Pop OS 24.02 LTS is one of the cleanest and most polished Linux distributions available today.

Developers, students, creators, and everyday users love it for its smooth performance, built-in tiling window manager, and beginner-friendly design.

If you want to explore Pop OS without touching your main Windows system, the easiest and safest option is to install it inside VMware Workstation.

This way, you can try every feature, customize it, and use it like a real machine—without any risk.

Why Run Pop OS on VMware Workstation?

Running Pop OS inside VMware Workstation is one of the safest and easiest ways to experience Linux, without changing anything on your main system.

It gives you all the power of Pop OS while keeping your Windows installation untouched.

•  A safe environment to test Linux
•  No partitioning or disk formatting
•  Ability to switch between Windows & Linux
•  Great for coding, testing, or development
•  Snapshots allow undoing mistakes easily

VMware Workstation is stable, feature-rich, and offers excellent hardware virtualization support—making it ideal for Pop OS.

Requirements Before You Start

System Requirements for Pop OS

• CPU: Dual-core or higher
• RAM: Minimum 8GB (16GB recommended)
• Storage: At least 30GB free
• OS: Windows 10/11 or Linux host
• VMware Workstation: Version 16

Step-By-Step: Install Pop OS on VMware

Step 1: Download the OS

Start by opening your web browser or using the link given below

Visit the official website:
https://pop.system76.com/

At the top of the page, you’ll find a download option; click it to see all versions of Guarda Linux listed.

Step 2:

You are on the official System76 website download page for the Linux distribution.
The page shows system requirements, SHA256 checksum for file verification, and the Download button to get the ISO file.

Step 3:

Open VMware Workstation Pro 17 to Install Pop OS
On the home screen, click Create a New Virtual Machine to start setting up the installation.

Step 4:

After clicking Create a New Virtual Machine, the New Virtual Machine Wizard opens.
Select Typical (recommended) and then click Next to continue.

Step 5:

The New Virtual Machine Wizard appears.
Choose Typical (recommended) and click Next to proceed with creating the virtual machine on VMware workstation.

Step 6:

Next, under Guest Operating System Installation, choose Installer disc image file (ISO) and browse to select your downloaded Pop OS ISO file.
Once the ISO is loaded, click Next to continue.

Step 7:

Under Select a Guest Operating System, choose Linux as the guest OS.
For the version, select Ubuntu 64-bit, then click Next to proceed.

Step 8:

Enter a name for your virtual machine (for example, Pop OS 22.04) and confirm the storage location where the VM files will be saved.
After naming it, click Next to continue.

Step 9:

Specify the disk size for your virtual machine.
For Pop OS, 20–40 GB is recommended.
Choose Store virtual disk as a single file for better performance, then click Next to continue.

Step 10:

Review the virtual machine settings on the Ready to Create Virtual Machine page.
If needed, click Customize Hardware to adjust RAM, CPU, or other hardware settings.
Once everything looks correct, click Finish to create the VM.

Step 11:

Your virtual machine has now been created.
To begin installing Pop OS, click Power on this virtual machine on the left panel.

Step 12:

The system has successfully booted into the live environment.
You will see boot messages on the screen, and finally the message “Linux distribution! OS 22.04 LTS!” appears, indicating that the installer is starting.

Step 12:

Pop OS has successfully booted into the live environment.
You are now on the Pop OS desktop, where you can begin the installation by clicking the Install Pop OS icon on the dock at the bottom of the screen.

Step 13:

The Pop OS installer has opened.
First, choose your preferred language from the list on the right, such as English

And then click Select to continue.

Step 14:

After selecting your language, choose your region or country—for example, United States—from the list.
Click Select to move to the next step of the installation.

Step 15:

Next, choose your keyboard layout.
The default layout English US – Default works for most users.
After selecting your layout,

click Select to continue.

Step 16:

On the installation screen, choose Clean Install to install a fresh copy of Pop OS on the virtual machine.
This option will erase the VM’s virtual disk and set up Pop OS automatically.
Click Clean Install to proceed.

Step 17:

Select the virtual drive where Pop OS will be installed.
Choose the VMware Workstation Virtual Disk (50 GB) shown on the screen.
Then click Erase and Install to begin the installation process.

Step 18:

Create your user account by entering your Full Name and Username.
These details will be used to set up your home folder.
After filling in the fields, click Next to continue.

Step 19:

Set your account password and then confirm it in the second box.
Make sure both fields match.
Once done, click Next to continue the installation.

Step 20:

The installation process has begun.
Pop OS is now extracting files and setting up the system.
Wait for the progress bar to complete this may take a few minutes

step 21:

To finish setting up Pop OS, click restart device.
your system will reboot into your newly installed Pop OS environment.

step 22:

After rebooting, you will see the login screen of the system.
Select your user account and enter your password to sign in.

step 23:

Enter the password you created during setup to log in to your Pop OS system.
After typing your password, press Enter or click the arrow to continue

step 24:

You are now logged into your freshly installed Pop OS system.
A message may appear indicating that system updates are available.
You can click the notification to install updates or begin using your system right away.

step 25:

After logging in, Pop OS begins a quick first-time setup.
Choose your preferred dock layout — No Dock, Dock Extends to Edges, or Dock Doesn’t Extend to Edges.
Once you’ve made your choice, click Next to continue.

step 26:

Configure your Top Bar preferences.
You can enable or disable the Workspaces Button and Applications Button, and choose the position for Date & Time and Notifications.
After adjusting the settings, click Next to continue.

step 27:

The system shows you how to use the Launcher to quickly open or switch applications.
You can type an app’s name or use the suggested shortcuts.
After reviewing the tips, click Next to continue.

step 28:

Pop OS introduces gesture controls for smoother navigation.
You can use three- or four-finger swipes to switch workspaces, open applications, and navigate between windows.
After reviewing the gesture tips, click Next to continue.

step 29:

Choose your preferred appearance for Pop OS.
You can select either Light Mode or Dark Mode based on your preference.
After selecting a theme, click Next to continue.

step 30:

Set your time zone by selecting your location on the map or typing it into the search bar.
In this example, Chennai, India (IST) is selected.
After confirming your time zone, click Next to continue.

step 31:

Your setup is complete!
The OS is now fully configured and ready to use.
Click Start Using the system to begin exploring your desktop.

You have successfully installed and set up this Linux distribution on VMware Workstation.
Your system is now ready to use — explore apps, customize your desktop, and enjoy your new Linux environment.

Conclusion

Installing Pop OS 24.02 LTS on VMware Workstation is straightforward and perfect for users who want to explore Linux without modifying their actual system.

Virtual machines offer safety, flexibility, and convenience ideal for developers, testers, and learners.

With this guide, you now have Pop OS running smoothly with full-screen support and all essential tools

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is Pop OS 24.02 LTS stable for daily use?

Yes, it’s LTS (Long-Term Support) and built on Ubuntu’s stable base.

2. Can I run Pop OS in VMware Workstation on 8GB RAM?

Yes, but allocating 4GB to VM is the minimum.

3. Is NVIDIA ISO required in VMware?

No. VMware Workstation uses virtual graphics; choose the Standard ISO.

4. Can I enable automatic updates?

Yes, inside Settings of pop OS you can Updates.

5. Will gaming work inside VMware?

Light games work, but not high-end ones due to virtual GPU limits.