VMware Fusion: Command + Tab window switching not focusing *inside* virtual machine

Solution 1:

While I work from a Windows host to a Linux VM, I found the same issue.

The solution that VMWare offers is the key Ctrl + G. On a Mac I'm assuming that would be Option + G.

Once my VMWare window has focus, pressing Ctrl + G will allow me to start using keyboard commands in the VM.

Your procedure would become pressing Command + Tab, then Option + G

Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/vmware/keyboard-shortcuts-for-vmware-workstation/

Hope it helps!

Solution 2:

I'm a keyboard user as well and I had this same exact problem. I don't have a perfect fix, e.g. a setting you can change. However, I do have a pretty good workaround.

After switching to the desktop with your Windows VM by using your keyboard shortcut, just hit an extra arrow key. For me, I type "command-control-right" to get to the space to the right, then I let up the "command-control" and just type "right". From there, I can type "command" to bring up the Windows start menu.

This seems to work regardless of what application is in the foreground on the Windows VM. The main problem with this technique (other than the extra keypress) is that it does send an "arrow" event to the foreground application. For me, that's usually pretty harmless. Like I said, it's not perfect.

HTH.