How to Fix Missing Linux Header Error for VMware Workstation Pro

If you are also getting the kernel header X.X.X-X-amd64 was not found, then read this guide to resolve the error with simple steps.

I tried to run VMware Workstation to install a secondary operating system to test functionality, but it flagged me an error: “VMware Kernel Module Updater: Kernel header X.X.X-X-amd64 were not found.”

Intentionally, I ignored the message and clicked on “Install” to proceed with the installation. As a result, I got another error that stated, “C header files matching your running kernel were not found.”

Let’s look at how the error looks on my Debian machine.

If your problem is similar to mine, then let me show you how to resolve this issue with simple and easy steps.

Find Linux Header Path to Fix Kernel Header Not Found

However, there may be multiple possibilities for this error, but the most common error is the missing linux-header. To confirm this, you will use the find command to check linux-headers availability on your system.

Also Read: 20+ Find command which you can use daily

The default location of linux-headers is /usr/src for Ubuntu/Debian based operating systems and /usr/src/kernels for RHEL derivatives.

Pass the following command into your terminal:

$ find /usr/src -name linux-headers-$(uname -r)   // Ubuntu/Debian
$ find /usr/src/kernels -name $(uname -r)         // AlmaLinux/Fedora

The command output didn’t show anything, which means you need to install linux-headers.

Install Linux Headers to Fix Kernel Header Not Found

The one-stop solution to fix this error is to install Linux headers for the current kernel.

But if you are not sure about which Linux kernel version is installed on your system, then you can use the uname -r command to find out.

Now let’s use the above uname -r command with the apt command to automatically find the system information and install the required header file.

Just execute the following line of code in accordance with your Linux distribution:

$ sudo apt install linux-headers-$(uname -r)         // Ubuntu/Debian
$ sudo dnf install "kernel-devel-$(uname -r)"        // AlmaLinux/Fedora

Once the installation is done, you need to relaunch the VMware workstation to configure it.

Configure VMware to Fix Kernel Header Not Found

The first screen will ask you to click on Install to move ahead.

After that, it will prompt you to authenticate yourself, so please enter the password and wait for the process to be complete.

Wrap up

That’s all, to fix “VMware Kernel Module Updater: Kernel header X.X.X-X-amd64 were not found.” or “C header files matching your running kernel were not found”.

I hope your issue is resolved. If not, let me know in the comment section.

With this, let me end here and see you in the next article.

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med
med
2 years ago

Thank you so much !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tian
Tian
2 years ago

Very clear explanation !!! Thanks !!!!!

Bernhard
Bernhard
1 year ago

Hello,

do you have any idea how to get the headers for opensuse 15.5

Thanks in advance
Bernhard

Apoorv
9 months ago

Any solution for below as i am also facing header related error on my fedora 39:

root@fedora:/# find /usr/src/kernels -name $(uname -r)
root@fedora:/# dnf install “kernel-devel-$(uname -r)”
Last metadata expiration check: 1:01:16 ago on Tue 12 Dec 2023 12:40:05 AM IST.
No match for argument: kernel-devel-6.6.2-201.fc39.x86_64
Error: Unable to find a match: kernel-devel-6.6.2-201.fc39.x86_64