VMDK File

What are VMDK files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a VMDK file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your VMDK files.

What is a VMDK file?

VMDK files have multiple uses, and (part Of A) VMware 3 Virtual Disk is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

(part Of A) VMware 3 Virtual Disk

We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

How to open VMDK files

Important: Different programs may use files with the VMDK file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your VMDK file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Last updated: February 24, 2023

All known file formats using extension .VMDK

While (part Of A) VMware 3 Virtual Disk is a popular type of VMDK-file, we know of 2 different uses of the .VMDK file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

VMware Virtual Disk

Files that contain the .vmdk file extension are Virtual Machine Disk Files. These files store the contents of a "virtual" hard disk that has been created by the VMware virtual hard drive software. VMWare is used as a "Software PC", allowing you to install e.g. Windows into a virtual PC, storing the operating system and all apps you install in a .VMDK file.

VMWARE is needed to run the operating system that is installed within the VMDK file, but various other tools can extract data from the file.

VMDK opener for Windows

We have identified 4 VMDK openers that are compatible with this specific type of VMDK file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about VMDK file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.