How do I request a free license key

[gerdgoebel]

I registered myself as a private user. I downloaded Fusion 12. During installation on my Mac (10.15.6) I selected to request a free license key, but I get sent to a link with a company logon. When I enter the e-mail address I get a message that it already is used.

When I go to My VMware and logon I see that the Fusion 12 is not registered.

I thought after I first had to register to even be able to download Fusion 12 the app would be registered at the same time.

What am I doing wrong?

[swasde]

Remove all cookies and so on in safari. After this a new request for the free licence will go to right webpage.

[a_p_ · Accepted solution]

It looks like the registration process is not up to date yet.

I just registered for a free key at https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/evalcenter?p=fusion-player-personal​. After logging in use the "Register" button below the  License and Download tab".

André

[wila]

Yes, but only one of the two register links on that page works.

After login there's two register buttons on the page. One at the right "Register here" and one "Register" under the note "you haven't registered yet". The latter one does not work, but it is the most logical one to click on.

I already reported that to the vmwarefusion twitter account.

Note that the "Manually download" button is also broken.. but you can use the download from the professional version, it is the exact same file.

--
Wil

[htchien]

Thanks Andre, your link has saved my day!! I've just registered a free personal license for Fusion 12 via the link you provided.

The "Get Free License" link on VMware's Fusion 12 webpage and in the software will bring users to https://www.vmware.com/go/getfusionplayer​, and this link will redirect to the Register page for VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6, not VMware Fusion 12 Player.

[Mikero]

Thanks for that Wil, we're trying to figure out what's going on here... I was having issues with adblockers that I had to disable (and honestly we have so many freaking ad trackers it's nauseating... I'm on a new mission interrnally to make that more sensible...).. some users in non-US countries were getting routed to other evals.

This is the link that is supposed to work: https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/evalcenter?p=fusion-player-personal
You do need a My VMware account, so if folks already have one the process should be quick, but if not they'll have to 'register' for one before they 'register' for the personal use license...

But yah, it's not the best experience for some folks... we have plans to simplify it much further going forward.

With VMware being primarily an enterprise-focused company, all our web assets are sort of geared to that type of user's experience, so we have to work with the machine and the tools we have.

That said... the team is much bigger now than it was a few weeks ago, so going forward we'll be putting a lot more effort into making sure we have a nice onboarding experience.

Anyone is welcome to hit me up directly with feedback or questions:

mroy at vmware dot com or @mikeroysoft on Twitter

[Mikero]

So this is confusing...

This is the link from the product page:
https://vmware.com/go/get-fusionplayer-key

It redirects to: https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/evalcenter?p=fusion-player-personal

I created the redirect myself, tested it extensively, I can't make it fail (unless I have my adblockers up)... but I have heard more than one user note that 'it takes me to the horizon or vSphere eval' for some reason...
We're investigating... it's so weird, I've never seen a redirect behave like that. (I make these things all the time)

[riccoho]

I always got redirected to ESXi evaluation... in different browser, with adblocker disabled.

[TheChriss]

Before closing this thread, I deleted my cookies and called the site linked above, where I'm directed to a registration form. It forces me to enter a company or organization, even though my profile says, I'm an individual. Any ideas what I should enter?

[a_p_]

I usually enter e.g. "private" in such fields, if I want to download software for personal use.

André

[TheChriss]

Thank you. I finally managed to get a license key, even though the site said after the registration that an error happened - after refreshing the said, I was able to see the license key.

But anyway, I must say that the structure of the VMware websites is a little messy in my opinion, as there's not just one way to find and download the DMG image, but also to find the registration form and it looks like I wasn't the only one who got a little bit lost. Maybe that's a point where the guys of VMware should focus on. Thank you for the support.

[MetPhoto]

We all seem to be having similar issues.  The VMWare web site is wildly confusing to navigate.

I have had a support case opened since 16/09/20 but no such luck getting the download to work.  Case 20156033309

My error message is:

Your download request has been received and is under review for download eligibility.

Confirm that you provided a valid first name, last name, address, and country when you registered. If you did not, update your My VMware profile and try to download again.

Contact us if you have any questions. Quote Message ID 621 and provide the email address you used when registering.

The organisation or private individual option is infuriating. Firstly when registering it only ever allows to register as a company, even when you are not.

Secondly on the profile page there is an option:

Are you an Individual or from an Organization?

Which you can't change!  Really VMWare?

I have been buying VMWare Fusion for Mac since v1 and at the moment I am feeling rather cheated.

[joe139]

I have the same question. I'm retired and wanted the VMWare Fuson Player for home use. I signed up for MyVMWare (very, very difficult). Finally, I was able to download the SW and learned there was no license key!.. Now I find I am competing with lots of people for "free keys"... This is crazy! VMWare is a good product but this site has an insane number of rabbit holes to get lost in. I am definitely lost... There is supposed to be some sort of page called "License Keys" sub-linked from the Home Page that has your key... . But I can't find that page!. Anyone have any idea where the "License Key" page is?

[Mikero]

It's https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/evalcenter?p=fusion-player-personal

or: https://www.vmware.com/go/getfusionplayer  

The link is posted in this forum as the 'Announcement' and is the 'accepted answer' for this thread.

We link to it from the Product pages on vmware.com, from our blogs, the Announcement in this community, our press release, on Twitter, and within the product itself.

If you have it installed, go to the Virtual Machine menu > Buy Now or Enter License... and there's a link right there.

Where else would be good to link from?

[vstoppe]

For two hours I am trying to figure out to get the license key for personal use and finally stumbled on this thread. I registered as a private person, should register again for the key, had to enter a company name? and no real phone number was accepted. The VMware sites feel like an experience of 4-dimensional space, you never know where you come out or where you are when you go back. This is the short version.

In the end I tried the two links of Mikero:

It's https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/evalcenter?p=fusion-player-personal

or: https://www.vmware.com/go/getfusionplayer

which give me an "HTTP ERROR 502". This is the same as the free license key button in the VMware Fusion 12 installer.

If it is free for personal use, why the complicated hassle with getting a license key?

It would be great if you could fix this for a moment again. Or maybe I should look for solutions which are not VMware or Virtualbox for my needs.

[Sacha56583]

Hello folks,

Pretty same problem here, that website is a [removed by moderator] nightmare.

Even using vanilla Google Chrone, you're stuck into an infinite loop of redirection.

Log you in, redirect to home page, then go to evaluation center..and poof you appear as not logged in, then you try to reconnect (click on "Connexion")..and get redirect again to the home page...logged in ! Repeat ad nauseam...

I'm pretty sure that's something VMware is aware of and pretty happy with...because when you want to paid for a Fusion 12 licence it's (supriseeeee) not buggy at all.

I hav eto say that i never seen a website so [removed by moderator] up.

It's more easy to find illegal (and functionnal) key for Fusion 12 pro than just get a free one for personnal use.

[wila]

Hi,

Not sure why this is a real pain for some users, I agree that it should "just work".

However if you are using Firefox, the try using Safari.
Another user at the forum just posted that it made all the difference for them.
If that doesn't work, then try to open it in a privacy window.

--
Wil

[scott28tt]

@Sacha56583 

Moderator: Please keep your language professional as per the VMTN Code of Conduct.

[vstoppe]

I could solve the problem. I am not sure which factor exactly helped me to get to the private license. But I set Safari as my default browser. I think copying the url from chrome did not work. I also switched my DNS from personal PiHole-Adblocker-DNS to a public dns. After this clicking the Link in the Installer worked.

[LutzBehrens]

How to get VMware Fusion Player Mac Personal Use License

• Start current Mac version of Google Chrome browser
• Go to: https://www.vmware.com/products/fusion.html
• Use Link ‚Register Now‘ in the grey area with context menu ‚Open link in Inkognito mode‘
• A new Chrome window starts
• Register yourself including company name private
• Register VMWare Fusion Player - Personal Use
• Copy and save the License Key and start download of VMware Fusion Player Mac version 
• You are hopefully done

This worked out for me on December 24th 2020