VMware Workstation failed to start the VMware Authorization Service.

[HarryLinux]

I upgraded to VMware Workstation Pro 14 and recently did an update. Following the update, when I try to power on my virtual machine I get the following error message:

"VMware Workstation failed to start the VMware Authorization Service. You can try manually starting the VMware Authorization Service. If this problem persists, contact VMware support."

I reentered my license key several times and restarted the application but the problem persists. I have 306 Days left on my key and wasted 5 with this issue. Am I doing something wrong?

[vcallaway]

Shooting from the hip here, but have you tried right clicking and 'run as administrator'?

[Scillonian]

Have a read of this thread and see if any of the advise helps:

Workstation 14.1.2 not working

[HarryLinux]

I ended up opening up the installer and running a repair on the application. When I relaunched the application it worked fine. Thanks for the help though.

[FadiAbuMansour]

For windows usres, I tried other options like what in this article

VMware Knowledge Base​​

but it didnt work out for me so I just solved the problem by doing the repair for VmWare insallation

Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > VmWare Workstation > Next > repair > restart computre

[thewul]

This is an old thread, I know.

FWIW and should other users run into the same problems some time in future, I'd still like to add my comments.

Up front there is an important thing to note.

I always use the two small batch files on my desktop:  1st one launches VMware Workstation, the 2nd one exits/closes VMware Workstation,

There is also a direct shortcut to vmware.exe  on my desktop (I should and will remove that)

Today I coincidentally tried to launch VMware Workstation using the direct shortcut (to vmware.exe) and indeed also got this error.

("VMware Workstation failed to start the VMware Authorization Service. You can try manually starting the VMware Authorization Service.

If this problem persists, contact VMware support.")

So I searched for a solution here and it seems that I should repair/re-install the application...

I then noticed I used the wrong button to launch VMware and launched it using the batch file. That went fine!

One might consider using batch files.

Batch files are located with the VMware Workstation folder and a shortcut to desktop

start_vmware.bat

sc config VMUSBArbService start= demand

net start VMUSBArbService

sc config VMAuthdService start= demand

net start VMAuthdService

sc config VMwareHostd start= demand

net start VMwareHostd

sc config VMnetDHCP start= demand

net start VMnetDHCP

sc config "VMware NAT Service" start= demand

net start "VMware NAT Service"

netsh interface set interface "VMware Network Adapter VMnet1" ENABLED

netsh interface set interface "VMware Network Adapter VMnet8" ENABLED

d:

cd VMware

start vmware.exe

(note: d: and cd VMware : in my case VMware Workstation is installed in d:\vmware, so adjust this to your own situation)

stop_vmware.bat

taskkill /F /IM "vmware-tray.exe"

net stop VMwareHostd

sc config VMwareHostd start= disabled

net stop VMUSBArbService

sc config VMUSBArbService start= disabled

net stop VMAuthdService

sc config VMAuthdService start= disabled

net stop VMnetDHCP

sc config VMnetDHCP start= disabled

net stop "VMware NAT Service"

sc config "VMware NAT Service" start= disabled

netsh interface set interface "VMware Network Adapter VMnet1" DISABLED

netsh interface set interface "VMware Network Adapter VMnet8" DISABLED

(note: the stop_vmware.bat is to stop all vmware processes)

please also see  disable auto-start VM workstation services/processes

Set the batch file to run as administrator.

This has been working fine for years.

Again, just FWIW

-

[Volker17]

Same thing with every update.

Solution: de-install Product and re-install older version

When clicking "keep license" don't bother, it's going to be removed anyway and you have to re-enter that again too.