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OVA VMDK
File conversion

Convert OVA to VMDK

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Sep 2, 2026
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Is it possible to convert OVA to VMDK?
Yes - OVA converts to VMDK.

Rename the .ova to .tar and open it with 7-Zip, or run tar -xf machine.ova on Linux/macOS - the .vmdk is already inside and requires no format conversion. VMware OVF Tool is the right choice when you need checksum validation or are targeting an ESXi deployment.

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Also to VMDK: DD · VHD · VHDX

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Sep 2026

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Why convert OVA to VMDK?

An OVA bundles a .vmdk virtual disk alongside an .ovf hardware descriptor and a .mf checksum manifest into a single TAR archive. Extracting the VMDK allows you to attach it to an existing VM, mount it for file recovery, or copy it to another datastore without importing the whole appliance.

How to convert OVA to VMDK

7-Zip OPEN-SOURCE

Right-click the .ova, choose 7-Zip > Open archive, select the .vmdk file inside, and click Extract - no re-encoding; the disk data is identical to what is inside the OVA.

VMware OVF Tool FREE

Run ovftool source.ova output-folder/ to unpack and validate the OVA, writing the .vmdk and .ovf to the output folder; use this when checksum verification is needed.

VMware Workstation APP

Use File > Open to import the OVA as a VM; the .vmdk is then accessible in the VM's folder and can be copied or attached to other VMs.

Programs that convert OVA

VMware Workstation
VirtualBox
VMware Fusion
VirtualBox for Mac
VirtualBox for Linux

About these formats

.OVA Open Virtualization Format Archive

An OVA file is a single-file package of a complete virtual machine - its hardware configuration plus one or more virtual hard disks bundled into one TAR archive. You import it into a…

Open .OVA details →
.VMDK VMware Virtual Machine Disk

A VMDK file is a VMware virtual hard disk - it stores a complete operating system and all its files as one or more host files. You attach it to a virtual machine rather than opening it like…

Open .VMDK details →

Quality & what to watch

  • No conversion happens - the VMDK inside an OVA is a complete, unmodified disk file; extraction is unpacking, not re-encoding.
  • An OVA is an uncompressed TAR; renaming .ova to .tar works in any archive tool that does not recognise the OVA extension.
  • The .mf manifest lists SHA checksums for each component; VMware OVF Tool verifies these on extraction, while plain TAR tools do not.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need special software to get the VMDK out of an OVA?
No - 7-Zip (free) opens the OVA directly, or rename it to .tar and use any archive tool.
Is the VMDK inside an OVA the same as a standalone VMDK?
Yes - the OVA just wraps it in a TAR; the disk data is identical.
When should I use VMware OVF Tool instead of 7-Zip?
Use VMware OVF Tool when you need checksum validation or when the OVA was exported from ESXi and needs correct unpacking for re-import.
Can I use the extracted VMDK directly in VMware Workstation?
Yes - attach the .vmdk to a new or existing VM via VM Settings > Hard Disk > Use an existing virtual disk.