VMware ESXi and vSphere Cluster Management

Connect USB Human Interface Devices to a VMware Workstation Player Virtual Machine

Learn how to pass USB keyboards, mice, gamepads, joysticks, and other HIDs through to a VMware Workstation Player guest safely.

A USB Human Interface Device, or USB HID, is a peripheral designed for human input or control. Common examples include keyboards, mice, gamepads, joysticks, and similar controllers.

In VMware Workstation Player, a device physically attached to the host system—the physical computer running VMware—is not automatically controlled by the guest operating system inside the virtual machine. USB passthrough assigns the device to the guest so that the guest can control it directly.

This differs from normal host input integration. With normal integration, VMware may make keyboard and mouse input convenient for the virtual machine while the host still owns the physical device. With an exclusive connection, the selected USB device is assigned to the guest and is no longer normally available to the host at the same time.

How VMware handles USB input devices

VMware Workstation Player can omit USB input devices from the virtual machine's Removable Devices list by default. This means a keyboard, mouse, game controller, or joystick may be attached to the physical computer but unavailable for selection in the guest connection menu.

Non-HID USB devices may already appear in the removable-device interface, so this behavior does not mean that every USB device is hidden. The relevant USB Controller setting specifically changes whether USB input devices are displayed as eligible devices for guest connection.

Before you begin

Know which virtual machine should receive the device.
Confirm that the host detects the physical keyboard, mouse, controller, or other HID.
Use a secondary keyboard, mouse, or controller when possible.
Save work in both the host and guest before transferring an active input device.
Be prepared for the guest to require a compatible driver or application.

The target virtual machine must be powered off. Powered off means the guest has been shut down completely; it does not mean running or suspended. Hardware configuration changes may be unavailable or may not take effect while the virtual machine is active or suspended.

Enable visibility for USB input devices

Open VMware Workstation Player and select the target virtual machine in the library.
Make sure the virtual machine is fully powered off, not suspended.
Open Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings.
On the Hardware tab, select USB Controller.
Enable the option that shows all USB input devices in the removable-device interface. Depending on the release, the wording may be similar to Show all USB input devices.
Save the setting with OK or the equivalent confirmation button.

This setting does not immediately transfer a device. It changes which USB input devices can be selected later from the virtual machine's removable-device controls.

Start the guest and connect the HID

Power on the virtual machine.
After the guest starts, open Player > Removable Devices.
Locate the attached keyboard, mouse, gamepad, joystick, or other eligible HID.
Select the device and choose the action to connect it to the virtual machine. The wording may be Connect or similar.
Wait for the guest operating system to detect the newly attached USB device.

To verify the connection, inspect the guest's device-management or input settings. For example, a Windows guest may show a game controller in its game-controller settings, while a Linux guest may show a keyboard, mouse, or controller through its input-device tools. Test the device with an application that supports its device class.

Stage	User action	Where to perform it	Expected result
Power off the VM	Shut down the guest completely	Guest operating system and VMware library	The VM is powered off, not suspended
Open virtual machine settings	Select the VM and open its settings	`Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings`	The hardware configuration dialog opens
Select USB Controller	Open the USB controller configuration	Hardware tab	USB options are visible
Enable USB input-device visibility	Enable the option to show all USB input devices	USB Controller	Eligible HIDs can appear in removable devices
Start the VM	Power on the guest	VMware Workstation Player	The guest is running
Connect the HID from removable devices	Select the device and connect it to the VM	`Player > Removable Devices`	The guest receives the USB device
Verify the device in the guest	Check device settings and test an application	Guest operating system	The guest recognizes and can use the HID

Host and guest device ownership

When the HID is physically connected but not assigned to the guest, the host normally retains control. When VMware connects it exclusively to the guest, the guest receives control and the host cannot use that device normally at the same time. Disconnecting it from the guest returns it to the host.

Device state	Usable by host	Usable by guest	Notes
Physically connected to host but not assigned to guest	Yes	No, not as an exclusively attached USB device	The device may still provide normal host input
Connected exclusively to guest	No, not normally	Yes	The guest controls the USB device
Disconnected from guest	Yes	No	The device returns to host use

Example: USB game controller in a Windows guest

A controller may be visible to the host but absent from the guest's removable-device list. Power off the virtual machine, enable USB input-device visibility under USB Controller, start the guest, and connect the controller through Player > Removable Devices. Then verify it in the Windows guest's device or game-controller settings.

Example: Dedicated keyboard for a Linux guest

Attach a second keyboard to the host before beginning. Pass the dedicated keyboard to the Linux guest after enabling the visibility setting. Typing from that keyboard is then handled by the guest until you disconnect it from the virtual machine.

Verification and recovery

Use these checks after attempting passthrough:

Confirm the HID is listed under Player > Removable Devices.
Confirm the menu identifies it as connected to the intended virtual machine rather than retained by the host.
Check the guest's device-management or input settings.
Test it in a guest application that supports the device.
If the wrong guest received it, use VMware's removable-device controls to disconnect it, then connect it to the intended guest.

If a mouse or keyboard becomes unusable on the host, use a secondary input device or another available recovery method to open VMware's removable-device controls. Disconnect the HID from the virtual machine. Host access should return after the exclusive assignment is released.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely cause	Corrective action
Input device is missing from the removable-device list	USB input-device visibility is still using the default behavior, the setting was changed while the VM was active, or the host does not detect the device	Power off the VM, enable visibility for all USB input devices under USB Controller, restart the VM, and confirm host detection
USB Controller setting cannot be changed	The VM is powered on or suspended, or a different VM is selected	Power off the intended VM rather than suspending it, select the correct library entry, and reopen its settings
Device appears but does not work in the guest	The guest lacks a suitable driver, the guest application does not support the device, or the connection was not completed	Check guest device settings, install or update the required driver, disconnect and reconnect the device, and test a compatible guest application
Host loses access to an assigned keyboard or mouse	The HID is connected exclusively to the guest	Use another host input method and disconnect the HID from the virtual machine; use dedicated secondary hardware for future tests

Operational considerations

Transfer input devices only after saving work. A device may stop controlling the host immediately when ownership changes.
Keep a secondary keyboard or mouse available when testing passthrough.
The guest operating system must support the device class and may need a driver.
The application running inside the guest must also support the controller, joystick, or other HID.
VMware menu wording can vary slightly between Workstation Player releases and guest operating systems.
If the visibility option is missing or disabled, power off the VM and revisit Virtual Machine Settings > Hardware > USB Controller.

For the related procedure, see connecting USB HIDs to a virtual machine.