USB device not showing in VMware Workstation

If the USB device is not showing in VMware, this can disrupt daily workflow, especially when users rely on the VM for testing and development. This usually occurs due to misconfigured settings, outdated drivers, or corrupted installation. This article will walk us through straightforward steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

Why is my USB device not detected?

USB devices may not be detected due to various reasons, however, the common ones are outdated drivers, misconfigured settings, or conflicts with virtual machine settings. Enabling USB in VM settings, updating the driver often resolve the issue, and we are going to see more troubleshooting solutions in the next section.

Fix VMware not detecting USB device

If the USB device is not showing, detected or recognized in VMware Workstation, check out the solutions mentioned below:

1. Enable USB in VM Settings
2. Reconnect the USB Device to the VM
3. Verify USB compatibility
4. Configure VMware USB Arbitration Service
5. Update the USB driver on the host machine
6. Recreate the virtual machine using the older machine
7. Reinstall VMware Workstation

Let’s get started with the troubleshooting guide.

1] Enable USB in VM settings

First and foremost, we will enable USB in VMware Workstation to allow the virtual machine to detect and use USB devices connected to the host system. This setting must be enabled, and here’s how to do it.

1. Close the VM properly, go to the VM Menu, click Manage, and select Settings.
2. Go to the Hardware section, click on the Add button to choose USB Controller, select USB Controller, and press the Finish button.
3. Click the USB controller tab from the list, and select Show all USB input devices.
4. Enable the correct USB compatibility: USB 3.1 or USB 2.0 and press the Ok button.
5. Click the OK button, play the virtual machine, access the Player menu, and check whether the USB device is now visible in the Removable Device menu or not.

This should resolve the issue for you, and if not, slide to the next solution.

2] Reconnect the USB Device to the VM

The issue may occur if the VM is not able to recognize the USB device. In such cases, it is recommended to reconnect the USB device to resolve the connection issue.

1. Unplug the USB device, plug it back in after a few seconds, and launch VMware Workstation.
2. Navigate to the VM menu, select Removable Devices, and find the USB device in the list.
3. Select the Connect (Disconnect from Host) option, and a confirmation message will pop up on the screen, indicating that the USB device is now connected.

If the USB device still doesn’t appear in the VM, see the next solution.

3] Configure VMware USB Arbitration Service

The VMware USB Arbitration service plays a crucial role by detecting USB devices connected to the host system and making them available for virtual machines. To address the issue, we will configure this service. To do so, execute the steps outlined below:

1. Click Win + R to open the Run Dialog box, type services.msc, and click OK to open Services.
2. In the Services window, find VMware EUC USB Arbitration Service, and right-click on it.
3. Select Properties, navigate to the Startup type drop-down menu, set it to Automatic mode, and ensure that it is indicating Running in the Service Status.
4. If it is not showing running, click on the Start button, and click the OK button.

Once done, refresh the OS, and then check if the issue persists. If it does, move on to the next solution.

4] Update the USB Driver on the host machine

If there’s a compatibility issue between the VMware Workstation and the connected USB device, and the USB is not recognized or displayed in the VMware environment, updating the USB driver can help resolve it.

1. Click Win + X to open the menu and select Device Manager.
2. Identify the Universal Serial Bus devices, and expand it.
3. Among the various installed USB drivers, right-click on the driver you want to update, and a wizard will open up on the screen.
4. Select the Search automatically for updated driver software, and wait for Windows to identify, download, and install the driver.

You can also use a free driver update tool to update your driver or download it from the manufacturer’s website.

Hopefully, this will do the job, and if this doesn’t work, check out the next solution.

5] Recreate the Virtual Machine using the older machine

Sometimes, problems with detecting USB devices can stem from incorrect device settings or conflicts with other connected devices. Recreating the virtual machine allows the users to start fresh with a clean configuration, and that’s what we will do in this solution.

1. Launch the VMware Workstation, and from the inventory, right-click on the Virtual machine, and click Remove.
2. Now, click the File menu, select the New Virtual Machine option, and create a virtual machine as usual.
3. Once you have created the virtual machine, right-click on it, select Settings, go to Hard Disk, select the Add button, and click the Next button.
4. Keep all the options as default until you are on the screen to select the hard disk, click Use an existing virtual disk, and then hit the Next button.
5. Select Browse, navigate to the location of the existing VM, select the VMDK file, and click Open.
6. Once done, click on the Finish button, and then launch the virtual machine.

Move to the next solution if the USB device is not visible.

Read: USB device is busy with a previous request VirtualBox error 

6] Reinstall VMware Workstation

Last but not least, reinstalling VMware Workstation is the last resort. Doing so will reset the software and ensure that all the drivers are installed properly.

1. Press Win + I to open Settings, go to the Apps section, and select Installed Apps.
2. Search VMware, hit the three dots options, and click on the Uninstall option.
   Note: Ensure that all the residual files or registry entries related to the software are removed. 
3. Now, navigate to support.broadcom.com, and download the latest version. After the completion, launch the installer file, and follow the on-screen instructions to install the VMware workstation.
4. Once done, restart the device, reconfigure the app settings, and create a new virtual machine.

Hopefully, these solutions will resolve the issue, and the USB device will not have any further issues.

Read: VMware Player USB device greyed out

How to enable USB drive in VMware?

To enable the USB drive in Vmware, go to VM > Seetings > USB Controller, connect the USB drive, and ensure that USB support is enabled. If you don’t see USB Controller option, open the Settings of the machine, click on Add, select USB Controller, and click on Finish.

Read: VirtualBox Failed to attach the USB device to the virtual machine.