Virtual Machine Software Download: Run Any OS

A VM behaves like a separate computer with its own virtual disk, memory and network. That isolation opens up a lot of practical uses.

• Try other operating systems: run Linux distros or older Windows versions safely.
• Sandbox risky files: open suspicious software without risking your host.
• Development and testing: create clean, reproducible environments.
• Snapshots: save a state and roll back instantly if something breaks.

VirtualBox is the most popular free, open-source, cross-platform choice and is easy for beginners. VMware Workstation Pro (Windows and Linux) and Fusion Pro (macOS) became free for personal, educational and commercial use in November 2024 and replace the discontinued Workstation Player; they are downloaded through a free Broadcom account. On Windows 10 and 11 Pro or Enterprise, Hyper-V is built in. Mac users on Apple Silicon can also use UTM or commercial tools like Parallels. Match the hypervisor to your host OS and hardware.

Running a second OS needs spare resources. Aim for a CPU with virtualization support (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) enabled in the BIOS, at least 8 GB of RAM (16 GB or more is comfortable), and free disk space for the virtual drive. Enabling nested virtualization or assigning more cores improves guest performance.

One of the biggest advantages of VMs is snapshots. Take a snapshot before installing something experimental, and if it goes wrong you can roll back to the exact previous state in seconds. This makes VMs ideal for malware analysis, software testing and learning, where mistakes are expected.

Download hypervisors only from the official vendor sites below. Always pair them with legitimately obtained OS installation media or ISOs from the OS vendor. Enable virtualization in your BIOS/UEFI if the installer reports it is off, and keep both the hypervisor and guest tools updated.

The two most common choices differ mainly in licensing and how you download them. The VirtualBox base package is GPLv3 and a direct download with published checksums, but its optional Extension Pack is licensed only for personal and educational use. VMware Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro are free for all uses, including business, according to VMware's November 2024 announcement, but require a Broadcom Support Portal account. Our full VirtualBox vs VMware comparison covers host support, Hyper-V conflicts and which one fits each situation.

Microsoft's Hyper-V documentation notes that Hyper-V cannot be installed on Windows Home editions, and that while the Hyper-V hypervisor is running, apps such as VMware Workstation and VirtualBox may fail to start VMs or run unreliably. If a VM that used to work suddenly becomes slow or will not boot after enabling Windows features, check this first. Also confirm virtualization is enabled in the BIOS or UEFI, and use 64-bit guest images on modern hardware; our 32-bit vs 64-bit guide explains why. To prepare installation media for a physical PC instead, see how to create a bootable USB.