The virtual machine appears to be in use VMware error

When we tried to turn on a virtual machine on VMware Workstation after closing it, we encountered an error that said the machine was already in use. Users have encountered various instances of the same error. So, if the virtual machine appears to be in use in VMware Workstation, this post will help you resolve the issue.

This virtual machine appears to be in use.

If this virtual machine is not in use, press the “Take Ownership” button to obtain ownership of it. Otherwise, press the “Cancel” button to avoid damaging it.

Fix The Virtual machine appears to be in use VMware error

When the VMware virtual machine appears to be in use, you will get an option to take ownership, however, it won’t do anything, you need to follow the steps mentioned below to resolve the issue.

1. Perform basic troubleshooting solutions
2. Recreate Virtual Machine
3. Delete Lock files in the VM directory
4. Check for VMware update
5. Reinstall VMware

Now, if you are sure that the virtual machine is not in use, press the Take Ownership button to obtain ownership of it and proceed. If you are unsure, press the Cancel button and follow these suggestions.

1] Perform basic troubleshooting solutions

Before exploring time-consuming solutions, we recommend performing basic troubleshooting steps such as restarting VMware and rebooting the PC. These actions help resolve temporary glitches, such as hung processes or incomplete shutdowns. To begin, close the VMware Workstation, click Ctrl+ Shift + Esc to launch Task Manager, and ensure no VMware-related processes are running in the background.

Next, we will perform a system reboot to eliminate memory caches and terminate lingering processes. This will provide a clean slate for VMware to function. After rebooting, relaunch VMware and the Virtual machine and check whether the issue is resolved.

2] Delete Lock files in the VM directory

Lock files are used by VMware to prevent simultaneous access to the VM files; however, they are prone to corruption and can cause issues like the one we are facing. Moreover, after a crash or an improper shutdown, leftover or orphaned lock files can prevent the VM from opening. Fortunately, this issue can be resolved by deleting the files.

Follow the steps mentioned below to do the same:

1. First and foremost, power off the VM, and close the VMware Workstation.
2. Navigate to the folder where VMware files are stored, and look up all the folders that end with .lck. Make sure to backup the files in case you need to reverse the changes. To know the directory, in VMware Workstation, click on the VM, and check the Configuration file field.
3. Right-click on each of them and delete it.

Once done, launch the VM, and check the status.

3] Recreate Virtual Machine

The root cause of the issue is that the Virtual Machine files are locked, and it occurs due to unexpected shutdowns, leftover lock files, or simultaneous attempts to access the VM from multiple sessions. In this case, we will recreate the Virtual Machine to refresh the VM’s configuration, and here’s how to do it.

1. Launch the VMware Sphere Client, navigate to the inventory where the Virtual machine is situated, right-click on it, and select Remove.
2. In VMware Workstation, click on File > New Virtual Machine.
3. Next, create a virtual machine normally for the kind of operating system you will be using.
4. After creating the virtual machine, right-click on it, and select Settings.
5. Now, go to Hard Disk, and click on Add > Next.
6. You will have to choose a few options, it’s better to keep them default; when you are on the screen where you are asked to select the hard disk, select Use an existing virtual disk, and click on Next.
7. Click on Browse, navigate to the location where your original VM was stored, and select its vmdk file.
8. Once done, click on Finish and then start the virtual machine.

Verify if the issue is resolved. If not, move on to the next solution.

4] Check for VMware update

Updates often include enhanced error-handling mechanisms, and if the issue is due to software glitches or compatibility issues, updating VMware to the latest version might be able to resolve it. To begin with,

1. Launch VMware, and click Help from the top menu bar.
2. Click on the Software Update button, and wait for a while, VMware will automatically search for the latest available updates.
3. Click on the Download and Install button. After the process is completed, follow the on-screen instructions to install the updates.

If you have installed an update, check if the issue persists.

Read: How to install VMWare ESXi Hypervisor in Hyper-V Virtual Machine

5] Reinstall VMware

If the installation files or software components have become corrupted, then our last resort is to reinstall the VMware Workstation again. Furthermore, a new installation also helps address compatibility issues and fix bugs.

1. Click Win + I to open Settings, navigate to the Apps tab, and click on Installed apps.
2. Search VMware, click the three dots beside it, and select the Uninstall button. Make sure to remove any residual files or registry entries that may remain on the device.
3. Download the latest version of VMware Workstation Pro. Once the download is complete, launch the installer file, and follow the on-screen instructions to install the VMware workstation.
4. After the installation is completed, reboot the PC, launch the app to reconfigure the settings, and create a new Virtual Machine.

Hopefully, you can resolve the issue using the solutions mentioned in this post.

Read: How to install Fedora on VMware Workstation

How do I turn on Virtual Machine automatically on VMware?

To automatically turn on the Virtual machine, click the Virtual machines option from the inventory, and right-click the Virtual Machine. Select the Autostart option > Configure, and choose any option from the Pop menu. Lastly, hit the Save button to apply the changes.

Read: How to install Windows Server on VMware Workstation

How do I force a VM to power off in VMware?

To force a Vurtal Machine to power off in VMware, click on it, and navigate to the menu bar present on the top side. Click on VM, then select Power, and lastly choose the Power off option. However, if the option is greyed out, or unresponsive, then users can use the Task Manager to force shut down.

Also Read: Install Debian on VMware Workstation.