Connect or Disconnect USB Devices in VMware Workstation Player

Learn how to connect a USB device to a running VMware Workstation Player VM, return it to the host, verify ownership, and handle storage safely.

VMware Workstation Player can assign a physical USB device to a virtual machine (VM). This process is called USB passthrough. It lets the guest operating system use devices such as flash drives, printers, smart-card readers, and other USB peripherals.

The host system is the physical computer running VMware Workstation Player. The guest operating system is the operating system running inside the VM. A physical USB device is normally available to either the host or one VM at a time, not both simultaneously.

Prerequisites

The VM must be powered on.
The USB device must be physically connected to the host computer.
The host should recognize the device before you try to select it in VMware Workstation Player.
The guest operating system may need a suitable device driver after the USB device is attached.

If the VM is not running, start it first. For help with that step, see Starting a Virtual Machine.

How USB ownership works

When the host owns a USB device, host applications can use it and the guest cannot. When VMware Workstation Player connects the device to the VM, the host releases it and the guest receives access. When you disconnect the device from the VM, VMware returns it to the host.

Current device location	Desired device location	VMware Workstation Player action	Expected result
Host system	Virtual machine	Connect (Disconnect from host)	The guest receives the device and the host releases it.
Virtual machine	Host system	Disconnect (Connect to host)	The guest releases the device and the host regains access.

Automatic USB connection behavior

When you plug a USB device into the host while a VM is running, VMware Workstation Player may offer or perform an automatic connection. The active virtual-machine window—the VM window currently in focus—can affect whether the new device is directed to the guest.

Automatic handling is different from manually selecting a device that is still connected to the host. If the device remains available to the host, use the Removable Devices menu and explicitly choose Connect (Disconnect from host).

Method	Where to access it	Typical use
Player > Removable Devices menu	VMware Workstation Player menu while the VM is running	Manually transfer a specific USB device between host and guest.
Right-click removable-device icon	Removable-device icon on the VM taskbar	Use a shortcut to access the same connect and disconnect actions.
Automatic handling	When a device is plugged in while the VM window is active	Allow VMware to direct the newly connected device according to the current focus and connection settings.

Manually connect a USB device to the VM

Start the VM and wait for the guest operating system to load.
Connect the USB device to the physical host computer.
Confirm that the host recognizes the device.
In the running VM window, open Player.
Open Removable Devices.
Locate the desired USB device in the list.
Choose Connect (Disconnect from host).
Wait for the guest operating system to detect the device and load any required driver.
Open the guest's device list or file manager and verify that the device is present.

The connection state shown in Player > Removable Devices indicates which system currently owns the device. A connected device is assigned to the VM; a disconnected device is available to the host.

Example: attach a USB flash drive

Start the VM.
Insert the flash drive into the host.
Open Player > Removable Devices if the drive is not automatically attached.
Select the flash drive and choose Connect (Disconnect from host).
Open the guest file manager and confirm that the flash drive appears.

Disconnect a USB device from the VM

Finish using the device in the guest.
For removable storage, close files and applications that are using it.
Use the guest operating system's safe-removal process when appropriate.
In the running VM window, open Player.
Open Removable Devices.
Select the USB device currently attached to the guest.
Choose Disconnect (Connect to host).
Check the host operating system to confirm that it detects the device again.

Example: return a USB drive to the host

Finish working with the drive in the guest and safely remove it when required.
Open Player > Removable Devices.
Select the drive and choose Disconnect (Connect to host).
Confirm that the drive is visible to the host operating system.

Use the virtual-machine taskbar shortcut

The removable-device icon in the virtual-machine taskbar provides an alternate route to the same controls.

Locate the removable-device icon in the VM taskbar.
Right-click the icon.
Select the USB device.
Choose the available connect or disconnect action.

The same ownership rules apply: connecting assigns the device to the guest and disconnecting returns it to the host. The exact icon location can vary with the host and guest interface.

Verify device availability

After connecting: Check the guest file manager, device list, or application that should use the peripheral.
After disconnecting: Check the host's file manager or device list.
In VMware: Open Player > Removable Devices and inspect the device's current connection state.

A device that is visible in the guest but unavailable to host applications is usually assigned to the VM. A device that is visible to the host but not the guest is still owned by the host.

Safe USB device handling

Close applications that are using the USB device before switching ownership.
Use the guest operating system's safe-removal command for storage devices when applicable.
Do not unplug a flash drive or other removable storage during active reads or writes.
Return the device to the host through VMware before physically removing it, when practical.

These precautions reduce the risk of incomplete writes, corrupted files, and applications losing access unexpectedly.

Troubleshooting USB connections

The USB device does not appear in Removable Devices

Confirm that the device is physically connected to the host.
Confirm that the host recognizes the device.
Ensure that the VM is powered on.
Reconnect the device to the host after the host has finished detecting it, then check the menu again.

The device remains available on the host

Open Player > Removable Devices.
Select the device and choose Connect (Disconnect from host).
Verify that no host application is actively using the device before transferring it.

The device is not visible in the guest

Verify the device's connection state in the Removable Devices menu.
Check the guest operating system's device list or file manager.
Allow the guest time to detect the device.
Install any driver required by the guest operating system.

For USB controller settings, see Configuring a USB Controller. Devices with human-interface functions may also require the guidance in Connecting USB HIDs to a Virtual Machine.

The host cannot use the device after it was attached to the VM

Open Player > Removable Devices.
Select the device and choose Disconnect (Connect to host).
Confirm that the device is no longer assigned to the guest.
Check host-side device detection again.

Storage may be in use during disconnect

Close files and applications using the device in the guest.
Perform guest-side safe removal where appropriate.
Then disconnect the device through VMware Workstation Player.

Exam-relevant notes

USB passthrough assigns a physical USB device connected to the host to a guest VM.
A USB device is normally available to either the host or one VM at a time.
Connect (Disconnect from host) transfers ownership from host to guest.
Disconnect (Connect to host) transfers ownership from guest to host.
The VM must be powered on, and the host must recognize the physical device before it can normally be selected.