Recover Deleted Vmware Virtual Machine

or move existing VMs onto that datastore. 2. Method 1: Re-registering (When "Removed from Inventory")

on that same datastore if possible to prevent overwriting.

If the VM is fully deleted from disk:

| Deletion Type | Feature to Use | |---------------|----------------| | Removed from inventory (files still on datastore) | | | Deleted from datastore | Backup restore (no native undelete in VMware) | | Accidentally overwritten/corrupted | Revert to Snapshot | recover deleted vmware virtual machine

If you "Deleted from Disk," your ESXi host sees that space as "empty" and will overwrite it with new data immediately.

Use the "Entire VM Restore" wizard to select a restore point and push the VM back to your datastore.

If the VM was only removed from the inventory but not deleted from the disk, the files still exist in your datastore. or move existing VMs onto that datastore

If you have accidentally deleted a VMware virtual machine (VM), your recovery options depend heavily on whether you "Removed from Inventory" or "Deleted from Disk." 1. The Quick Fix: Removed from Inventory

VMware has no native "undelete" for VMs permanently deleted from disk. Recovery requires backups or third-party tools.

VMware provides command-line tools that can be used to recover deleted VMs. If the VM is fully deleted from disk:

If you use vSAN, check the "Protected Virtual Machines" list to see if a local snapshot can be restored directly. 4. Method 3: Recreate the Descriptor File (Partial Loss)

Accidentally deleting a VMware virtual machine (VM) can feel like a catastrophe, but in many cases, your data isn't gone—it's just hidden or unindexed. Whether you "Removed from Inventory" (safe) or "Deleted from Disk" (critical), this guide covers every level of recovery. 1. The "Safety First" Step: Stop Everything

where the VM was stored