How to Convert VMware VM to VirtualBox and Back

Step 1: Prepare Your VMware Virtual Machine

Begin by completely shutting down the VMware virtual machine that you wish to convert. This is a necessary step to prevent data corruption.

Step 2: Create an OVF File

Open VMware, select your intended virtual machine, and navigate to File > Export to OVF. Choose a save location, name your file, and click Save.

Pro Tip: If you are using the free version of VMware, open the OVFTool folder, right-click while holding Shift, and choose Open PowerShell window here. Then, use the following command:

ovftool "sourcepath/filename.vmx" "destinationpath/filename.ovf"

Step 3: Import the OVF into VirtualBox

Now, launch Oracle VirtualBox. Click on Import or File > Import Appliance. Select the OVF file you’ve just created and click Next.

You can edit VM settings; however, it is generally best to keep them as default. Click on Finish to complete the import.

Step 4: Start Your New Virtual Machine

Wait for the import to finalize. After that, you’ll be able to start the newly created virtual machine in VirtualBox.

Step 1: Open VirtualBox and Export Your Machine

Launch the VirtualBox application. Navigate to File > Export Appliance, choose the VM you want to convert, and click Next.

Step 2: Set Up the Export File

Select a location to save your exported appliance and finalize your choices, then click Finish.

Step 3: Import the File into VMware

Open VMware Workstation Player. Click File > Open and select the OVA file exported from VirtualBox.

Step 4: Complete the Import Process

Assign a name and path for your new virtual machine and click Import. If you encounter hardware compliance issues, click Retry. If it fails, you may need to create a new virtual machine and configure it from scratch {software and settings}.

Step 5: Start the Virtual Machine

Once imported, power on the VM by clicking Play virtual machine.