.VMSN File Extension

VMware Snapshot State File

Developer VMware
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What is a VMSN file?

A VMSN file saves the virtual machine (VM) data for a snapshot, which is a frozen state of the VM saved at a particular point in time. VMware virtualization software creates a VMSN file when a user takes a snapshot of a VM, which allows them to revert a VM to a saved point. VMSN files are saved with a .VMSD file, which contains the metadata for the snapshot.

More Information

Screenshot of a .vmsn file in VMware Fusion 13
VMSN file open in VMware Fusion 13

VMware Fusion and VMware Workstation are virtualization applications that can run multiple VMs on a single machine. VM snapshots save a VM state you can revert to in case something happens to the VM. For example, you can save a fresh installation of a guest operating system (OS) as a snapshot and revert to the clean OS install even after installing applications.

How to create a VMSN file

When taking a snapshot of a VM, VMware virtualization software creates a VMSN file in the VM file. For example, you can take a snapshot in Fusion by selecting Virtual Machine → Snapshots... → Take Snapshot, then Fusion creates the VMSN file in the .VMWAREVM file, which you can find in the following location (Fusion saves it here by default):

Macintosh HD/​Users/​[username]/​Virtual Machines

Common VMSN Filenames

[VM name]-Snapshot[number].vmsn - The name of the VMSN file is the same name as the VM followed by the numbered snapshot. For example, the VMSN file for the second snapshot of a "Windows 11" VM is Windows 11-Snapshot2.vmsn.

How to open a VMSN file

You should not attempt to open a VMSN file manually. Instead, you can open a VMSN file from within the VMware Fusion or VMware Workstation user interface. For example, to open a VMSN file in Fusion, select Virtual Machine → Snapshots... → Snapshots..., then double-click the snapshot to load it.

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Programs that open or reference VMSN files

Windows
Mac
Linux

Verified by FileInfo.com

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