How to Install VMware Tools on macOS Catalina

Install VMware Tools on macOS Catalina

In this article, I will show you how to install VMware Tools on macOS Catalina. If you want to make macOS Catalina responsive, work fast and enable the drag and drop feature then you install VMware tools since it’s the tool created by VMware to make Virtual Machines work smoothly and have the benefits of install macOS as a VM.

Install VMware Tools on macOS Catalina

  1. Download VMware Tools ISO
  2. Attach the ISO to macOS Catalina
  3. Install the VMware tools
  4. Allow VMware tools from macOS Security Settings
  5. Reinstall the VMware tools if required

Step #1. Download VMware Tools ISO

Click the link below to download the VMware tools for macOS Catalina.

Step #2. Attach the ISO to macOS Catalina

#1. First, power on the macOS Catalina VM, right-click on macOS Catalina Tab/Window then click on Removable Devices > CD/DVD (SATA) > Settings.

Attach the ISO to macOS Catalina

Go to Removable Devices – CDDVD(SATA) 0 Settings

#2. Select Use ISO image file option and click Browse.

Attach the ISO to macOS Catalina

Use ISO Image File

#3. Locate the VMware Tools you downloaded in step #1. Select VMware Tools.iso and click Open.

Attach the ISO to macOS Catalina

Select VMware Tools.iso

#4. Once you have selected the VMware tools.iso, then make sure the device status is Connected and Connect at Power On and click OK.

Attach the ISO to macOS Catalina

Connect Device and Save Changes

Step #3. Install the VMware Tools

#1. The VMware tools will automatically appear on your desktop. You have to click on Install VMware tools.

Install the VMware Tools

Install VMware Tools

#2. When the pop-up asking for permission appears, click OK.

Install the VMware Tools

Allow Install VMware Tools

#3. On the welcome to VMware tools Installer page, click Continue.

Install the VMware Tools

Welcome to the VMware Tools Installer

#4. Click on the Install button, you will see a warning message and don’t worry about that, click Continue Installation.

Install the VMware Tools

Continue Installation

#5. Type your username plus password and click Install Software.

Install the VMware Tools

Click Install Software

#6. Click Ok on the pop-up again.

Install the VMware Tools

Allow Installer to Access Files

Step #4. Allow VMware Tools through macOS Security Settings

#1. You will a pop-up System Extension Blocked. After the pop-up appears, click Open Security Preferences.

Allow VMware Tools through macOS Security Settings

Go to Security Preferences

#2. Click on the Padlock icon then type your password. It allows you to make changes.

Allow VMware Tools through macOS Security Settings

Unlock Security & Privacy Settings

#3. Click Allow to enable the VMware tools extension to be installed from the security & privacy window.

Allow VMware Tools through macOS Security Settings

Allow VMware Tools from Security & Privacy

#4. On the Legacy system Extension, click OK.

Allow VMware Tools through macOS Security Settings

Legacy System Extension

#5. Click on OK again on the Security and Privacy windows.

Allow VMware Tools through macOS Security Settings

Click Ok on Security and Privacy

#6. Once the installation is successfully done, click the Restart button.

Allow VMware Tools through macOS Security Settings

Restart to begin installing the software

#7. macOS Catalina VM will restart and after the restart login with your Username and Password.

Allow VMware Tools through macOS Security Settings

#8. You may see the same System Extension Blocked pop-up again. Click Open Security Preferences.

Allow VMware Tools through macOS Security Settings

System Extension Blocked

#9. Click Allow again from the Security & Privacy window.

Allow VMware Tools through macOS Security Settings

Allow VMware Tools from Security & Privacy

#10. Restart your VM and test the enhanced features are working.

Step #5. Reinstall VMware Tool if required

Sometimes the VMware tools don’t work when you install, so If the VMware tools didn’t work, then you need to reinstall it, to make it work. So follow the Steps below.

  1. Click on Install VMware Tools.
  2. Click on Continue.
  3. Click on Continue Installation.
  4. Type your Username and Password and Click Install Software.
  5. Click Restart.
  6. login to macOS Catalina
  7. Full screen your macOS Catalina to make sure it’s work properly.
Reinstall VMware Tool if required
VMware Tools Installed on macOS Catalina

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I am the CEO of wikigain.com and a network instructor. Here is my online pictorial notebook. I would like to write and share my experience through this website for computer enthusiasts, how to guides and technology geeks.

11 Comments

  1. blankRodrigue Reply

    Ok the first time I understand everything and I worked perfectly for me thank you so much for that tuto : precise, detailed, accurate. A super job 🙂

  2. blankJackie Reply

    Same issue as Naz:
    How to fix this i am stuck at step 2 : This operation cannot proceed because your Mac OS guest is using the CD/DVD.

    Dismiss this message, eject the disc from inside the guest, and retry this operation.

    What do we do?

  3. blankJohn McGrath Reply

    It goes thru the install for me fine but its not installing video drivers for me as it wont switch to full screen even after i did a uninstall reinstall so their must be something missing from this tools . I installed older versions of mac on vmware & the tools worked but not this one . installed on a Dell inspirion pc

  4. blanknaz Reply

    How to fix this i am stuck at step 2 : This operation cannot proceed because your Mac OS guest is using the CD/DVD.

    Dismiss this message, eject the disc from inside the guest, and retry this operation.

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