Disconnected ((exclusive)) | Virtual Device Serial0 Will Start

If you add a serial port to a VM but do not specify what it connects to (e.g., a physical COM port, a file, a named pipe, or an output to a printer), VMware will default to disconnecting it. The device is present but inactive.

If you’ve recently powered on a VMware Virtual Machine (VM) only to be greeted by the message you aren’t alone. While this warning might seem alarming, it’s usually a minor configuration mismatch rather than a sign of a failing system.

Avoid binding virtual hardware directly to physical host resources. Use network-backed virtual serial ports (Virtual Serial Port Concentrators) if remote console redirection or kernel debugging is required across a cluster. This preserves vMotion compatibility and prevents resource locking during automated host migrations. virtual device serial0 will start disconnected

Depending on whether you actually need the serial port, use one of the following methods to resolve the message.

Depending on whether you actually need the serial port, you can resolve this warning using three different methods. Method 1: Remove the Serial Port (Recommended) If you add a serial port to a

: In VMware Workstation 17.5+ and Fusion 13.5+, virtual printer support (which often utilizes serial0 ) was removed.

This message typically appears in VMware Workstation VMware Fusion While this warning might seem alarming, it’s usually

In this article, we will explain what this message means, why it happens, and how to resolve it based on your needs.

: If the VM properties dictate using an absolute physical COM port (like COM1 or /dev/ttyS0 ) on the host machine, the hypervisor looks for that hardware during initialization. If your modern laptop or desktop lacks an actual serial interface, the mapping fails immediately.

Log into the or open VMware Workstation . Power off the target virtual machine. Right-click the VM and select Edit Settings .

This dual usage of the message highlights that the underlying concept—a virtual device that is not yet active—is consistent across different virtualization platforms.