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Download VMware Fusion from the Broadcom Support Portal. M1, M2, M3, and M4 Macs use the same universal DMG as Intel Macs; no separate Apple-silicon installer is needed. For personal use, Broadcom says no license key is required. You will need to obtain a compatible guest operating system separately—Fusion does not include Windows.
Download Fusion from Broadcom
- Sign in or create a Broadcom account. Go to the Broadcom Support Portal and sign in or register. Access to download locations may require an account.
- Find the current VMware Fusion Pro download. Broadcom says the download is common to Standard and Professional versions, with licensing determining the product experience. Fusion Pro 26H1 was announced as available through the portal on May 14, 2026, according to VMware Cloud Foundation. Select the current release listed in the portal.
- Download the universal DMG. The same installer is for Intel and Apple-silicon Macs, including M1, M2, M3, and M4 models. Broadcom explains this in its download and install instructions.
Install the DMG in macOS
- In Finder, open Downloads and open the VMware Fusion DMG you downloaded.
- Drag the VMware Fusion app icon to the Applications folder if the installer window presents that option.
- Open VMware Fusion from Applications. If macOS warns that the app was downloaded from the internet, approve opening it if you obtained it from Broadcom.
- Enter your Mac administrator password and approve requested macOS prompts to finish setup.
Choose the right license option
When prompted during setup, choose personal use if that describes your use. Broadcom’s installation article states, “No license key is required for Personal Use.” Broadcom announced on November 11, 2024 that Fusion Pro is free for commercial, educational, and personal users; see its licensing announcement.
Older instructions for VMware Fusion Player describe a previous download and licensing path. VMware’s Fusion FAQ records the end of sale for Fusion Player and the current Pro personal-use model, so use the current Fusion Pro download rather than searching for an old Player installer.
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Install a guest operating system separately
Fusion creates and runs virtual machines; it does not include Windows or another operating system. Broadcom’s system requirements information explicitly says Microsoft Windows is not included. To create a VM, provide an operating-system installer image, typically an ISO, from an appropriate source. Any separate OS license or download you need is your responsibility.
#1 Best Overall
- Retina display; 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology (2560x1600 native resolution)
- Apple M1 chip with 8 cores (4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores), a 7-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine
- 8GB memory | 128GB SSD
- Backlit Magic Keyboard | Touch ID sensor | 720p FaceTime HD camera
- 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 wireless networking, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compatible | Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
On Apple silicon, choose an ARM-compatible guest
For an M1, M2, M3, or M4 Mac, choose a guest OS image built for ARM. The universal DMG means one installer supports both Mac processor families; it does not translate operating systems across architectures. Broadcom warns that Apple-silicon Macs cannot thereby run x86 operating systems, just as Intel Macs do not automatically run Apple-silicon operating systems. Check the guest OS and its installer architecture before creating the VM.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check Mac and macOS compatibility
Fusion’s host requirements depend on the release and macOS version. Broadcom’s Fusion system requirements include supported Intel and Apple-silicon Macs for specified macOS releases, but older release documentation is not a guarantee for a newer version. Check the requirements for the current release in the portal before installing or upgrading.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Retina display; 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology (2560x1600 native resolution)
- Apple M1 chip with 8 cores (4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores), a 7-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine
- 8GB memory | 128GB SSD
- Backlit Magic Keyboard | Touch ID sensor | 720p FaceTime HD camera
- 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 wireless networking, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compatible | Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
Rank #4
- Key Features Apple M1 8-Core CPU 16GB Unified RAM | 256GB SSD
- 13.3" 2560 x 1600 Retina IPS Display 7-Core GPU | 16-Core Neural Engine
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Bluetooth 5.0 2 x Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 Ports
- Backlit Magic Keyboard Force Touch Trackpad | Touch ID Sensor
- macOS
Rank #3
- Apple-designed M1 chip for a giant leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
- Go longer than ever with up to 18 hours of battery life
- Up to eight GPU cores with up to 5x faster graphics for graphics-intensive apps and games
Rank #2
- Apple-designed M1 chip for a giant leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
- Charge less with up to 18 hours of battery life - 13.3-inch Retina display with P3 wide color
- 8-core CPU delivers up to 3.5x faster performance to tackle projects faster than ever before
- Up to eight GPU cores with up to 5x faster graphics - FaceTime HD camera for clearer, sharper video calls
- 16-core Neural Engine for advanced machine learning - 8GB of unified memory so everything you do is fast and fluid
- Mac chip: M1, M2, M3, and M4 Macs use the universal DMG; no chip-specific download is called for.
- Host macOS: Confirm that the current Fusion release supports your macOS version.
- Guest architecture: On Apple silicon, select an ARM-compatible guest image rather than assuming an Intel x86 image will run unchanged.
- Guest OS: Obtain the OS installer separately; Fusion does not bundle Windows.
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