VMware Data Recovery: How to Recover VMDK Files and Deleted Data

08.09.2025
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Need VMware data recovery after deleting files, losing a VMDK file, or failing to boot a virtual machine? Data loss in VMware Workstation, VMware vSphere, or a Windows virtual machine can interrupt daily work and even cause business downtime. This guide explains how to recover VMware data from snapshots, backups, VMDK files, and Windows virtual machines, and when to use dedicated recovery software.
We’ll explore what it is, the various HDD recovery methods to perform it—from using native snapshots to leveraging powerful VMware data recovery software and recommend the best tools to ensure your Windows virtual machines can be restored quickly and effectively. Whether you’re an IT administrator or a business user, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to tackle data loss in your virtual environment.
Download Magic Data Recovery

Supports Windows 7/8/10/11 and Windows Server

Quick Tip: If a VMware virtual machine fails, do not create new snapshots, expand the virtual disk, compact the VMDK, or write new data to the same datastore before recovery. These actions may overwrite deleted files or make VMDK recovery harder.

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What Is VMware Data Recovery?

VMware Data Recovery is a process and set of tools designed to help users restore virtual machines to a state before data loss occurred or to retrieve deleted or lost data from within a virtual machine system. Whether due to accidental deletion, corruption, system crashes, or malware attacks, VMware data recovery solutions ensure that critical information within VMware environments can be recovered efficiently. This is especially vital for businesses relying on virtual infrastructures for daily operations, as it minimizes downtime and data loss risks.

VMware offers built-in features like snapshots and backups, but sometimes specialized VMware data recovery software is necessary to handle more complex data loss scenarios, such as severe corruption or incomplete backups.

How to Recover VMware Data: Snapshot, Backup, VMDK, or File-Level Recovery

There are several methods to perform VMware data recovery, depending on the available resources and the nature of the data loss.

Method 1: Recover VMware Data from a Snapshot

VMware snapshots capture the state of a virtual machine at a specific point in time. If data is lost or corrupted, you can revert the VM to a previous snapshot to restore its earlier state.

Steps:

1. Open VMware vSphere Client or Workstation.

2. Locate the virtual machine and view its snapshot manager.

3. Select the desired snapshot and choose “Revert to Snapshot.”

4. Confirm the action to restore the VM to the snapshot state.

Method 2: Recover VMware Data from a Backup Image

If you use VMware backup software (like Veeam, VMware Data Protection, or Commvault), you can restore entire VMs or individual files from backup images.

Steps:

1. Access your backup solution’s management console.

2. Locate the backup image of the target VM.

3. Initiate a restore operation, selecting either full VM recovery or file-level recovery.

4. Follow the prompts to complete the restoration process.

Method 3: Recover Deleted Files from a Running VMware Virtual Machine

For cases where only specific files are missing, you can use VMware data recovery software to scan and recover data directly from the virtual disk without restoring the entire virtual machine.

Steps:

1. Install and run a dedicated data recovery tool compatible with VMware virtual disks (e.g., Magic Data Recovery for Windows).

2. Select the virtual disk file (e.g., .vmdk) or attach the virtual machine to the recovery software.

3. Scan for lost or deleted files, preview recoverable items, and restore them to a secure location.

How to Recover Deleted Files from a Windows VMware Virtual Machine

When built-in methods are insufficient, third-party VMware data recovery software offers advanced capabilities to address challenging data loss scenarios. Here, we recommend Magic Data Recovery—a powerful data recovery tool designed for Windows-based machines. You can follow the steps below to perform data recovery on a Windows Virtual Machine:
1. Download and install Magic Data Recovery on a working Windows system or inside the affected Windows virtual machine if it can still boot. Do not install it on the same virtual disk that contains the lost files.
Download Magic Data Recovery

Supports Windows 7/8/10/11 and Windows Server

2. Select the partition or attached virtual disk where the files were lost, then click Search for Lost Data to start scanning.
Run the Magic Data Recovery to search for lost overwritten file
3. After the scan is complete, all your files will be listed. You can preview each file to verify if it is the one you lost.
Search for lost data
4. Click Recover and save the recovered files to another drive, another virtual disk, or a safe external location. Do not save recovered files back to the same affected virtual disk.
Save the recovered overwritten files

When VMware Data Recovery Software May Not Work

VMware data recovery software is mainly useful when the virtual disk is still accessible, the Windows virtual machine can boot, or the VMDK can be attached to another recovery environment. It may not work if the VMDK file itself has been deleted from the datastore, the datastore has been overwritten, or the virtual disk is severely corrupted.

If the VMDK file is missing, recover the virtual disk file from the original storage device first. If you have a valid backup, snapshot, or replicated copy, use that before attempting risky repair operations.

Conclusion

VMware data recovery depends on the type of data loss. If you have a valid snapshot or backup, use it to recover the virtual machine state or restore important files. If files were deleted inside a Windows virtual machine and the virtual disk is still accessible, Magic Data Recovery can help scan the affected partition and recover lost files.

For the best results, stop writing new data to the virtual disk, avoid compacting or expanding the VMDK before recovery, and save recovered files to a separate location. Regular snapshots, backups, and safe recovery practices can reduce downtime and improve the chance of successful VMware data recovery.

Download Magic Data Recovery

Supports Windows 7/8/10/11 and Windows Server

People also like to read: How to Recover Files Quickly

FAQ

Can I recover deleted files from a VMware virtual machine?

Yes, deleted files can often be recovered from a VMware virtual machine if the virtual disk is still accessible and the deleted data has not been overwritten. For a Windows virtual machine, you can scan the affected partition with data recovery software and save recovered files to another drive or virtual disk.

Can I recover data from a VMDK file?

Yes, recovery may be possible if the VMDK file is still available and can be attached, mounted, or scanned from a recovery environment. If the VMDK file itself was deleted from the datastore, you need to recover the VMDK file first before attempting file-level data recovery.

What should I do if my VMware VM will not boot?

If the VMware VM will not boot, avoid creating new snapshots or making major disk changes first. Try attaching the VMDK to another working virtual machine or recovery environment. If the virtual disk is readable, you may be able to recover important files without restoring the entire VM.

Is VMware snapshot recovery the same as backup recovery?

No. A VMware snapshot captures the state of a virtual machine at a specific point, but it is not a full independent backup. Backup recovery usually restores data from a separate backup image or storage location, which is safer when the original datastore or virtual disk is damaged.

Can I recover VMware data without a backup?

Yes, VMware data recovery without a backup may be possible if the virtual disk still exists and has not been overwritten. You can try file-level recovery from inside the Windows virtual machine or scan an attached VMDK. If the VMDK is missing, recovery becomes more difficult.

Should I recover from a snapshot or use recovery software?

Use a snapshot or backup if you need to return the entire virtual machine to an earlier state. Use recovery software if only specific files were deleted or lost inside the virtual machine and you do not want to roll back the whole VM. The best method depends on the data loss scenario.

Can Magic Data Recovery recover VMware virtual machine data?

Magic Data Recovery can help recover deleted, lost, formatted, or corrupted files from Windows-based VMware virtual machines when the virtual disk or partition is still accessible. It is best suited for file-level recovery, not for physically damaged storage or severely overwritten datastore-level data loss.

Where should I save recovered VMware files?

Always save recovered VMware files to a separate location, such as another virtual disk, external drive, network share, or host storage path. Do not save recovered files back to the same affected virtual disk, because doing so may overwrite other recoverable data and reduce recovery success.

Erin Smith is recognized as one of the most professional writers at Amagicsoft. She has continually honed her writing skills over the past 10 years and helped millions of readers solve their tech problems.