omarchy unresponsive in vmware workstation

[Kurizek27]

System details

2 cores, 8gb ram allocated

What's wrong?

mouse works just fine, keyboard too but when it boots up, keyboard stops working

[Kurizek27]

in virtualbox, some keybinds work but the most needed like terminal doesnt

[AidenDevsNagios]

Same here

[justleska]

same, i'm having trouble installing vmware guest additions since the terminal isn't even availible..

[zarmin]

I've tried to install it for VMware workstation Pro 17.6.4 on 3 different Windows 11 hosts (fully updated).

• GPU 3d acceleration enabled, 2GB ram reserved.

• 4 vCPU, 8GB ram.

• VT-x virtualization NOT enabled

• Latest ISO, 3.0.1

• 1st is a Desktop Ryzen 5950x with RTX 5090, using a keychron USB external keyboard

  • Result: Black screen after booting up, in the dmesg (but i used the http://omarchy.org/install on a latest arch install 2025.09.01 in this case). Without it the result is as the same as the 3rd case.

• 2nd is a Lenovo IdeaPad laptop, Ryzen 5 5500U with builtin Radeon graphics, using a builtin keyboard

  • Result: many keybindings do not work (e.g., Super + Space). The keyboard seems to have a 300–400 ms input delay. If I manage to open a browser, I can type in it, but typing is noticeably laggy (no CPU saturation). Mouse is fine.

• 3rd is an another Lenovo laptop, Ryzen 5 7430U with Radeon Graphics, using a builtin keyboard

  • Result: Tthe keyboard is broken even during installation. It was a challenge to get through the installer: Enter presses often register twice, and sometimes key presses are not detected at all. After booting, the progress bar stops at about two-thirds, and I can’t switch terminals (Ctrl + Alt + Fx) to check the dmesg or anything.

I'm using another linux systems (mostly Ubuntu 22.04 or higher with the default userland, but not arch) virtualized on all of the machines, without ANY issue.

[ryanrhughes]

I would suggest reviewing and following this guide for VMWare.

#572

[dragonovs]

@ryanrhughes Why is this closed? People are still facing this issue and the guide you are redirecting us is written by an AI and dated Aug. It's been a month already and the new version just dropped. Can you make an official guide and reopen this issue ?

[dxb-super]

same problem, it does not work on VMware...

[wilk3ns]

+1 vmware shortcuts does not work with 3d accel on, when turned of it is black screen after login. Virtualbox however, there is somewhat success without 3d accel, but still not in a vm usable state

[DarthJahus]

This is what I get on VMWare Workstation 17 Pro.

Keyboard seems unresponsive. Mouse is working. It can hover some parts (there are tooltips), and it can only click the virtual desktops icons.

[ca555nider]

Having the exact same issue

[Kurizek27]

@ryanrhughes thats not how you fix problems. Just abandon it and say to everyone that they should install regular arch and then install your ai generated slop code on top of it.
Fix it

[ryanrhughes]

Migrated to a discussion to allow it to be reopened and continue.

@Kurizek27 I'd be more than happy to review a PR or updated guide to resolve whatever issues there are in VMware.

Given the extensive info here, this is not an Omarchy issue so much as it is a VMware one. Given the behavior described; probably something to do with the VMware specific modules. I'd start there.

[Kurizek27]

Trust me, i ran way too many random distros inside vmware and none of them broke the keyboard input. I also remember trying to install omarchy in virtualbox. The keyboard worked but only like a 1/4 of the keys

[ashaikh]

@ryanrhughes I tested it with Windows 10 and Vmware 17.5.0 and the same issue is happening. The super key is not received in the VM even after following all the links here with the instructions to try it. Control Alt F3 does work. One last item that may be unrelated the lockscreen app does keep dying not sure if that is in any way related to other issues.

[yimingwangdell]

@ryanrhughes please help to fix it.
same issue here.