{"id":451075,"date":"2026-10-15T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T01:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.guidingtech.com\/?p=451075"},"modified":"2026-10-21T13:39:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T08:09:42","slug":"why-vmware-cannot-scan-local-directories-and-what-to-do-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.guidingtech.com\/why-vmware-cannot-scan-local-directories-and-what-to-do-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Why VMware Cannot Scan Local Directories and What to Do About It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In most cases, if VMware Workstation cannot scan local directory, chances are there\u2019s a folder access issue surrounding the file. In rarer cases, the virtual machine itself might not have been set up properly to access your files. When you cannot scan local directory, VMware might be able to overcome this with a few setting changes or by using a different file. Here\u2019s how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fix 1 \u2013 Cannot Scan Local Directory, VMware Needs Read Access.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, VMware Workstation may not be able to access a folder because the Windows account lacks the necessary permissions. You can check the folder\u2019s permissions in File Explorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1.<\/strong> Find the folder you\u2019re trying to copy from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2.<\/strong> Right-click on the folder and select \u201cProperties.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3.<\/strong> Go to the \u201cSecurity\u201d tab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Why<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 4.<\/strong> Find your account\u2019s name. It should have either \u201cFull Control\u201d or both \u201cWrite\u201d and \u201cRead\u201d permissions. If not, go to \u201cEdit\u201d and add the permissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Why<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 5.<\/strong> Click on \u201cApply\u201d to save the changes, close out of the dialogs, and try again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fix 2 \u2013 Move the Folder Out of Protected Space<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, security settings or file permissions may prevent VMware Workstation from accessing files in protected folders, such as Desktop, or folders managed by OneDrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1.<\/strong> Find the folder you\u2019re trying to access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2.<\/strong> Create a new folder in an accessible location on your C: or D: drive. Name it something you\u2019ll remember, such as \u201cVM Copy\u201d or \u201cVM Backup.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3.<\/strong> Add the files you\u2019re trying to copy to the new folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4.<\/strong> Try to access the new folder from VM Workstation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fix 3 \u2013 Close All Apps That Might Be Interfering<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If another application is using or locking a file you\u2019re trying to copy, it may prevent the file from being accessed or transferred. Closing the application can help rule out this possibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1.<\/strong> Open the Task Manager on the host PC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2.<\/strong> Find any active apps that might be using files that you\u2019re accessing. These could include Office applications, other file-transfer utilities, terminal windows running file operations, or backup and synchronization tools such as OneDrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3.<\/strong> Right-click on the apps and select \u201cEnd task.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Why<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fix 4 \u2013 Create a Zipped Folder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you can\u2019t drag and drop from the operating system into the virtual machine, a separate zipped folder might work since it doesn\u2019t contain the entire path or branches that VMware can\u2019t parse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1.<\/strong> Use Windows\u2019 built-in ZIP support or download WinRAR and install it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2.<\/strong> Right-click the folder you want to copy, open the \u201cWinRAR\u201d submenu, and select \u201cAdd to [name].rar.\u201d This creates a RAR archive in the same directory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Why<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 3.<\/strong> Copy over the new zipped file to the virtual machine by dragging and dropping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fix 5 \u2013 Disable Controlled Folder Access<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One setting that might override traditional read\/write permissions is Microsoft Defender\u2019s \u201cControlled folder access.\u201d It can block untrusted applications from making changes to files in protected folders, so check whether it has blocked VMware Workstation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1.<\/strong> Search for \u201cWindows Security\u201d in the search bar or \u201cSettings\u201d and open it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2.<\/strong> Select \u201cVirus & threat protection.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3.<\/strong> Scroll down and select \u201cManage Controlled folder access.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Why<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 4.<\/strong> Set the setting to \u201cOff\u201d or select \u201cAllow an app through Controlled folder access,\u201d then add VMware Workstation to the list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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