VMware Fusion 13.6
VMware has updated its VMware Fusion virtualization package to version 13.6, introducing a new command-line tool called vmcli. Enabling interaction with the hypervisor directly from the Linux or macOS command line, or the Windows command prompt, vmcli can create new virtual machines, generate VM templates, modify settings, and more. The release provides host and guest operating system support for macOS 15 Sequoia and adds guest operating system support for Windows 11 23H2, Ubuntu 24.04, and Fedora 40, plus Windows Server 2024 when running on an Intel-based Mac. It also removes support for a few features, including legacy VMTools ISOs (no longer included by default but available to download), Bluetooth hub passthrough, Unity mode, and the Fusion Application Menu. The update resolves a screen misalignment that could occur for virtual camera devices on Apple silicon. Note that VMware Fusion 13.6 has a known conflict with VoiceOver on hosts running macOS 14 Sonoma and later, and multi-monitor support may not work correctly in certain situations. (Free/$149.99/$199.99 new, free update, release notes, macOS 13+)
the problem I face is not with the actual app but with support/customer service via Broadcom or its spinoff at the same physical address as Broadcom. After initially paying for Fusion I have been using and getting good customer service from VMware until Broadcom took it over. Now despite being registered, retired, a senior, with my only income other than savings and investments, being Social Security I am locked out from downloading the updates. All efforts to correct this have failed including contacting customer service by phone, visiting their physical offices in Palo Alto, and sending emails to the product manager but getting no reply. My last contact with them by chat I was told to contact community support which of course cannot fix this or offer suggestions as it is a website issue. Given the cost of Parallels I am not about to switch to that since my primary use of Fusion is to run Windows in order to send faxes from my Mac and I am not about to pay Parallels over $100 a year for the convenience of sending less than a half dozen faxes per year from my Mac and I am not about to use efax services as send health and financial documents to fax services via email negates the security that faxing still provides.
Free for personal use:
I managed to get hold of the VMware Fusion Pro myself having read about how to access it (not trivial exactly and absolutely no links anywhere on the website (logged in or not).
I previously had other versions of VMware Fusion in other accounts, but simply cannot figure out how to access the download of those versions – anyone have an idea? It is not urgent though as I have the serial numbers and account info and have saved the downloads. I also have no clue as to how one could change from the free personal version to the free pro version – maybe a complete uninstall and reinstall is needed, but can get by for my occassional limited use on the non-pro version. The VMware site was very bad, but still a lot better than the broadcom site. Go figure they sell Symantec products – worst non-malware company down through history.
Uninstall/reinstall is needed for VMware Workstation on Windows, but not for Fusion on Mac. What you need to do is delete the version 13 license file from /Library/Preferences/VMware Fusion. It is named something like license-fusion-130-something.
Update to 13.6.1 is available as of 10/10/24. One improvement is the notification that came up every time the program started regarding background items being added is gone.
@agen These changes are tweaky but important, so worth doing a 13.6.1 update when you get to it.
Unfortunately, the recurring background items notification has come back a few times, but at least not every single time the program is started.