VMware ESXi and vSphere Cluster Management

Configure a USB Controller in VMware Player

Learn how to configure USB 1.1, 2.0, or 3.0 in VMware Player, connect devices to a guest, pass through HID devices safely, and troubleshoot detection.

A virtual machine needs a configured USB controller before a USB device can be connected to and used by its guest operating system. The controller is virtual hardware exposed to the guest; it is not the physical USB controller built into the host computer.

The host operating system runs VMware Player and provides access to the computer's physical USB ports. The guest operating system runs inside the virtual machine and sees the virtual USB controller and any devices assigned to it. The host operating system must support and recognize USB before VMware Player can pass a physical device to the guest.

Choose a Virtual USB Controller Type

VMware Player can expose different generations of USB controller hardware to the guest. The controller mode affects compatibility, the guest drivers that are available, and the performance that a device can achieve.

Controller mode	Interface name	USB generation	Minimum virtual hardware compatibility	Guest operating system requirements	Typical use
USB 1.1	UHCI (Universal Host Controller Interface)	USB 1.1	All virtual machine hardware versions	Broad compatibility with older guests	Legacy guests and basic low-speed or full-speed devices
USB 2.0	EHCI (Enhanced Host Controller Interface)	USB 2.0	Virtual hardware equivalent to VMware Workstation 6 or later	The guest must support USB 2.0 and its required drivers	Common peripherals and faster storage on compatible guests
USB 3.0	xHCI (Extensible Host Controller Interface)	USB 3.0	Virtual hardware equivalent to VMware Workstation 8 or later	Linux kernel 2.6.35 or later, or Windows 8 guest support	Supported high-speed storage and peripherals

USB 1.1 UHCI is supported by all virtual machine hardware versions. USB 2.0 EHCI requires hardware compatibility equivalent to Workstation 6 or later. USB 3.0 xHCI requires compatibility equivalent to Workstation 8 or later, plus a supported guest. Before choosing USB 2.0 or USB 3.0, review the VM's virtual hardware compatibility level.

Controller Mode Versus Device Version

A USB device's generation and the controller mode are related but separate concepts. A USB 3.0 flash drive is the physical device; xHCI is the virtual controller that presents USB 3.0 capability to the guest. A device may operate through a compatible lower-generation controller, but it may be limited to that controller's speed or features.

Supported virtual controller configurations can work with USB 1.1, USB 2.0, and USB 3.0 devices. Actual behavior also depends on the host USB connection, VMware Player support, and whether the guest has a suitable driver for the individual peripheral.

Add or Configure the USB Controller

Power off the virtual machine. Hardware settings that affect the controller may not be editable while the VM is running.
Open VMware Player and select the virtual machine.
Open the VM's hardware settings and locate the USB Controller entry.
If no USB Controller is present, add a USB Controller device.
Select the required compatibility level: USB 1.1, USB 2.0, or USB 3.0.
Confirm that the selected mode is supported by the VM hardware compatibility level and the guest operating system.
Save the hardware configuration, then start or restart the virtual machine.

The exact labels can vary between VMware Player releases. Look for the USB Controller hardware item and its USB compatibility setting. If a newer mode cannot be selected, do not assume the physical computer is at fault; the virtual hardware version may be too old.

VM hardware: Workstation 6-compatible or newer
Controller: USB 2.0 / EHCI
Guest: USB 2.0-capable operating system

Connect a USB Device to the Guest

Start the virtual machine and wait for the guest operating system to finish booting.
Open VMware Player's Removable Devices menu or equivalent removable-device controls.
Select the physical USB peripheral and choose the command to connect it to the virtual machine.
Wait for the guest to detect the device and load its driver.
When finished, use the same controls to disconnect the device from the guest.

The Removable Devices menu assigns eligible removable hardware to the VM. While a device is connected to the guest, it is normally unavailable to the host. Disconnect it from the VM before expecting the host operating system to use it again. After changing the virtual controller type, disconnecting and reconnecting the device may be necessary.

Example: USB Flash Drive in a Windows Guest

Ensure that the VM has a USB controller enabled.
Start the Windows guest.
Connect the flash drive through the Removable Devices controls.
Confirm that it appears in File Explorer or in Windows Disk Management.
Disconnect it from the guest before trying to access it on the host.

Host Drivers and Guest Drivers

A host-side, device-specific driver is not necessarily required merely to make a USB peripheral available to the virtual machine. VMware Player can often assign the device based on the host's USB support.

This does not remove the guest's driver requirement. The guest operating system still needs an appropriate driver for the individual device, such as a printer, storage device, webcam, or security token. Do not confuse support for the host USB controller with support for a particular peripheral.

Host USB support: allows the physical computer and its operating system to recognize and provide access to USB hardware.
Virtual USB controller: gives the guest an interface through which assigned devices can be presented.
Guest peripheral driver: lets the guest use the specific device after it is connected.

USB Keyboards, Mice, and Other HID Devices

A HID, or Human Interface Device, is a USB input peripheral such as a keyboard, mouse, or similar controller. USB HIDs are not normally shown for guest connection by default. VMware Player protects the host's normal keyboard and mouse input from accidental capture by a guest.

If deliberate HID passthrough is required, enable the option to show all USB input devices in the virtual machine's USB settings. The device should then be available through the removable-device controls.

Legacy USB Emulation

Legacy emulation is a compatibility behavior intended for older guest environments or software that expects older USB input behavior. Consider enabling it only when an older guest or application cannot work correctly with the default behavior.

For modern guests, retain the default configuration unless testing shows that legacy behavior is needed. Legacy emulation is separate from choosing USB 1.1, USB 2.0, or USB 3.0 controller hardware: it changes compatibility behavior rather than selecting a USB controller generation.

Verify USB Access in the Guest

Open the guest operating system's device-management tool.
Confirm that a USB controller is listed without an error indicator.
Connect a peripheral through the Removable Devices controls.
Check that the peripheral appears in the guest's device manager or hardware list.
For storage, check the guest file manager and storage-management utility. A detected disk may still require mounting, partitioning, or assigning a drive letter.
For specialized equipment, confirm that the application's device-specific driver or software can see it.

Troubleshooting USB Detection

Symptom	Likely cause	Check	Resolution
No USB controller option or unsupported mode	The controller is absent or the virtual hardware is too old	Review the VM hardware compatibility level and hardware list	Add a controller; use USB 1.1 for older compatibility or upgrade virtual hardware compatibility when appropriate
Device does not appear in the guest	No controller, host does not recognize the device, device is assigned elsewhere, or USB support is disabled	Check the physical connection, host recognition, VM controller, and Removable Devices controls	Enable USB support, add the controller, release the device from another consumer, and reconnect it
USB 3.0 device is unavailable or performs unexpectedly	No xHCI controller, insufficient VM compatibility, unsupported guest, or missing guest driver	Verify xHCI, Workstation 8-compatible or newer hardware, guest version, and driver status	Use a supported configuration, install the guest driver, and reconnect the device
Keyboard or mouse is absent from the device list	USB input devices are hidden by default	Review the USB input-device visibility option	Enable showing all USB input devices only for intentional passthrough; use a secondary HID
Device remains in use by the host	The host still owns the device	Check whether the device is available in the guest's removable-device controls	Close host applications using it, then connect it to the VM
Host no longer has access after guest use	The device is currently owned by the guest	Check the VM's connected removable devices	Disconnect it from the VM and wait for the host to rediscover it

USB 2.0 Cannot Be Selected

Check that the VM hardware compatibility is equivalent to Workstation 6 or later. If it is not, retain USB 1.1 for compatibility or upgrade the virtual hardware when that change is acceptable. Then verify that the guest supports USB 2.0.

USB 3.0 Does Not Work in a Linux Guest

Confirm all of the following:

The VM uses USB 3.0/xHCI.
The VM hardware is equivalent to Workstation 8 or later.
The Linux kernel is version 2.6.35 or later.
The guest has a suitable driver for the individual device.
The peripheral has been disconnected and reconnected after controller changes.

If any requirement is missing, use a compatible controller mode or update the relevant virtual hardware or guest software.

Recover From an Input Device Passthrough Problem

Use a secondary keyboard or mouse to operate the host if available.
Open VMware Player's removable-device controls.
Disconnect the keyboard or mouse from the guest.
Wait for the host operating system to reclaim the device.
Disable the option to show all USB input devices if HID passthrough is no longer needed.

Practical Configuration Examples

USB 2.0 for an Older Compatible VM

Check that the VM hardware is Workstation 6-compatible or newer.
Select USB 2.0/EHCI in the USB Controller settings.
Start the guest and connect the USB 2.0 peripheral through the Removable Devices menu.
Verify detection in the guest's device-management tool.

USB 3.0 Storage in a Supported Linux Guest

Verify Workstation 8-compatible or newer virtual hardware.
Verify a Linux kernel version of 2.6.35 or later.
Select USB 3.0/xHCI.
Connect the USB 3.0 storage device after the guest starts.
Confirm that the disk is detected and available through the guest's storage tools, then test expected performance.

Dedicated USB Keyboard Passthrough

Enable the option to show all USB input devices.
Connect a secondary, dedicated keyboard to the guest through the removable-device controls.
Keep another input method available for host control.
Disconnect the keyboard from the guest when finished.

Exam-Relevant Notes

UHCI corresponds to USB 1.1, EHCI to USB 2.0, and xHCI to USB 3.0.
USB 1.1 works with all virtual machine hardware versions.
USB 2.0 requires Workstation 6-compatible or newer virtual hardware.
USB 3.0 requires Workstation 8-compatible or newer virtual hardware and a supported guest: Linux kernel 2.6.35 or later or Windows 8 guest support.
Connecting a device to the guest normally removes it from host use until it is disconnected.
USB keyboards and mice are hidden from the removable-device list by default to protect host input.
A guest still needs a device-specific driver even when VMware Player can pass the USB device through.

For related configuration guidance, see USB controller configuration in VMware Player.