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VDI VMDK
File conversion

Convert VDI to VMDK

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jul 10, 2026
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Is it possible to convert VDI to VMDK?
Yes - VDI converts to VMDK.

Power off the VM, then run VBoxManage clonemedium disk in.vdi out.vmdk --format VMDK. The guest data is preserved unchanged and the resulting .vmdk can be attached in VMware Workstation, Fusion, or Player immediately.

3 programs
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 VDI to VMDK?

.vdi is Oracle VirtualBox's native virtual hard-disk format (VirtualBox 1.0, 2007). .vmdk is VMware's equivalent container, used by VMware Workstation, Player, Fusion, and ESXi. VMware does not read .vdi natively, so converting the disk is the required step when moving a VM from VirtualBox to a VMware product.

How to convert VDI to VMDK

VirtualBox FREE

Power off the VM, then run VBoxManage clonemedium disk "in.vdi" "out.vmdk" --format VMDK; VBoxManage ships with every VirtualBox installation.

VirtualBox for Mac FREE

Power off the VM, then run VBoxManage clonemedium disk in.vdi out.vmdk --format VMDK in Terminal.

qemu-img OPEN-SOURCE

Run qemu-img convert -O vmdk in.vdi out.vmdk; useful if VirtualBox is not installed or for scripting bulk conversions.

Programs that convert VDI

VirtualBox
VirtualBox for Mac
VirtualBox for Linux

About these formats

.VDI Virtual Disk Image (Oracle VirtualBox)

A VDI file is the native virtual hard disk format of Oracle VirtualBox. It holds a complete guest operating system, not a document or optical disc image. To use it, attach it to a VM in…

Open .VDI 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

  • Power off or save the VM before converting - never clone a disk attached to a running VM.
  • After importing into VMware, install VMware Tools inside the guest to restore proper graphics, clipboard sharing, and network drivers; VirtualBox Guest Additions will not work in VMware.
  • Large disks (20-100 GB) can take several minutes; the output is a single monolithic .vmdk compatible with all VMware desktop products.

Frequently asked questions

Will the guest OS still work after converting to VMDK?
Yes - the conversion only rewrites the container format; guest data, partition table, and filesystem are preserved unchanged.
Can I use qemu-img instead of VBoxManage?
Yes - qemu-img convert -O vmdk in.vdi out.vmdk produces an equivalent result and works without VirtualBox being installed.
Which VMware products accept the converted VMDK?
VMware Workstation, VMware Player, and VMware Fusion all accept the converted .vmdk directly.
Do I need to reinstall the OS after converting?
No - the OS and all files are intact; Windows may require reactivation if hardware fingerprinting detects the environment change.