How to Uninstall VMware Workstation Pro Player from Linux Systems

Software such as VMware Workstation Pro/Player can be difficult to uninstall from a Linux computer. It’s a good idea to save your work before you start deleting any software. This software, made by VMware, helps create virtual machines. But you might not need it anymore. Or, you might want to try a virtual machine program produced by a different company.

If you use Linux or are new to it, taking off VMware software from your computer is simple. But sometimes, it can be tricky to uninstall it. No need to stress! We’ve got a guide ready for you if you’re using Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, Kali Linux, or openSUSE.

What are the Reasons for Uninstalling VMware Software from Linux Distributions?

Before we begin taking VMware off your Linux system, let’s talk about why you might want to do that. If you’re using Ubuntu or another Debian-based system, you might not need this software anymore.

For example, we suggest removing it if you want to use different software instead of VMware. Doing this helps make your computer better by freeing up space and making it work more smoothly.

Also, VMware is a powerful tool. It uses a lot of your computer’s power to run many virtual machines at once. Suppose you see your Linux system having a hard time with VMware Workstation. In that case, taking off the software can give your computer more resources.

Also, you might worry about security. Even though VMware is solid and safe, you might be anxious about the safety of your virtual machines or hypervisor. So, you might think about trying to remove it. In that situation, you can pick either VMware or software from a different company.

Another reason you should uninstall VMware Workstation Pro/Player from your Linux computer is the cost. The Pro version of this promising software needs payment, but the Player version is free for personal use. If you think the Pro version doesn’t have enough features or if it’s too expensive for you, you should uninstall it.

Preparations Before Uninstalling

Make sure to do some simple preparations to make everything go smoothly. This way, you can keep your current settings and keep your system stable.

1. Back-Up Your Virtual Machines

First, it is essential to back up the virtual machines you have installed and run. If you plan to use this software again in the future, you may need these backups. This way, you won’t have to recreate guest machines repeatedly because all the settings and configurations you’ve made take time.

For these reasons, making copies of your virtual machines can save you time. This way, it helps keep your information safe and stops you from losing any data when you uninstall the software.

Also, you can save your VMs right from Workstation Pro. Or, you can copy the folder where you build the virtual machines to a completely different disk.

2. Export Custom Network Configurations

If you’ve set up your network settings, make sure to save them before removing the software. These could be things like special network adapters, IP addresses, or virtual cards that are specific to how you’ve arranged things. Thus, you can use these network settings again later if you want.

3. Save License Keys

If you bought a license for VMware Workstation, be sure to keep your license key in a safe place. When you uninstall the software, you’ll remove all the essential info, including the license details. So, having your license key stored helps you easily activate Workstation Pro again when you want to. Also, it’s a good idea to keep this license info safe.

How to Remove Completely VMware Workstation from Linux Systems (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Kali Linux, Debian, openSUSE, etc.)

Debian-based systems usually come from Debian and use its way of handling packages. Some examples of these systems are Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Kali Linux, or Elementary OS.

In this section, we’ll check out the steps to uninstall the VMware Workstation from different types of Linux systems.

Firstly, there are two ways to remove VMware from these systems altogether:

1. Uninstalling with VMware Script using GUI
2. Uninstalling using Terminal Console only

1. Method: Uninstalling VMware Workstation with Script Using GUI

If you are going to uninstall VMware or another program on your Linux PC, you can also use the GUI. Thus, as the 1st method, we will use the Workstation Script. During the uninstallation process, you also need to delete the virtual machine settings. If you want to delete them as well, you should pay attention to this setting in the wizard.

For instance, the steps below are for the Linux Mint system. Yet, these steps are the same for other derivative distributions as well.

Now, run these commands in the terminal to get rid of VMware from an Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, Kali, or SUSE system.

Step 1

Go to the start menu and see if you have it on your system by typing “VMware” in the search box.

You can also figure out which VMware products are on your computer by using the command below in the terminal.

• vmware-installer --list-productsCopy

Step 2

If you’re sure that Workstation Pro is on your system, open the terminal. On Ubuntu or other systems, you can do this by pressing CTRL + T. It might be different in some systems, but the idea is the same.

Now, copy and paste the command provided below into the terminal, then press Enter.

• sudo vmware-installer -u vmware-workstationCopy

NOTE: At this point, in some Linux systems, the tool for removing the program might not pop up on the screen. This could happen if you have a newer version of VMware software or if some parts are missing. If the screen doesn’t show up, you can still keep going with the process by answering the questions that come up in the terminal.

Step 3

When you start the VMware uninstallation wizard, you’ll see a question about your settings on the first screen. In here, choose Yes or No to either remove or keep these configurations.

Now, to delete all configurations, choose the No option as shown below. Then, if you plan to reinstall this program on your system, select Yes.

Choose No not to keep the configurations since you are going to delete them completely, and then click Next.

Step 4

Now, wait for the wizard to uninstall VMware Workstation from Linux (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Kali Linux, or Debian).

Step 5

On the wizard screen, you will see the message “Uninstallation was successful.” In this case, click the Close button to close the alert window.

Step 6

Type “VMware” again in the start menu and check if you no longer see the software. This way, you can confirm that you have entirely removed the Workstation software from your system.

2. Method: Uninstalling VMware Workstation Using Terminal Only

You can use the terminal instead of the computer screen. If that’s the case, there’s another way to remove VMware software, and that’s by using the terminal.

As you know, people often use terminal commands in Linux. If you’re new to this, be sure to backup your system. If you’re using Linux in a VM, you can take a snapshot and export it. But whether to back up or not is totally your choice in this situation.

To uninstall VMware from Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, Kali, or SUSE, use these terminal instructions.

Step 1

To begin removing the program, you first have to view the terminal. You can perform this by pressing “Ctrl+T” or “Ctrl+Alt+T” on your keyboard. You can also find “Terminal” in the Application Launcher.

Step 2

Now, let’s check if VMware Workstation is installed on your Linux PC using the terminal. In short, you can perform this process in a few different ways:

On Debian / Ubuntu / Mint / Kali systems, use the following command:

• dpkg -l | grep vmwareCopy

On Red Hat / CentOS / openSUSE systems, use:

• rpm -qa | grep vmwareCopy

You can use “which VMware” in addition to the other instructions. Also, you can see where it’s installed by using these commands. And, of course, you can find out the version by checking it.

• ls /usr/bin | grep vmwareCopy

• ls /usr/sbin | grep vmwareCopy

• vmware --versionCopy

Step 3

We suggest stopping all its services before you start removing them. This is because a service running in the background can cause issues during the removal.

Now, type the command below in the terminal to stop VMware and its USB services:

• sudo /etc/init.d/vmware stopCopy

• sudo service vmware-USBArbitrator stopCopy

This command shuts off all VMware Workstation and USB services on your OS.

After that, use the command below to make sure you stopped all the active services.

• sudo systemctl status vmwareCopy

Step 4

You have stopped all VMware services. Now, use the commands below to continue the deletion process. You can also use the package manager that goes with your Linux system. Keep in mind that the commands might be different for various distributions.

Use the command below to see what products are already there.

vmware-installer --list-productsCopy

Then, run the command below to uninstall the VMware Workstation from your Linux PC.

• sudo vmware-installer -u vmware-workstationCopy

• sudo vmware-installer -u vmware-playerCopy

The extended version of the above command is as follows:

• sudo /usr/bin/vmware-installer --uninstall-product=vmware-workstationCopy

• sudo /usr/bin/vmware-installer --uninstall-product=vmware-playerCopy

Step 5

After removing VMware, make sure to delete its configuration files. These files stay on your PC when you use the program. So, use this command in the terminal to clean those VMware-related config files.

• sudo rm -rf /etc/vmware*Copy

• sudo rm -rf /usr/lib/vmware*Copy

• sudo rm -rf /usr/share/doc/*vmwareCopy

• sudo rm -rf /usr/bin/vmware-usbarbitratorCopy

• sudo rm -rf /usr/bin/vmnet*Copy

• sudo rm -rf /usr/bin/vmware*Copy

• sudo rm -rf /usr/share/applications/vmware*Copy

When you use these commands, you’ll be deleting the “VMware” folder and everything inside it.

Step 6

Use the command below to clean up the program’s leftovers and free up disk space:

• sudo apt-get autoremoveCopy

This command deletes the extra packages that depend on the Workstation and that you installed.

Our YouTube Video Tutorials Make Your Removal Easier

Video 1 (Linux Mint)

Video 2 (Debian)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

The steps to uninstall the VMware software from Linux are more straightforward than it might sound. Still, we suggest saving your VMs before you uninstall. Also, remember your unique network setups or license keys. These are good to avoid possible issues during the removal. Doing this helps keep your current settings and keeps your system stable.