exFAT drive causes Windows 11 VM to freeze when writing over USB 3.2

[Proper Properboy]

Hi,

I am experiencing a strange issue with an external exFAT drive connected directly to a Windows 11 VM through USB passthrough in VMware Fusion 26H1. The USB compatibility setting is set to USB 3.2.

The drive is detected normally by Windows, and I can browse and open the files. However, whenever I try to copy or save files to the drive, the entire VM becomes unresponsive. It only recovers after I disconnect or eject the external drive.

I tested an NTFS-formatted drive under the same conditions, and it works properly. I also connected the exFAT drive through a USB hub using a USB 2.0 port, and it worked normally.

Based on these tests, the issue appears to be related to USB 3.2 passthrough rather than the exFAT drive itself.

Has anyone experienced the same issue? Is there any known fix or workaround, other than using USB 2.0 or reformatting the drive as NTFS?

Thank you.

[Technogeezer]

If I understand your post, do  things work when you attach the USB drive to a USB2 hub and pass it to the Windows VM?

> Based on these tests, the issue appears to be related to USB 3.2 passthrough rather than the exFAT drive itself.

I would not make that assumption unless you have formatted that USB drive as NTFS and retried the test. 

What Mac model and macOS version are you running?

What kind of USB drive are you using that's formatted as ExFAT? Have you tried a different model of drive or USB stick formatted as ExFAT? 

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Paul Rockwell (technogeezer)
vExpert 2026 (3x)
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[Proper Properboy]

Ah yes, maybe it was unwise for me to say that. My bad.

>What Mac model and macOS version are you running?

MacBook Air M4 and macOS 26.5.2

>What kind of USB drive are you using that's formatted as ExFAT? Have you tried a different model of drive or USB stick formatted as ExFAT? 

I am using a normal Sandisk stick, I think?

I just realized that the VM detected my drive as SCSI, while the normal drive detected as USB right?

Edit:

I reformatted my drive to NTFS, and it also didn't work..

[Technogeezer]

> I just realized that the VM detected my drive as SCSI, while the normal drive detected as USB right?

in a typical configuration, the primary virtual disk gets presented as a NVMe device. USB drives typically get detected as a USB device.

Question. MacBook Air M4s typically have USB-C ports. Does your USB stick have a USB-A connector or USB-C connector ? If USB-A, what are you using to connect it to the MacBook Air when not using a USB 2 hub? 

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Paul Rockwell (technogeezer)
vExpert 2026 (3x)
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[Proper Properboy]

> in a typical configuration, the primary virtual disk gets presented as a NVMe device. USB drives typically get detected as a USB device.

I see, in properties, the hardware is read as "USB Sandisk 3.2Gen1 SCSI Disk Device." I also look around in the internet that the other VM app faces the same problem, but I don't know if its related to the current problem I'm facing or not.

> MacBook Air M4s typically have USB-C ports. Does your USB stick have a USB-A connector or USB-C connector ? If USB-A, what are you using to connect it to the MacBook Air when not using a USB 2 hub? 

It has both, it is the type that have two connectors, USB-A and USB-C. So, when I plugged in USB 2 hub, I used its USB-A connector.

[Technogeezer]

It seems to me like Fusion might indeed be running into the same issue as UTM. Might need to see if Broadcom can weigh in here. 

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Paul Rockwell (technogeezer)
vExpert 2026 (3x)
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