Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: Getting an error trying to set up shared folders on an Ubuntu instance of VMWare Fusion running on OSX

Error fixing shared folders setup on Ubuntu VM in VMware Fusion

Quick Answer: Check VMware Tools version and update if necessary, then try enabling Shared Folders again.

Error Unable to update runtime folder sharing status occurs when attempting to set up shared folders on an Ubuntu instance of VMWare Fusion running on OSX. This error affects users who are trying to access shared files between their host machine and guest operating system.

This issue can be frustrating as it prevents users from accessing shared files, which is a common use case for virtual machines. In this troubleshooting guide, we will walk you through the steps to resolve this error.

⚠️ Common Causes

  • The primary reason for this error is that VMware Tools is not properly configured or installed on the guest operating system. When VMware Tools is not correctly set up, it can cause issues with shared folder connectivity.
  • Another potential reason for this error is that the /mnt/hgfs directory is not properly created or mounted in the guest operating system. This directory is required for shared folders to function correctly.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Updating VMware Tools

  1. Step 1: Open the VMWare Fusion console and select the Ubuntu virtual machine.
  2. Step 2: Click on 'Edit Virtual Machine Settings' and then click on the 'Options' tab.
  3. Step 3: In the 'VMware Tools' section, ensure that 'Enable VMware Tools' is checked and click 'OK'.
  4. Step 4: Restart the guest operating system by clicking 'Power off' and then 'Start', or by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Shift+R. This will ensure that VMware Tools is properly installed and configured.

Creating the /mnt/hgfs directory manually

  1. Step 1: Open a terminal in the guest operating system as an administrator.
  2. Step 2: Run the command `sudo mkdir /mnt/hgfs` to create the /mnt/hgfs directory.
  3. Step 3: Run the command `sudo mount -t hfs /dev/disk1s3 /mnt/hgfs` to mount the Shared Folders file system. Replace `/dev/disk1s3` with the actual device path of your shared folder.

✨ Wrapping Up

To resolve the error Unable to update runtime folder sharing status, try updating VMware Tools or creating the /mnt/hgfs directory manually. If you are still experiencing issues, refer to the VMWare Fusion documentation for further assistance.

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