With the guest isolation option, you can restrict file operations between the virtual machine and the host system, and between the virtual machine and other virtual machines.

To configure guest isolation options for a selected virtual machine, select VM > Settings, click the Options tab, and select Guest Isolation.

These restrictions apply:
  • VMware Tools must be installed in the guest operating system to use guest isolation features.
  • You cannot configure these options for a shared or remote virtual machine.
Note: The drag-and-drop and copy-and-paste operations are enabled by default. You might want to disable these operations to prevent files from being accidentally transferred between the virtual machine and the host system.
Table 1. Guest Isolation Options
Option Description
Enable drag and drop When this check box is deselected, these operations are restricted.
  • Drag and drop files from the host system to a Linux, Windows, or Solaris guest operating system.
  • Drag and drop files from the guest operating system to the host system.
  • Drag files from a file manager to an application that supports drag and drop, or from applications such as zip file managers that support drag-and-drop extraction of individual files.
Enable copy and paste When this check box is deselected, these operations are restricted.
  • Copy and paste text and files from the host system to a Linux, Windows, or Solaris 10 guest operating system.
  • Copy and paste from the guest operating system to the host system.
  • Copy and paste text and files from one virtual machine to another.

For virtual machines running Windows 8 or later guest operating systems, you can configure the guest operating system to pass tablet sensor data to a tablet. See Configuring Tablet Sensor Input Options for a Virtual Machine