.VMEM File Extension
VMware Virtual Machine Memory File
| Developer | VMware |
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What is a VMEM file?
A VMEM file stores backup memory for a virtual machine (VM) created by VMware Workstation or VMware Fusion while the VM is running. It is only present when the VM is running or if the VM crashes and is not meant to be opened by a user.
More Information
VMware Workstation and VMware Fusion are high-end virtualization applications that allow you to run guest operating systems, such as Windows or Linux, on your computer. When you install an operating system (OS) with Workstation or Fusion, the software creates a VM to store the OS. Then, when running the VM, the software automatically creates a VMEM file to store a backup of the memory allocated to the VM (its file size is the same as the memory allocated to the VM).
Location of VMEM files
You can find the VMEM file in the VM file while the VM is running. For example, if you are a Fusion user running a VM, you can find the VMEM file in the .VMWAREVM file of the running VM. Fusion saves the VMWAREVM file in the following location by default:
Macintosh HD/Users/[username]/Virtual Machines
You may also encounter the VMEM file when the VM is not running if the VM has previously crashed. Unless you want to examine the VMEM file, you can delete it.
Common VMEM Filenames
[VM name].vmem - The name of the VMEM file is the same name as the VM. For example, the VMEM file for a "Windows 7" VM is Windows 7.vmem.
[VM name]-Snapshot[number].vmem - The name of the VMEM file for a VM snapshot is the same name as the VM followed by the numbered snapshot. For example, the VMEM file for the third snapshot of a "Windows 10" VM is Windows 1o-Snapshot3.vmem.
How to open a VMEM file
You should not attempt to open a VMEM file manually. Instead, VMware Fusion or VMware Workstation accesses the VMEM file when running a virtual machine.