu.

Under the System Settings column, click on Sharing.

This window may be blank for you at the moment because you aren't currently sharing any folders with your mac. Easiest way to share your common folders is to locate Mirrored Folders and place a check next to Desktop, Documents, Music and Pictures. This will replicate what you have on your Mac (Desktop, Documents, Music and Pictures) in your Windows session. So you have access to these locations no matter what O.S. you are working in.

If you prefer a different folder, Look for the + and - buttons located right above the word Mirrored Folders and click on the + button to add a folder located on your Mac that you would like to share with Windows.

Now when you are working in Mac OS X you have files and folders on your Desktop you will see those on your Windows Desktop so you aren't trying to find those files.

Note: note I used the Documents folder for most of my work between mac and windows

Now let's say you need to transfer files from or to your USB thumbdrive from/to Windows.

Step One....

Insert your USB thumbdrive into an open USB slot on your Mac. After less then a minute you'll see your USB thumbdrive under Devices in your Finder Window

Now go to your VMWare Windows Session and in the top menubar of VMWare you'll see as your choices

File - Edit - View - Virtual Machine - Applications - Window - Help

Click on Virtual Machine and go to USB and click on Connect "your brand of USB thumbdrive"

You'll notice it disappears from your Finder under devices and is now connected to your Windows machine