VMware – Cannot Cut, Copy, or Paste to VM’s

KB ID 0000515

Problem

Ever since ESX 4.1 this feature has been disabled and you have been unable to paste to VM, VMware say in their own documentation:

vmware copy paste

Source (Page 215 – ESX Configuration Guide ESX 4.1 vCenter Server 4.1).

To turn this feature back ON you have a few choices.

Please be aware: We are talking about copy and pasting TEXT to and from a guest VM NOT files and folders.

Solution

Option 1 (Enable Copy and Paste to VM an individual Guest machine)

Using HML5 Web Client (Enable Copy and Paste to VM)

Firstly, you need to shut the virtual machine down > Right Click it > Edit Settings > VMware Options > Advanced  > Scroll down.

 

VMware Advanced Settings

Edit configuration > Add configuration params;

VMware Advanced Settings Copy and Paste

Add in the following two parameters then click OK

Name: isolation.tools.copy.disable, Value: false
Name: isolation.tools.paste.disable, Value: false

VMware Advanced Settings Copy and Paste

Using Flash Web Client.

Firstly, you need to shut the virtual machine down > Right Click it > Edit Settings > VMware Option Tab > Advanced > Edit configuration > Add in the following;

Name: isolation.tools.copy.disable, Value: false
Name: isolation.tools.paste.disable, Value: false

 

VMware 6.5 Enable Copy Paste

OK > OK > Power on VM

Using VMware Client (Enable Copy and Paste to VM)

1. Firstly, you need to shut the virtual machine down > Right Click it > Edit Settings > Option Tab > Advanced > General > Configuration Parameters.

vmware copy paste

2. Select “Add Row” and add the following two options:

isolation.tools.copy.disable

isolation.tools.paste.disable

Set both these values to FALSE > OK > OK > Power the VM back on again.

vmware copy paste

Note: Even without these values set, if a VM is vMotioned to an ESX host that has the copy.paste options set in it’s config file (see below) then these features are automatically enabled.

Option 2 (Enable Copy and Paste to VM on an individual Guest machine)

1. You can also achieve the same as above by directly editing the .vmx file for the virtual machine, Add the following two values as shown below:

isolation.tools.copy.disable=”FALSE”

isolation.tools.paste.disable=”FALSE”

vmware copy paste

Note: Even without these values set, if a VM is vMotioned to an ESX host that has the copy.paste options set in it’s config file (see below) then these features are automatically enabled.

Option 3 (Enable Copy and Paste on the ESX host for all the VM’s on that host)

Note: This procedure will be removed/reset after an ESX upgrade. (You will need to carry out this procedure again post upgrade).

1. Connect to your ESX server, either directly on the console, or via SSH. and execute the following command:

vi /etc/vmware/config

VMware 6.5 Enable Copy Paste Globally

 

2. Press i to insert text and paste in the following two lines:

isolation.tools.copy.disable=”FALSE”

isolation.tools.paste.disable=”FALSE”

Press Escape > then type :wq to save the changes.

VMware 6.5 Enable VM Copy Paste Globally

Additional Steps for Linux / Ubuntu to allow Copy and Paste to VM

1. Assuming you have the VMware tools installed in your Linux guest VM, if not execute the following command:

sudo apt-get install open-vm-toolbox

To enable copy paste on the guest execute the following command:

vmware-toolbox &

One the VMware tools properties page pops up you will be able to copy and paste.

vmware copy paste

Enabling Copy and Paste in VMware Workstation

Out of the box, this functionality is switched on. However if you lose it then open the virtual machines settings > Options tab > Guest Isolation > Enable the Copy and paste option.

vmware copy paste

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

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Author: Migrated

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