VMware Participant USB system greyed out

Some customers have complained that after they open the VMware Participant (or VMware Workstation Participant) on their Home windows PC and energy on the digital machine, they’re unable to entry the detachable USB system(s) resembling USB digicam, USB arduous drive, and many others., linked to the host machine. For some customers, a couple of USB gadgets are greyed out, and for others all of the gadgets are disabled. For those who additionally face this challenge, then we’ll enable you repair this VMware Participant USB system greyed out drawback with some simple options.

If a detachable USB system is incompatible with VMware Participant, then it may possibly’t be used with a digital machine. However, if the system is suitable and you continue to have this drawback, then the options lined on this put up will certainly be useful.

VMware Participant USB system greyed out

To repair the VMware Participant USB system greyed out challenge, you should use the fixes listed under. Earlier than that, first, reconnect the USB system(s) to the host system, and see if the USB system(s) are enabled for the Visitor OS for which you might have this drawback. Additionally, run the VMware Workstation Participant as administrator and replace it by downloading all software program parts. If the issue continues, use the options listed under:

1. Verify if USB Controller is Current
2. Modify the VMX configuration file of your Digital Machine
3. Be certain that USB VMware Arbitration Service is Working
4. Create a brand new Digital Machine.

Let’s test these options one after the other.

1] Verify if USB Controller is Current

For a digital machine created utilizing VMware Participant, a USB Controller system is required to make use of the USB gadgets. Although the USB Controller is added by default whenever you create a brand new digital machine, whether it is eliminated for some motive or not added whereas putting in the VM, then that may very well be the rationale you see that each one or some USB gadgets are greyed out. So, test if USB Controller is current for that specific VM and add it if it’s not current. For this, use the next steps:

1. First, energy off or shut down the digital machine and exit the VMware Workstation Participant
2. Launch the VMware Participant once more
3. Choose a digital machine from the left part for which you might have this USB system greyed out challenge
4. Open the Participant menu current on the top-left nook
5. Entry the Handle menu
6. Click on on the Digital Machine Settings… choice. A window will open
7. Swap to the {Hardware} tab in that window
8. Within the Gadgets record, search for USB Controller. Whether it is current, choose the proper USB compatibility (USB 3.1, USB 2.0, and many others.) from the appropriate part, and press the OK button
9. If the USB Controller just isn’t current, click on on the Add button within the backside left part
10. An Add {Hardware} Wizard field will open. There, choose USB Controller within the {Hardware} sorts, and press the End button
11. The USB Controller system for that specific VM will likely be added. Choose it and set the USB compatibility utilizing the drop-down menu if the default compatibility just isn’t appropriate
12. Press the OK button
13. Play the digital machine
14. Entry the Participant menu, then the Detachable Gadgets menu, and USB gadgets needs to be enabled and never greyed out.

Associated: Not sufficient bodily reminiscence is out there to energy on this digital machine

2] Modify the VMX configuration file of your Digital Machine

This is likely one of the finest options to repair this drawback. Every digital machine created utilizing VMware Participant incorporates a *.vmx configuration file in its set up location. If that VMX file incorporates a line that units USB gadgets to restrictions, then that is the rationale why USB gadgets are seen as greyed out. That line would have been added to the VMX file throughout the VM creation course of. You’ll want to discover and take away that line. For this, modify the VMX configuration file of your digital machine utilizing the steps added under:

1. Shut down the digital machine and exit the VMware Participant. In any other case, you’ll have bother modifying the VMX file
2. Now entry the folder the place the digital machine is created and all its information is current in your host laptop. The default location for making a digital machine is C:CustomersUsernameDocumentsVirtual Machines. Change Username with the precise username and entry the digital machine folder. For instance, when you’ve got created a Home windows 10 x64 VM, then beneath the Digital Machines folder, you will note a Home windows 10 x64 folder. All of the information and folders associated to that VM will likely be there. You probably have set a customized location for creating the VM, then entry that specific location
3. Discover the *.vmx file (say Home windows 10 x64.vmx) and open it in Notepad or another textual content editor software program
4. Now search for a line that claims restrictions.defaultAllow = “FALSE” and delete it
5. Save the VMX file
6. Open the VMware Workstation Participant and play the digital machine
7. Open the Detachable Gadgets menu and you must in a position to entry and connect with USB gadgets that had been earlier greyed out.

3] Be certain that VMware USB Arbitration Service is Working

VMware USB Arbitration Service permits the USB gadgets which are plugged into the host working system to be usable by the visitor working system or digital machine. However, if this service just isn’t working, then it might create bother in utilizing the USB gadgets and that’s why you’d see that USB gadgets are greyed out whenever you attempt to entry them in VMware Participant after enjoying a digital machine. So, you must make sure that the VMware USB Arbitration Service is working and it ought to run robotically by altering its Startup kind. The steps are:

1. Kind providers within the Search field of your Home windows 11/10 PC and press the Enter key
2. Within the Companies window, scroll down and double-click on the VMware USB Arbitration Service
3. The Properties window of this service will open. Press the Begin button to run the service
4. Now to ensure the service runs robotically, set the Startup kind to Computerized utilizing the drop-down menu
5. Press Apply button and OK button.

4] Create a brand new Digital Machine

If this drawback has began after shifting the digital machine to a brand new host or new location in the identical host, then it is perhaps attainable that VM information usually are not moved correctly which is additional inflicting this challenge. So, if that is so and these options don’t work, then chances are you’ll have to create a brand new digital machine utilizing VMware Participant for the brand new host or location. This is able to be time-consuming however value attempting.

Hope these fixes will assist.

How do I allow USB gadgets in VMware?

A suitable USB system (say an exterior USB arduous drive) that’s plugged into your bodily machine is enabled robotically in VMware Participant. You solely want to attach it to make use of with a digital machine. For this, begin a digital machine in VMware Workstation Participant, open the Participant menu, choose the Detachable Gadgets menu, entry the USB system, and click on on the Join choice.

In case you don’t see a suitable USB system to attach, then open the Digital Machine Settings, choose USB Controller, and activate the Present all USB enter gadgets choice. Now entry the Detachable Gadgets part for that VM, after which join your USB system.

Why is my VMware Instruments greyed out?

If the Set up VMware Instruments choice is greyed out in VMware Participant, then it may possibly occur as a result of the picture of the instruments is already mounted or your system is lacking a digital optical drive, and many others. To repair this drawback, entry the Digital Machine Settings window utilizing the Handle menu. Take away the CD/DVD Drive system and Floppy Drive system from the {Hardware} tab, and add the CD/DVD Drive system once more. Set Use bodily drive choice for CD/DVD Drive to Auto Detect mode. Now you must have the ability to use the Set up VMware Instruments choice.

Learn subsequent: Find out how to set up Home windows 11 on VMware Workstation Participant.