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You connect a USB drive, external disk, or other removable device to your computer, but it does not appear under VM > Removable Devices in VMware Workstation. In other cases, VMware can detect the device, but the guest operating system cannot access it.
This issue can usually be traced to one of three layers:
USB Device → Host OS → VMware → Guest OS
By checking these layers in order, you can avoid unnecessary configuration changes and identify where the connection is failing.
For a USB device to appear in VMware, your host operating system must detect it first. VMware then needs to access the device through its USB services and pass it to a virtual machine with a properly configured USB controller.
As a result, VMware removable devices not showing can be caused by a simple physical connection problem, a stopped VMware USB Arbitration Service, an incorrect USB compatibility setting, or a driver issue inside the guest OS.
The following fixes move from the simplest checks to more advanced troubleshooting.
Before changing any VMware settings, confirm that the host operating system can see the USB device.
Reconnect the device and check whether it appears in Windows File Explorer or Device Manager. If it is not detected, try another USB port. If you are using a USB hub, docking station, or adapter, temporarily connect the device directly to the computer.
If the host cannot detect the device, VMware will not be able to display it under Removable Devices.
Once the device is visible on the host, reopen VMware Workstation and check the VM > Removable Devices menu again.
The VMware USB Arbitration Service is responsible for allowing VMware to access USB devices connected to the host. If the service is stopped or not working correctly, VMware may not detect removable devices at all.
On the host computer:
Press Win + R and enter services.msc.
Find VMware USB Arbitration Service.
Check whether its status is Running.
Start or restart the service if necessary.
Close and reopen VMware Workstation.
Important: Check this service on the host operating system, not inside the guest virtual machine.
For many cases where VMware Workstation is not detecting USB devices, restarting this service is enough to restore normal USB detection.
If VMware can detect USB devices but your virtual machine cannot access them, check whether a USB controller is configured for the VM.
Shut down the virtual machine, then open:
VM Settings > Hardware
Look for USB Controller in the hardware list. If it is missing, use Add to add a USB controller to the VM.
Without a USB controller, the virtual machine cannot receive USB devices through VMware USB passthrough.
After adding the controller, start the VM and check whether the device appears under VM > Removable Devices.
A USB compatibility mismatch can also cause VMware USB devices not to appear or fail to work correctly inside the guest.
In VM Settings > USB Controller, check the available USB compatibility options. Depending on your VMware version, you may be able to select USB 2.0 or USB 3.x compatibility.
Newer USB modes are not always the best choice. Older guest operating systems may have limited support for USB 3.x controllers, while some older devices work more reliably with USB 2.0.
Try changing the USB compatibility setting, then restart the virtual machine and reconnect the device.
If the device starts appearing after changing the setting, the issue was likely related to guest OS or controller compatibility.
Sometimes the USB device appears in VMware but is still attached to the host computer.
With the virtual machine running, go to:
VM > Removable Devices > [Your USB Device]
Then select:
Connect (Disconnect from Host)
This transfers control of the device from the host to the virtual machine.
A USB device generally cannot be actively used by both the host and guest at the same time. If VMware detects the device but it is not showing in the guest OS, this is one of the first settings to check.
If the USB device is connected to the VM but still does not appear in the guest operating system, the problem may be inside the guest itself.
Open Device Manager in the guest OS and look for:
Unknown devices
USB controller errors
Devices with warning symbols
Installing or updating VMware Tools can improve hardware integration between the host and guest. You should also make sure the guest operating system has the required USB controller drivers.
This is particularly important when running older operating systems that may not include native support for newer USB controllers.
Physical connections can sometimes be the cause of VMware removable devices missing from the menu.
If your device is connected through a USB hub, docking station, or adapter, disconnect it and plug the device directly into the host computer. You can also try another USB port.
This simple test helps determine whether the issue is caused by VMware or by the physical USB connection between the device and the host.
If none of the previous fixes work, you may need to review the virtual machine’s advanced configuration.
First, shut down the VM completely and create a backup copy of its configuration before making changes. Advanced USB settings are stored in the VM configuration, and incorrect entries can affect USB passthrough behavior.
Check whether the USB controller has been disabled or restricted by custom configuration. If the problem started after editing the .vmx file or changing advanced VM settings, restoring the previous configuration may help.
For most users, however, this should be the final troubleshooting step. Start with host detection, the USB Arbitration Service, and the USB controller before modifying VM configuration files.
Troubleshooting USB issues normally does not affect virtual machine data, but configuration changes, driver updates, and advanced VM modifications can introduce unexpected problems.
If you manage multiple VMware workloads, creating and managing VM backups manually before every major change can become inefficient i2Backup provides centralized backup and recovery capabilities that can help protect virtual machines and simplify recovery when a workload needs to be restored.
A reliable backup strategy gives you an additional recovery option when troubleshooting extends beyond a simple USB connection issue.
Why is my USB device not showing under VMware Removable Devices?
First, check whether the host operating system can detect the device. Then verify that VMware USB Arbitration Service is running and that the virtual machine has a USB controller configured. USB compatibility settings can also affect whether the device is recognized.
How do I enable USB devices in VMware Workstation?
Make sure the VM has a USB controller, confirm that the VMware USB Arbitration Service is running on the host, and then connect the device through VM > Removable Devices > Connect (Disconnect from Host).
Why is my USB device connected to VMware but not showing in the guest OS?
The device may require a compatible USB controller or guest OS driver. Check Device Manager inside the guest, update VMware Tools if necessary, and try changing the USB compatibility setting.
Where is VMware USB Arbitration Service located?
On a Windows host, press Win + R, enter services.msc, and look for VMware USB Arbitration Service. The service runs on the host operating system, not inside the guest VM.
When VMware removable devices are not showing, the problem is usually located at the host, VMware, or guest OS level. Start by confirming that the host can detect the USB device, then check the VMware USB Arbitration Service and USB controller configuration. If VMware can see the device but the guest cannot, review the connection status, USB compatibility, and guest drivers.
Following this Host → VMware → Guest OS approach makes it easier to identify the source of the problem and restore USB access without making unnecessary changes.
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