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

Learn how to pass a USB keyboard, mouse, game controller, or other HID exclusively to a VMware Workstation Player virtual machine.

Overview: USB HID passthrough

A USB HID is a USB Human Interface Device: a peripheral designed for human input. Common examples include keyboards, mice, game controllers, and similar input devices.

USB passthrough assigns a physical USB device connected to the host system—the physical computer running VMware Workstation Player—to a virtual machine. The guest operating system running inside that virtual machine can then communicate with the physical device.

By default, USB input devices are generally not shown as connectable devices in the virtual machine's Removable Devices menu. A keyboard, mouse, or controller may be physically connected and working on the host while still being ineligible for attachment to the guest. Enabling HID visibility changes whether Player lists these devices; it does not attach a device by itself.

Understand host and guest ownership

When you connect a USB HID to a virtual machine, the guest receives an exclusive connection to that physical device. The guest can use it, but the host cannot use the same device at the same time.

Device state	Visible in Removable Devices menu	Usable by host	Usable by guest	Typical action
Connected to host, HID visibility disabled	Usually no	Yes	No	Enable HID visibility while the VM is powered off
HID visibility enabled, not connected to guest	Yes, if recognized by the host	Yes	No	Choose the device's connect action
HID connected exclusively to guest	Listed as connected to the VM	No	Yes	Use the device in the guest
HID disconnected from guest	Available again	Yes	No	Disconnect it through the removable-device controls

Passing through the host's only keyboard or mouse can make the host difficult to control. Before assigning an essential input device, connect a secondary keyboard, mouse, touchpad, or another reliable host input method. A dedicated USB game controller is normally safer to pass through than the host's primary keyboard.

Prerequisites

Connect the USB HID to the host computer and confirm that the host recognizes it.
Open VMware Workstation Player and identify the target virtual machine in the Player library.
Make sure you can change the virtual machine configuration.
Power off the virtual machine before editing its virtual hardware settings. Do not merely suspend it or leave it running.

Enable USB input-device visibility

Select the powered-off virtual machine in the Player library.
Open Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings.
Select the Hardware tab.
Select USB Controller in the virtual hardware list.
Enable the option to show all USB input devices in the Removable Devices menu.
Save the setting with OK or the equivalent confirmation control.

This setting only makes eligible USB input devices visible in the VM's connection menu. It does not connect the keyboard, mouse, controller, or other HID to the guest.

Connect the HID after the virtual machine starts

Start the virtual machine after saving the USB Controller setting.
Open the Player removable-device controls. Depending on the interface and version, these appear under the Player menu as Removable Devices.
Locate the connected USB HID in the available device list.
Choose the action to connect that device to the virtual machine. The menu may identify the device by its manufacturer, model, or a generic USB name.
Wait for the guest operating system to detect the device.
Test the keyboard, mouse, controller, or other input peripheral in the guest. At the same time, confirm that the host no longer responds to that physical device; this confirms the exclusive ownership change.

Example: USB game controller

If a USB game controller is connected to the host but missing from the VM's removable-device list, power off the VM, enable the option to show all USB input devices under Hardware > USB Controller, and start the VM again. Then connect the controller from Removable Devices and verify that it appears in the guest's controller settings.

Example: secondary USB keyboard

For software inside the guest that needs a physical USB keyboard, enable HID visibility while the VM is off. After booting, connect the secondary keyboard from the removable-device controls. Keep a separate host keyboard available because the passed-through keyboard is no longer usable by the host.

Disconnect the HID and return it to the host

Open the running VM's Removable Devices controls.
Select the USB HID that is connected to the guest.
Choose the action to disconnect it from the virtual machine.
Wait for the host operating system to reclaim the device, then test it on the host.

Disconnecting ends the guest's exclusive ownership and returns the physical device for host use. If a mouse was attached accidentally, use another host input device or keyboard navigation to open Player's controls and disconnect it. If the only keyboard was passed through, use a spare keyboard, mouse, touchpad, or another available recovery method. Avoid passing through the sole host input device unless you already have an alternative.

Common HID types and considerations

Device type	Why pass it through	Host access while attached	Guest-side consideration
Keyboard	Software may need the actual USB keyboard rather than ordinary virtual text input	Unavailable to host	Keep an alternate host input method
Mouse	Testing, specialized input handling, or software requiring the physical USB device	Unavailable to host	Use another host pointing device for recovery
Game controller	Games or controller software may need direct access to the controller	Unavailable to host	The guest may require a controller driver or configuration
Specialized USB input peripheral	Guest software may depend on the device's USB interface	Unavailable to host	Compatibility and guest-driver support can vary

Direct attachment is useful when guest software needs to access the actual USB device, its device identity, or its USB-specific functions. It is not required for normal typing, pointing, or basic guest desktop interaction through VMware's standard virtual input devices.

General USB connection choices

VMware Workstation Player also provides broader USB connection behavior for newly attached USB devices. Automatic connection preferences can determine whether a newly plugged-in device remains with the host or is offered or connected to the guest.

These general auto-connect choices are separate from the HID-specific visibility setting. The HID setting controls whether USB input devices appear in the Removable Devices menu. An automatic connection preference controls what may happen when a USB device is newly plugged in. Review both settings when a device appears in the menu but does not connect as expected. See choosing what happens when you connect USB devices for the broader behavior.

Troubleshooting

The HID is connected to the host but missing from the menu

Power off the virtual machine completely.
Open Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings.
Under Hardware > USB Controller, enable the option to show all USB input devices.
Start the VM again and check the Removable Devices list.
Confirm that the host recognizes the device and that it works outside VMware Player.
Check whether the device's name or availability differs because of the host operating system, the device model, or the VMware version.

The HID works in the guest but not on the host

This is expected during USB passthrough. The device has exclusive guest ownership. Use the guest while it is attached, or disconnect it through the Removable Devices controls to return it to the host.

The guest does not respond to a connected controller or specialized HID

Confirm in VMware Player that the device is connected to the guest rather than merely connected to the host.
Check the guest operating system's device manager or input settings.
Install or update the suitable guest-side driver if the device requires one.
Make sure the intended physical device was selected when several similar devices are connected.

The host lost convenient keyboard or mouse control

An essential host HID was probably passed through exclusively. Use a secondary input method to open the Player controls and disconnect the device. If no alternate input method is available, reconnecting or physically reattaching another input device may be necessary before you can control the host. In future, keep an alternate host input method ready before passing through a primary HID.

Key points

A USB HID includes common input peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and game controllers.
A device can be connected to the host without being eligible for guest attachment.
Enable Hardware > USB Controller > show all USB input devices while the VM is powered off.
Start the VM, then connect the HID from the Removable Devices menu.
USB HID passthrough is exclusive: the host loses access until the device is disconnected from the guest.
Guest drivers may be required for specialized devices.
Menu names and device availability can vary by host operating system, hardware, and VMware version.

For related configuration work, read about configuring a USB Controller, connecting or disconnecting a USB device, and virtual machines.