Downloading VMware ESXi 6.5 ISO for Free: A Step-by-Step Guide
VMware ESXi 6.5 is a popular hypervisor that allows you to create and manage virtual machines. While it's a paid product, you can download a free trial version or use it for free with some limitations. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of downloading the VMware ESXi 6.5 ISO file for free.
Before You Start
Before downloading ESXi 6.5, make sure you meet the system requirements:
Downloading VMware ESXi 6.5 ISO
To download the ESXi 6.5 ISO file, follow these steps:
Alternative Option: Download from the VMware Flings website
If you're unable to download the ISO file from the VMware website, you can try downloading it from the VMware Flings website. VMware Flings is a platform that offers free trials and demos of VMware products.
Installing VMware ESXi 6.5
Once you've downloaded the ISO file, you can install ESXi 6.5 on your server. Here's a brief overview of the installation process:
Limitations of the Free Version
Keep in mind that the free version of ESXi 6.5 has some limitations:
Conclusion
Downloading VMware ESXi 6.5 ISO for free is a straightforward process. While the free version has some limitations, it's still a great option for testing and development environments or for small-scale deployments. Make sure to review the system requirements and limitations before downloading and installing ESXi 6.5.
Disclaimer: Software versions prior to End of General Support (EoS) often have critical security vulnerabilities. VMware ended support for ESXi 6.5 on November 15, 2022. You should only install this version for legacy hardware compatibility, offline lab environments, or specific air-gapped testing.
If you manage to get the ISO, here is how to install it. Warning: This will erase all data on the target drive.
Downloading VMware ESXi 6.5 for free is currently difficult because the version is End of Life (EOL) vmware esxi 6.5 download iso free
and Broadcom has significantly changed how VMware software is distributed. endoflife.date 1. Current Availability Status End of General Support: ESXi 6.5 officially ended general support on October 15, 2022 End of Technical Guidance: Support completely ceased on November 15, 2023 Broadcom Changes:
Since the Broadcom acquisition, many older "free" versions and perpetual licenses have been retired or moved behind strict entitlement walls. endoflife.date 2. Where to Find the ISO
Because it is no longer a supported version, you cannot typically find a "Download" button on the standard public VMware/Broadcom site without an existing paid license. However, there are two primary legal ways to still find it: Broadcom Community Broadcom Support Portal:
If you have an account with "entitlements" (meaning you or your company previously purchased it), you can log in to the Broadcom Support Portal to find archived versions. Broadcom support portal Vendor-Specific Custom ISOs: Major hardware vendors like
often host their own customized versions of ESXi 6.5 for their servers. These are sometimes still publicly accessible: Dell VMware ESXi 6.5 Support Page HPE Support Center
(often requires an active support contract for the hardware) Hewlett Packard Enterprise 3. The "Free" License Problem While you might find the ISO, getting a free license key
for version 6.5 is no longer possible through official channels. VMware ESXi - endoflife.date 25 Feb 2026 —
The official "Free Edition" (vSphere Hypervisor) for VMware ESXi 6.5 is no longer available for direct download from as of February 2024 Downloading VMware ESXi 6
. While Broadcom recently reintroduced a free version for version 8.0, version 6.5 is considered End of Life (EOL) and has been removed from the standard free registration portals. Official Download Methods (Requires Existing Entitlement)
If you already have a Broadcom support account or an existing license, you can still access legacy ISOs through the official support portal: Broadcom Support Portal : Log in to the Broadcom Support Portal Navigate to Downloads VMware Cloud Foundation My Downloads Select Product : Search for VMware vSphere Locate Version
: Select the major version (e.g., 6.5) from the dropdown. Note that if you are "not entitled," the standard ISO may be locked. Alternative Reliable Sources
Because 6.5 is no longer officially "free to download" for new users, you can use these official manufacturer mirrors which often host the ISOs for their specific hardware: Dell Support
: Dell provides customized ESXi 6.5 ISOs that are widely used for home labs and older hardware. You can find them on the Dell Support Page Manufacturer Custom ISOs
: On the Broadcom portal, even if the "Standard" ISO is locked, the Custom ISOs
tab (for HP, Lenovo, etc.) sometimes remains accessible for download without a specific support contract. Important Limitations VMWare ESXi 6.5 Install on Workstation Player
As of 2024, Broadcom acquired VMware. The download experience has changed slightly. A computer with a compatible processor (Intel or
support.broadcom.com.