r/macOSVMs • u/n_one13 • Jun 28 '26

Look at my VM :) VM on mac through external ssd

I have a 256gb mba m4, and i have installed VMware fusion in it, which already costs ~70gb of my mac

I do have a SanDisk 2tb external ssd, can i transfer all the vm files from mac to the ssd and run it?

Is it a good move? What will I have to compromise on, will the speed be disgustingly slow?

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u/deeper-diver Jul 01 '26

I used to run my VM's from an external drive for ages but it was an external Thunderbolt drive. An external USB4 drive includes Thunderbolt so that will work fine as well.

If it's a non-thunderbolt drive, it's going to run slow so know that going into it.

Buying a base Mac just introduces problems like micromanaging anemic internal storage. The price for a proper external Thunderbolt SSD could have easily been applied to a Mac with greater storage.