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By: Dervish

If your IT team is stuck with the tedious work of manually deploying virtual machines (VMs) every day, and you’re tired of inconsistent VM configurations across your virtual environment, vCenter create template is the game-changing feature you need to master. VMware vCenter create template is a core functionality of VMware vSphere that streamlines VM deployment, cuts down manual work, and ensures all your VMs follow a unified configuration baseline.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about creating VM templates in vCenter, including step-by-step methods, OVF template export, and critical VM data protection after template creation—all with easy-to-follow instructions for both beginners and experienced admins.create vCenter templates

What Is a VMware Template?

A VMware template is a master copy of a virtual machine that can be used to deploy multiple identical VMs. It contains the operating system, installed applications, system configurations, and virtual hardware settings.

Templates help IT teams quickly provision new virtual machines without manually repeating installation and configuration steps.

Unlike a normal VM, a template cannot be powered on or modified directly. Instead, administrators deploy new VMs by cloning from the template.

Why Use Templates in vCenter?

VM templates are widely used in enterprise virtual environments because they improve deployment efficiency and maintain infrastructure consistency.

  • Faster deployment – create new VMs within minutes
  • Consistent configuration – standardized OS and application setup
  • Reduced manual work – no need to repeatedly install software
  • Improved scalability – easily deploy multiple VMs across environments

Templates are especially useful in environments such as development labs, cloud infrastructure, and large enterprise data centers.

How to Create Template in VMware Step by Step (2 Methods)

There are 2 primary, officially supported methods to perform vCenter create template from VM in VMware vSphere, each suited for different use cases. Both methods are executed via the vSphere Client, and we’ll walk you through every step for each—so you can choose the one that fits your workflow best. A quick note: the vSphere Client is the only tool you need for these steps, and no additional paid software is required for the basic template creation process.

Method 1. Convert an Existing VM to a Template

This method is the fastest way to create a VM template, and it’s ideal if you no longer need to use the original VM as a regular, editable instance. The key prerequisite for this method is that the target VM must be powered off—you cannot convert a running VM to a template.

Step 1. Log in to your vCenter Server using the vSphere Client, then navigate to either the Hosts and Clusters or VMs and Templates inventory view to locate the VM you want to convert.

Step 2. Right-click on the selected VM, hover over the Template option in the dropdown menu, and select Convert to Template.select-template-and-convert-to-template

Step 3. A confirmation pop-up will appear, asking if you want to convert the virtual machine to a template. Click Yes to confirm the action.confirm-convert

Step 4. The conversion process will start immediately, and once complete, the VM will be listed as a template in the VMs and Templates view—no further configuration is needed.

Method 2. Clone a VM to a Template

If you want to keep the original VM fully functional (and even running) while creating a template from it, cloning is the perfect option. Unlike conversion, vCenter create template via cloning works with the source VM in either a powered-on or powered-off state, making it the most flexible choice for active virtual environments.

Step 1. Launch the vSphere Client and log in to vCenter Server; find the source VM in Hosts and Clusters or VMs and Templates.

Step 2. Right-click the VM, select Clone, and then choose Clone to Template from the submenu.

Step 3. On the Select a name and folder screen, enter a unique name for your new template and select a target folder in the vCenter inventory to store it—click Next when done.select-a-name-and-folder

Step 4. The Select a compute resource screen will prompt you to choose an ESXi host or a cluster to run the template creation process; select your preferred resource and click Next.

select a compute resource

Step 5. On the Select storage screen, pick a datastore to store the template’s configuration files and virtual disks. You can also apply a custom VM storage policy here if your environment requires it—click Next to proceed.

select-storage

Step 6. The Ready to complete screen will show a summary of all your settings. Double-check for any errors, then click Finish to start the cloning process.ready-to-complete

Step 7. Once the clone is complete, your new template will appear at the bottom of the list in the VMs and Templates inventory view, ready for immediate use.navigate-to-vms-and-templates-section

How to Export a VM as an OVF Template in vCenter

Beyond creating templates directly in vCenter, you can also export a VM (or a converted template, after reverting it) as an OVF (Open Virtualization Format) template. OVF templates are portable, making them perfect for migrating VMs across different vCenter Servers, ESXi hosts, or even other virtualization platforms. The export time depends on the size of the VM and your storage system’s performance, but the steps are straightforward:

Step 1. Log in to vCenter Server via the vSphere Client and go to the VMs and Templates view.

log-in-and-navigate-to-vms-and-templates

Step 2. Locate the VM you want to export as an OVF template. If your source is a pre-existing template, you must first convert it back to a regular VM before exporting—this is a mandatory step for OVF export.

select-convert-to-virtual-machine

Step 3. Assign the VM to a cluster or ESXi host (if using a cluster, ensure DRS mode is enabled for the cluster to avoid deployment errors).

select-the-cluster-or-host

Step 4. Confirm the VM’s host/cluster configuration and complete the revert process if you started with a template.confirm-the-settings

Step 5. Right-click the ready VM, hover over Template, and select Export OVF Template.select-export-ovf-template

Step 6. In the export window, choose a destination folder on your local machine or network storage for the OVF files (OVF, VMDK, and MF), then click OK to start the export.

select-the-destination-for-ovf

VM Data Protection: Batch Backup vCenter VMs with i2Backup

Creating templates with vCenter create template streamlines VM deployment, but it does not protect your VM data or the templates themselves from accidental deletion, hardware failure, or cyber threats. A robust backup strategy is non-negotiable for any virtual environment, and i2Backup is the ultimate solution for batch backing up VMs managed by vCenter Server—designed for simplicity, scalability, and reliability.
As a leading VMware-compatible backup tool, i2Backup eliminates the hassle of manual VM backups and delivers enterprise-grade protection for your virtual infrastructure, with a free trial available to test all features.
  • Zero-Agent VMware Native Integration
  • One-Click Batch VM & Template Backup
  • Smart Incremental Backup & Fast Restore
  • Flexible Storage & Auto Retention
FREE Trial for 60-Day

i2Backup’s intuitive web-based client makes batch backup setup a breeze—even for users with minimal backup experience. Let’s wach the demo about how to protect your vCenter VMs in just few steps:

Best Practices for Managing VM Templates

To ensure your templates remain reliable and secure, follow these best practices:

  • Keep templates updated with the latest OS patches and security updates.
  • Install VMware Tools before converting a VM to a template.
  • Create a clean “golden image” with minimal unnecessary software.
  • Use naming conventions to manage multiple templates efficiently.
  • Store templates in a Content Library for easier distribution across clusters or vCenter instances.

FAQ of vCenter Create Template

Can you power on a VMware template?

No. Templates cannot be powered on directly. You must deploy a new virtual machine from the template.

Can a template be converted back to a VM?

Yes. In vCenter, you can right-click the template and choose Convert to Virtual Machine.

What is the difference between an OVF template and a VM template?

A VM template exists inside vCenter and is used for internal VM deployment. An OVF template is a portable format used to export and deploy virtual machines across different environments.

Conclusion

Creating VM templates in vCenter is an efficient way to standardize virtual machine deployment and streamline infrastructure management. By using templates, administrators can quickly deploy new virtual machines while maintaining consistent system configurations.

However, VM templates only simplify deployment—they do not provide data protection or disaster recovery capabilities. Enterprises still need dedicated backup and replication solutions to ensure business continuity.

By combining efficient VM deployment with advanced data protection technologies such as real-time replication and continuous data protection, organizations can build a more resilient VMware infrastructure.

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