Virtual Device Serial0 Will Start Disconnected [upd] [ Desktop Tested ]

For advanced administrators managing standalone ESXi hosts or Workstation environments, editing the virtual machine configuration ( .vmx ) file offers a direct remedy.

Since the most common cause is the deprecated ThinPrint service, removing the virtual printer often stops the message. the virtual machine. Go to Virtual Machine Settings . Look for Virtual Printer in the device list. Select it and click Remove . Restart the VM to see if the message persists. Method 2: Manually Edit the .vmx File

The VM is set to connect to a named pipe or a physical port that is disconnected. How to Fix the "Serial0" Warning virtual device serial0 will start disconnected

Do you actually (like a console cable), or do you just want the error to go away? I can provide the exact steps for your specific version. USB Serial Port kinda working | Fusion - Broadcom Community

Outside, the hum of the server room grew louder, rising from a murmur to a scream. Elias realized with a jolt of terror that the "serial0" wasn't a bug. It was a tether. And something on the other end had finally found the plug. What should Elias do next? USB Serial Port kinda working | Fusion - Broadcom Community Go to Virtual Machine Settings

Is the serial port by an application inside the VM? Share public link

If upgrading the license is not feasible, remove the network‑backed serial port from the VM or change it to a file‑based or pipe‑based serial port as a workaround. Restart the VM to see if the message persists

If you want to keep the device but stop the warning, you can tell VMware not to attempt a connection during boot.

Upgrading VMware Workstation, Fusion, or ESXi to a newer version often leaves behind outdated configuration entries. This is especially common when upgrading from Workstation 10 to 12 or from Fusion 12 to 13.5, where legacy features like ThinPrint or old serial port emulation settings are no longer supported. The upgrade process migrates the .vmx file, but deprecated options may remain, generating the warning with each startup.

This status message indicates that the virtual machine configuration includes a virtual serial port (COM port), but the underlying physical resource or target file assigned to it is unavailable, locked, or missing. While this error rarely prevents the guest operating system from booting, it can disrupt specialized legacy software, debugging environments, or automated monitoring tools that rely on serial communication. Root Causes of the Disconnected Serial Port