Free online QCOW to VMDK converter
Convert QCOW virtual disks to VMware VMDK using qemu-img.
Convert QCOW to VMDK online - free
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How to convert qcow to vmdk file
- Virtualization
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Source format: qcow
QCOW is an early QEMU Copy-On-Write virtual disk format used by the QEMU emulator and related virtualization tools. It stores a virtual machine’s disk contents in a file and supports features such as copy-on-write, snapshots, and sparse allocation. QCOW is mainly found in older QEMU-based environments and legacy virtual machine images.
Because it is an older format, QCOW is less common today than qcow2, but it may still appear in archived VM images or older Linux virtualization setups.
Target format: vmdk
VMDK is VMware’s virtual disk format, used by VMware Workstation, VMware Fusion, ESXi, and other VMware-compatible platforms. It is widely supported across virtualization software and is a practical choice when moving a VM from QEMU/KVM to VMware.
Advantages of VMDK include broad compatibility, support for multiple disk variants, and easy use in VMware products. It is commonly used for VM migration, testing, and cross-platform virtualization.
How to perform the conversion
The most reliable method is to use qemu-img, which is part of the QEMU toolset and is designed for virtual disk conversion.
- Install QEMU tools on your system. On Linux, this is often provided by a package such as
qemu-utilsorqemu-img. On Windows and macOS, install a QEMU package that includesqemu-img. - Open a terminal or command prompt.
- Run the conversion command, replacing filenames as needed:
qemu-img convert -f qcow -O vmdk source.qcow destination.vmdk - If your source file is actually qcow2 rather than qcow, use:
qemu-img convert -f qcow2 -O vmdk source.qcow2 destination.vmdk - After conversion, attach
destination.vmdkto your VMware virtual machine or import it into the target VMware product.
If you prefer a web-based option, you can convert the file on 101convert.com for free without installing any software.
Notes on quality, compatibility, or limitations
Disk conversion does not convert the operating system configuration. A VM image may still need driver changes, bootloader repair, or hardware adjustments before it boots correctly in VMware.
Be careful to identify the source format correctly. Many files labeled loosely as QCOW are actually qcow2. Using the wrong input format flag can cause conversion errors.
Some QCOW features, such as snapshots or backing files, may not transfer exactly as-is into VMDK. If the source image depends on a backing chain, make sure the image is fully resolved before conversion.
For best results, verify the converted disk by checking its size and, if possible, booting it in a test VM before using it in production.
Note: This qcow to vmdk conversion record is incomplete, must be verified, and may contain inaccuracies. Please vote below whether you found this information helpful or not.
QCOW vs VMDK: format comparison
How the QCOW and VMDK formats compare on the properties that matter most for this conversion.
| Property | .QCOW QEMU Copy On Write image | .VMDK Virtual Machine Disk |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Both | Both |
| Encryption | Yes | — |
| Split archives | No | Yes |
| Bootable | Yes | Yes |
| Operating system support | Wide | Wide |
| Typical file size | Small | Very large |
| Open standard | Yes | Partly open |
| Introduced | 2004 | 1998 |
| Developer | QEMU community / Fabrice Bellard | VMware |
| MIME type | — | application/x-vmdk |
Frequently asked questions
Is the QCOW to VMDK converter free?
Yes, converting QCOW to VMDK on 101convert.com is completely free. No registration, email address or installation is required.
How large can my QCOW file be?
You can upload QCOW files up to 2000 MB and convert up to 1 files at once in a single batch.
What happens to my uploaded files?
Files are processed automatically and deleted from our servers within a few minutes after conversion. We never view or share your files.
Do I need to install any software to convert QCOW to VMDK?
No. The QCOW to VMDK conversion runs entirely online in your browser and works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone.
Did the conversion fail?
In most cases, the cause is an incorrect file format. Please upload a valid QCOW file for this QCOW to VMDK conversion. Occasionally, the issue may be on our side. We analyze recurring conversion failures and disable or fix the converter if we detect a defect.