When we tried to activate a virtual machine on VMware Workstation after closing it, we encountered an error indicating that the machine was already in use. Users have encountered multiple instances of the same error. So, if the virtual machine appears to be used in VMware Workstation, This article 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 take ownership of it. Otherwise, press the “Cancel” button to avoid damaging it.

Fix Virtual machine appears to be used by VMware

When the VMware virtual machine appears to be in use, you will be given the option to take ownership of it, however, this will not do anything, you need to follow the steps mentioned below to resolve the issue.

1. Perform basic troubleshooting
2. Recreate a virtual machine
3. Delete lock files in 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 button Take ownership button to become owner and continue. If you are unsure, press the key Cancel and follow these suggestions.

1) Perform basic troubleshooting

Before exploring tedious solutions, we recommend performing basic troubleshooting steps such as restarting VMware and restarting the PC. These actions help resolve temporary issues, such as stuck processes or incomplete shutdowns. To get started, close VMware Workstation, click Ctrl+Shift+Esc to launch Task Manager and make sure that no VMware-related processes are running in the background.

Next, we will perform a system reboot to clear memory caches and terminate persistent processes. This will provide a clean slate for VMware to operate. After the reboot, relaunch VMware and the virtual machine and check if the issue is resolved.

2) Delete lock files in VM directory

Lock files are used by VMware to prevent concurrent access to VM files; However, they are prone to corruption and can cause problems like the one we are facing. Additionally, after a crash or improper shutdown, leftover or orphaned lock files may prevent the VM from opening. Fortunately, this problem can be fixed by deleting the files.

Follow the steps mentioned below to do the same:

1. First, power off the VM and close VMware Workstation.
2. Navigate to the folder where the VMware files are stored and look for all folders ending in .lck. Be sure to save the files in case you need to undo the changes. To find the directory, in VMware Workstation, click on the VM, and check the box Configuration file field.
3. Right-click on each one and delete it.

Once finished, launch the VM and check the status.

3) Recreate a virtual machine

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

1. Launch VMware Sphere Client, go to the inventory where the virtual machine is located, right-click it and select Delete.
2. In VMware workstation, click on File > New Virtual Machine.
3. Next, normally create a virtual machine for the type 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 Add > Next.
6. You will have to choose a few options, it is best to keep them as default; When you are on the screen where you are asked to select the hard drive, select Use an existing virtual disk, and click Next.
7. Click Browse, navigate to where your original VM was stored, and select its vmdk file.
8. Once finished, click Finish then start the virtual machine.

Check if the problem is resolved. Otherwise, move on to the next solution.

4) Check VMware update

Updates often include improved error handling mechanisms, and if the problem is due to software issues or compatibility issues, updating VMware to the latest version may be able to resolve it. To start,

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

If you installed an update, check if the problem persists.

Read: How to install VMWare ESXi hypervisor in a Hyper-V virtual machine

5) Reinstall VMware

If the installation files or software components are corrupted, our last resort is to reinstall VMware Workstation. Additionally, a fresh installation also helps resolve compatibility issues and fix bugs.

1. Click Win+I to open Settings, go to Applications tab and click Installed apps.
2. Search for VMware, click the three dots next to 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. Once the installation is complete, restart the PC, launch the application to reconfigure the settings and create a new virtual machine.

I hope you can resolve the issue using the solutions mentioned in this article.

Read: How to install Fedora on VMware Workstation

How to automatically activate virtual machine on VMware?

To automatically activate the virtual machine, click the Virtual Machines option in the inventory and then right-click the virtual machine. Select the Autostart > Configure option and choose any option from the context menu. Finally, tap the Save button to apply the changes.

Read: How to install Windows Server on VMware Workstation

How to force power off a VM in VMware?

To force power off a Vurtal machine in VMware, click on it and navigate to the menu bar present at the top. Click on VM, then select Power and finally choose the Power off option. However, if the option is grayed out or unresponsive, users can use Task Manager to force stop.

Read also: Install Debian on VMware Workstation.