Skip to playerSkip to main content
If you’re stuck with the “This virtual machine appears to be in use” error in VMware Workstation, this video will help you fix it quickly and safely. This step-by-step tutorial shows how to unlock a VMware virtual machine, resolve ownership problems, and start your VM again without data loss.

This issue often happens after a Windows crash, Blue Screen error (CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT), unexpected power outage, forced restart, or when VMware Workstation closes incorrectly. When this happens, VMware may think the virtual machine is still running and block it using lock (.lck) files or incorrect ownership data.

In this video, we address common VMware errors such as:
• This virtual machine appears to be in use
• Take Ownership button not working
• Failed to start the virtual machine
• VMware cannot open the virtual machine
• VMX configuration file locked

This tutorial is also useful if your virtual machine stopped working after upgrading VMware Workstation Pro (for example from version 17.5.2 to 17.6). We fix unsupported VMX variables, startup errors, and restore virtual machines that won’t open after an update.

You will learn how to:
✔ Fix VMware virtual machine lock issues
✔ Delete leftover VMware lock files correctly
✔ Solve VMware ownership conflicts
✔ Repair VMX file errors
✔ Recover a VM that won’t start
✔ Prevent this VMware error from happening again

✔️ Supported VMware versions:
VMware Workstation Pro & Player
Versions 12, 15, 16, 17, 17.5, 17.6, and older

✔️ Compatible Windows systems:
Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7

✔️ Devices:
Laptop, PC, desktop computer

✔️ PC brands:
Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, Acer, MSI, Samsung, Toshiba, Sony VAIO, LG, Microsoft Surface, Huawei, Razer, Fujitsu, Gigabyte, Alienware, and more.

If VMware keeps telling you that your virtual machine is already running when it isn’t, or the Take Ownership option fails, this guide will walk you through the correct fix. Follow the full tutorial to restore your virtual machine and keep it running smoothly.

🔍 Search keywords:
fix VMware virtual machine appears to be in use, VMware take ownership error, VMware VM locked fix, VMware failed to start virtual machine, VMware cannot open VM Windows 11, VMware lock file problem, VMware VMX error after update, VMware VM not starting Windows 10, VMware ownership issue

#VMwareWorkstation #VMwareFix #VirtualMachineError #VMwarePro #Windows10 #Windows11

Category

🤖
Tech
Transcript
00:00Hey everyone, welcome back to Victor Explains.
00:13In today's video, I'm going to show you how to fix that this virtual machine appears to be in use error message in VMware Workstation.
00:20First, look closely at the error message window.
00:23You'll see the configuration file path of your virtual machine displayed there.
00:28From that path, copy only the first folder name, yours may look different from mine, and that's totally fine.
00:35Next, open File Explorer.
00:39Paste that folder name into the address bar,
00:46and click here or just press Enter.
00:49Once you're inside the virtual machine folder, make sure it has the same name,
00:58and now look for any folders that end with .lck.
01:01In my case, I have one folder ending with .lck, but you might see more than one, that's normal.
01:07Now, I will delete this folder if you have more than one go ahead and delete all of those .lck folders.
01:13After that, let's try starting the virtual machine again.
01:20And just like that, the virtual machine starts up successfully.
01:24One, I'd like to touch on the video today.
01:25What a long time ago.
01:26You will see it as distance from the space of Achilles.
01:28One, two, three, two.
01:29One, two, three.
01:30One, two, three.
01:31You'll see that is the fun.
01:32I've got that one, three.
01:33You're going to get to the future for the movie!
01:34You're going to get to the full surface.
01:35One, two, three, four.
01:36And then on the last one, two, three, four.
01:37Now, there's nothing wrong with the idea that the dream you can do is actually to do something.
01:38It's just a fun week.
01:39That's what we're doing.
01:40It's just about the trick.
01:41You can't be able to do something.
01:43All the things I can do here.
01:45All the things that I've made to touch on the adult machine.
Be the first to comment
Add your comment

Recommended