How to Access Shared Folder in Vmware Linux

If you want to know how to access shared folder in vmware linux, the usual answer is to enable the shared folder in VMware, make sure VMware Tools or open-vm-tools is installed in the Linux guest, and then open the folder from its mount point, often /mnt/hgfs. If the share is working, you can access it from the terminal or file manager like any other mounted directory.

What VMware shared folders are

VMware shared folders let you exchange files between the host machine and a Linux virtual machine without using email, cloud storage, or removable drives. You create the share on the VMware host side, then the Linux guest mounts it and exposes it as a local folder.

This is important because many access problems happen when the folder is enabled on the host, but the guest is not set up to mount it. In other words, turning the feature on in VMware is only the first step.

Before you start

To access a VMware shared folder in Linux, you usually need the following:

• The shared folder must be enabled in VMware settings.
• The Linux guest should have VMware Tools or open-vm-tools installed.
• The guest must support shared folder mounting.
• You need the exact share name configured in VMware.

If any of these are missing, the folder may not appear at all, or it may appear but be unreadable.

How to enable shared folders in VMware

Start on the host side, because the Linux guest cannot mount a folder that has not been shared first.

1. Open your VMware product, such as VMware Workstation or VMware Player.
2. Select the virtual machine you want to use.
3. Open the virtual machine settings.
4. Find the Shared Folders section.
5. Enable shared folders if they are disabled.
6. Add a folder from the host machine and give it a clear share name.
7. Save the settings and start or restart the virtual machine if needed.

Use a simple share name if possible. Short names are easier to type when you access the folder from the Linux terminal.

Where VMware shared folders are usually mounted in Linux

In many Linux guests, VMware shared folders are mounted under /mnt/hgfs. Some systems may use a different mount path, but /mnt/hgfs is the most common location.

You can check whether the folder is mounted by running:

mount | grep hgfs

You can also list the contents of the mount point with:

ls /mnt/hgfs

If the shared folder is available, you should see one or more folder names matching the shares you created in VMware.

How to access the shared folder from the terminal

Using the terminal is often the fastest way to confirm whether the shared folder is available.

1. Open a terminal in the Linux guest.
2. Check whether the VMware mount point exists:

ls /mnt/hgfs

3. If you see your share name, enter it:

cd /mnt/hgfs/ShareName

4. List the files inside:

ls

If the directory is empty or does not exist, the share may not be mounted yet, or the VMware guest tools may not be working correctly.

Example

If you created a shared folder named project-files, you might open it like this:

cd /mnt/hgfs/project-files

From there, you can copy, edit, rename, or remove files just like you would in a normal Linux directory, subject to permissions.

How to access the shared folder in the file manager

If your desktop environment is mounted correctly, the shared folder may also show up in the file manager.

1. Open your file manager, such as Files, Dolphin, or Thunar.
2. Browse to /mnt/hgfs in the location bar, or open the filesystem view and navigate there manually.
3. Open the folder with the same name you configured in VMware.

If you do not see /mnt/hgfs in the file manager, use the terminal first to confirm whether the share is mounted. Some desktops hide system mount points unless they are active and readable.

If the shared folder does not appear

If you cannot find the shared folder in Linux, the issue is usually one of these:

• Shared folders are disabled in VMware settings.
• VMware Tools or open-vm-tools is missing.
• The guest services are not running correctly.
• The folder is mounted somewhere else or not mounted at all.
• Permissions prevent your user from reading the mount point.

The quickest check is to confirm both sides: the VMware share exists on the host, and the guest can see the mount point.

Common fixes for /mnt/hgfs issues

If /mnt/hgfs is empty or missing, try these fixes in order.

1. Confirm VMware Tools or open-vm-tools is installed

Shared folders rely on guest integration software. On many modern Linux distributions, open-vm-tools is the recommended option. If it is not installed, the guest may not be able to mount VMware shared folders.

If you are unsure, check your package manager or system services and install the guest tools package provided by your distribution.

2. Check whether the hgfs module or mount is active

The shared folder feature in Linux is often exposed through VMware’s hgfs mechanism. If the mount is missing, the folder will not appear in /mnt/hgfs.

Run:

mount | grep hgfs

If nothing is returned, the share is probably not mounted.

3. Try mounting the shared folder manually

On some systems, you may need to mount the folder manually. A common approach is:

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/hgfs

sudo mount -t fuse.vmhgfs-fuse .host:/ /mnt/hgfs -o allow_other

Note that the exact command can vary depending on your distribution, VMware version, and whether you are using open-vm-tools. If the command fails, check the error message closely, because it usually points to the missing component.

4. Restart the VM or guest services

Sometimes the share is configured correctly but the guest service has not refreshed the mount. Restarting the virtual machine, or restarting VMware guest services inside Linux, may resolve the problem.

5. Verify permissions

Even when the folder is mounted, your Linux user might not be able to access it. If you get permission errors, check whether the mount was created with readable permissions for your user account.

Using the allow_other option can help in some environments, but it should be used carefully and only when supported by your setup.

How to tell whether the share name is correct

One common mistake is using the host path instead of the VMware share name. The Linux guest usually does not care about the original host folder path. It cares about the share name you assigned inside VMware.

For example, if the host folder is D:\Work\Reports but the VMware share name is reports, you would access it in Linux as /mnt/hgfs/reports, not as the Windows or host path.

VMware Workstation and VMware Player notes

Shared folders work in both VMware Workstation and VMware Player, but the exact menu labels may differ slightly. The important part is the same in both products, you must enable the shared folder feature for the specific virtual machine and then verify that the Linux guest tools can mount it.

If you move a VM between hosts or change the guest distribution, revisit both the VMware settings and the Linux guest tools. A folder that worked before may stop showing up after upgrades or configuration changes.

Quick checklist

• Shared folders are enabled in VMware.
• The host folder was added with the correct share name.
• VMware Tools or open-vm-tools is installed in Linux.
• /mnt/hgfs exists or the share is mounted elsewhere.
• Your Linux user has permission to read the mount.

Frequently Asked Questions About how to access shared folder in vmware linux

Where are VMware shared folders mounted in Linux?

They are commonly mounted at /mnt/hgfs, although the exact location can vary depending on the Linux distribution and VMware setup.

Do I need VMware Tools or open-vm-tools to access shared folders?

Yes, in most cases you do. The guest tools provide the integration needed for Linux to see and mount VMware shared folders properly.

Why is /mnt/hgfs empty in Linux?

The most common reasons are that shared folders are disabled, guest tools are missing, or the folder has not been mounted yet.

How do I open a VMware shared folder from the terminal?

Use ls /mnt/hgfs to see the share names, then change into the folder with cd /mnt/hgfs/ShareName.

Can I access VMware shared folders from a file manager?

Yes, if the folder is mounted and your desktop environment can see it. Browse to /mnt/hgfs in your file manager and open the share from there.

What if the share name does not show up?

Check the VMware shared folder settings first, then confirm that VMware Tools or open-vm-tools is installed and that the guest has mounted the share successfully.

Conclusion

The easiest way to handle how to access shared folder in vmware linux is to remember the two separate steps: enable the share in VMware, then mount or open it inside the Linux guest. In most setups, the folder appears under /mnt/hgfs once VMware Tools or open-vm-tools is installed and working. If it does not appear, check the share name, mount status, and permissions before trying more advanced fixes.