Which keys need to be pressed to release the focus of a VM console window?

To release the focus of a virtual machine (VM) console window in VMware vSphere, you need to press the Ctrl key. This action is essential when working in a VM console because it allows users to regain control of their local system without instead interacting with the virtual machine.

The functionality tied to the Ctrl key is particularly important in a virtualized environment where the console captures the keyboard and mouse input for seamless control of the VM. When the console is active, presses on other keys might not yield the desired outcome, as the input is directed to the VM rather than the local operating system. Thus, using the Ctrl key effectively navigates out of the VM context, restoring control back to the host environment. This is particularly useful in scenarios where users need to switch back and forth between multiple applications and their virtualized workloads without disrupting operations.