Day-Zero support for Windows Server 2025
As part of our commitment to provide the highest level of support for Windows guest operating systems on the VMware Cloud Foundation and vSphere platforms, VMware Tools 12.5.0 provides day-zero support and seamless integration in the VMware Cloud Foundation stack for the latest versions of Windows. This includes day-zero support for Windows Server 2025.
For Windows Server 2025 support, VMware Tools 12.5.0 includes several key updates:
- VMXNet3 Network Driver: Added support for NDIS Poll Mode and NDIS 6.89
- WDDM Graphics Driver: Simplified installation with WDDM driver helper service.
- Software-only Drivers: Applied version updates for compliance with the new standards.
- Compliance: All VMware Tools drivers comply with the Windows Server 2025 requirements for their classification.
Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable prerequisite:
The prerequisite versions for VMware Tools 12.5.0 on a 64-bit Windows are Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x86) version 14.40.33810.0 and Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64) version 14.40.33810.0. Both Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages are bundled with VMware Tools 12.5.0 download package.
VMware Tools 12.5.0 is the minimum version of VMware Tools supported for Windows Server 2025. Download VMware Tools 12.5.0 from https://support.broadcom.com/.
Removing support for 32-bit Windows
VMware Tools 12.5.0 removes support for 32-bit Windows guest operating systems. The windows-x86.iso, which packages VMware Tools 12.4.5, is the final release that supports 32-bit Windows OS versions.
Starting with VMware Tools 12.5.0, the windows.iso will support only 64-bit Windows OS versions. For prerequisites and install steps, refer to the Manually Install VMware Tools on Windows section.
For customers using ProductLocker to perform VMware Tools upgrades, windows-x86.iso will not be bundled in the future major ESXi releases as well as in future offline bundles that include the tools-light VIB. All legacy VMware Tools ISO images, including windows-x86.iso are available for download from https://support.broadcom.com/.
VMware Tools 12.5.0 continues to support 32-bit applications running in 64-bit Windows OS versions.
