This article provides the steps to add an existing virtual disk (.vmdk) to a virtual machine as a secondary virtual hard disk.

Note: The steps in this article assume that you have a functional virtual machine to which you want to attach the virtual hard disk. If you do not have a functional virtual machine, see Installing Windows in a virtual machine using VMware Fusion Easy Install (1011677).

To locate your existing virtual machine, see Locating the virtual machine bundle in VMware Fusion (1007599).

Note: If you have any snapshots on the primary disk, consolidate them before adding the second .vmdk file onto the virtual machine. If the secondary disk is added and then a consolidation of the snapshots is done, it will result in the virtual machine losing connectivity with the secondary disk as the virtual machine will be restored to an old state (where the virtual disk was not present on the virtual machine).

Fusion 4.x and later

To add an existing virtual disk to a virtual machine as a secondary virtual hard disk:

1. Shut down the virtual machine.
2. On the Fusion menu bar, go to Virtual Machine > Settings.
3. Click Add Device > Existing Hard Disk, then click Add.
4. Navigate to the location of the virtual hard disk that you want to add and select the main disk (.vmdk).
5. Select Share this virtual disk with the virtual machine that created it, then click Open.
6. Close the Settings pane and power on the virtual machine.

Fusion 3.x and earlier

To add an existing virtual disk to a virtual machine as a secondary virtual hard disk:

1. Shut down the virtual machine.
2. On the Fusion menu bar, go to Virtual Machine > Settings.
3. Click Hard Disks.
4. Click the + button at the bottom of the column to add a secondary disk.
5. In the File name drop-down, select Choose existing disk.
6. Navigate to the location of the virtual hard disk that you want to add and select the main disk (.vmdk).
7. Select Share this virtual disk with the virtual machine that created it.
8. Close the Settings pane and power on the virtual machine.

All versions

If the drive does not show up in (My) Computer, you may need to assign a drive letter to the secondary drive:

1. Click Start > Run, type diskmgmt.msc, then click OK.
2. Right-click the unassigned partition and click Change Drive Letter and Paths.
3. Click Add.
4. Select Assign the following drive letter: and select a letter.
5. Click OK.
6. Go to (My) Computer to see your drive and access your data.