Top 20 VMware Keyboard Shortcuts

http://www.petri.co.il/virtual_vmware_keyboard_shortcuts.htm

Pointing and clicking is great but you can save a lot of time by knowing the keyboard shortcuts used by VMware. In fact, in some cases, you must know the right keys to push to do what you need to do. Let's learn more...

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What can you do with Keyboard Shortcuts?

So what can you do with these keyboard shortcut keys? Here is a list of some of the more important functions:

• Ungrab your mouse from being synced with the virtual machine and allow you to control it in the host again (assuming no VMware Tools are installed)
• Switch between virtual machines
• Leave full screen mode
• Send Ctrl-Alt-Del to the virtual machine only (and not to the host machine)

VMware Keyboard Shortcuts you should know

There are some required keyboard shortcuts you need to know just to use VMware. Then there are other keyboard shortcuts that you must know. Here's our list:

F11switches to full-screen mode and back to normal modeCtrl-Alt-Insertsends a Ctrl-Alt-Delete to the VMware Guest OSCtrl-Altis also used for - exiting full screen modeCtrl-Alt-EnterExpands the current VM into full-screen. If you have a number of VMs, this sequence will also move you between virtual machinesCtrl-Alt-Tabswitch between VMs when the mouse is grabbedCtrl-Tabswitch between VMs when the mouse is not grabbed but VMware is the active windowCtrl-Altis used to exit a Virtual machine from having control of your mouse and return your mouse control to the host machineCtrl-Alt-Spacewill allow you to send a keyboard sequence usually used with VMware server to the VMware guest without VMware Server recognizing it

Now, here are some more that are used just within the VMware Server application to perform certain functions:

Ctrl-Ncreate a new VMCtrl-Oopen a new VMCtrl-F4remove the tab for a VMCtrl-Dedit the config for a VMCtrl-Ggrab the input from your mouse/keyboard on the current VM (same as clicking on the console of the VM with your mouse)Ctrl-Pedit VMware PreferencesCtrl-Bpower on a VMCtrl-Epower off a VMCtrl-Rreset power on a VMCtrl-Zsuspend a VM

Modify your Keyboard Shortcuts (Hotkeys)

You can modify your keyboard shortcuts (hotkeys) from the default by going to the Edit menu, then clicking on Preferences, like this

On the Preferences menu, click on the Hot Keys tab to customize your keyboard shortcuts:

Summary

In some cases when, using VMware, there may be a keyboard shortcut you must use. For example, to release your mouse from a VM without any tools installed, press Ctrl-Alt. However, in most cases, using keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys are optional but can end up saving you a lot of time. For tat reason, I suggest you print this list of shortcuts and keep it handy!