It was a long night but i fixed it after digging my old Time Machine images.
1) Downgrade was required to the version 13.6.2.
2) I had to remove usb.present = "TRUE" in my vmx config.
Now its running like a charm.
Original Message:
Sent: May 29, 2025 05:29 AM
From: Joseph Gand
Subject: USB Device Connection Issue in VMware Fusion on Mac M1
Hello!
I can imagine how much time you've spent trying to fix this - I also tried many different things: tweaking the configuration file, downgrading versions, testing countless setups. In the end, since no real solution seemed to be available, I ended up creating an Apple Automator script that basically emulates disconnecting and reconnecting my USB devices. It's not an ideal fix, but at least it works.
Have a great day!
Joseph
Original Message:
Sent: May 28, 2025 04:08 PM
From: Pavlo Mohylov
Subject: USB Device Connection Issue in VMware Fusion on Mac M1
Did you find a solution for this?
I did try to downgrade and debug for hours. Found your message then in this thread.
Would love if you share experience as i have same situation. Got Mac Studio with ZigBee adapter and have always to re-attach the device.
Original Message:
Sent: Apr 02, 2025 03:22 AM
From: Keith Jones
Subject: USB Device Connection Issue in VMware Fusion on Mac M1
Many thanks for this.
I have recently migrated my Home Assistant instance from a Raspberry Pi to a VMWare Fusion VM running on a Mac mini M4. Although the migration went well, whenever I restarted the VM, or rebooted my Mac, the USB Skyconnect Zigbee dongle would never re-attach to the VM (despite the Plug In Action being set to "Attach to Linux"). I always had to re-attach manually. Eventually saw your post and downgraded to 13.6.2, now all working perfectly.
Original Message:
Sent: Mar 16, 2025 03:48 PM
From: PK-LittleElmTX
Subject: USB Device Connection Issue in VMware Fusion on Mac M1
I downGraded to version VMware Fusion from 13.6.3 to 13.6.2 and Im able to save my plug in actions Now.
13.6.3 is broke?
Original Message:
Sent: Mar 16, 2025 01:15 PM
From: Technogeezer
Subject: USB Device Connection Issue in VMware Fusion on Mac M1
I might have found something that could work.
Look in the .vmx file for an entry:
ehci.present = "TRUE"
Change it to read:
ehci.present = "FALSE"
and keep your usb.autoConnect entries. See if the device works. (I tried this with my USB camera, and the device is now auto-attaching to the "correct" virtual USB hub and is now working.)
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- Paul (technogeezer)
vExpert 2025
Original Message:
Sent: Mar 16, 2025 12:27 PM
From: Technogeezer
Subject: USB Device Connection Issue in VMware Fusion on Mac M1
Not outside the realm of possiblity as well that it could be a bug with Fusion on Apple Silicon.
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- Paul (technogeezer)
vExpert 2025
Original Message:
Sent: Mar 16, 2025 12:17 PM
From: Technogeezer
Subject: USB Device Connection Issue in VMware Fusion on Mac M1
I wonder if that .vmx hack will work on Fusion. I'm trying it and finding that it's attaching the USB device to a different USB hub than if you use the GUI.
Example for my USB video camera::
Here's what happens if I have the autoconnect bits in the .vmx file. As you noticed, device is connected.
$ lsusbBus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hubBus 001 Device 002: ID 0e0f:0003 VMware, Inc. Virtual MouseBus 001 Device 003: ID 0e0f:0006 VMware, Inc. Virtual KeyboardBus 001 Device 004: ID 0e0f:0002 VMware, Inc. Virtual USB HubBus 001 Device 005: ID 0e0f:0002 VMware, Inc. Virtual USB HubBus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hubBus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hubBus 003 Device 002: ID 07ca:313a AVerMedia Technologies, Inc. Live Streamer CAM 313
But the device doesn't work. Now disconnect and reconnect:
$ lsusbBus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hubBus 001 Device 002: ID 0e0f:0003 VMware, Inc. Virtual MouseBus 001 Device 003: ID 0e0f:0006 VMware, Inc. Virtual KeyboardBus 001 Device 004: ID 0e0f:0002 VMware, Inc. Virtual USB HubBus 001 Device 005: ID 0e0f:0002 VMware, Inc. Virtual USB HubBus 001 Device 006: ID 07ca:313a AVerMedia Technologies, Inc. Live Streamer CAM 313Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hubBus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Note the different USB hub. Device now works.
I don't know if there's a different form of the vmx entry to specify which USB hub to autoconnect the device to.
------------------------------
- Paul (technogeezer)
vExpert 2025
Original Message:
Sent: Mar 16, 2025 09:13 AM
From: Joseph Gand
Subject: USB Device Connection Issue in VMware Fusion on Mac M1
Hello,
I am encountering an issue with VMware Fusion Pro (version 13.6.3) on a Mac mini M1 (ARM64) Sequoia 15.3.2, regarding the management of USB devices in a virtual machine (VM). They do not attach automatically, even if they are displayed as connected. Only option is to disconnect and connect again.
My problem occured with a HomeAssistant arm64 image, to be sure i tested also with a simple Debian image. The behavior is the same.
- In the VM's USB settings, I enabled USB 3.1 compatibility and checked "connect to this virtual machine" for each USB device.
- I also modified the
.vmx file to include the USB device IDs:
Problem:
- During and after the VM boot, the USB devices are shown as connected in VMWare, but they are not recognised by the virtual machine
- Verified with lsusb
- In VMWare, only after disconnecting and re-connecting, the virtual machine recognise them properly
- Changing the USB compatibility between USB 2.0 and USB 3.1. did not solve the issue
- Has anyone else encountered similar issues with USB devices in VMware Fusion on Mac M1 (ARM64)?
- Are there additional settings in VMware Fusion I could modify to ensure the USB devices are detected automatically?
- Is there a recommended method or configuration to ensure that USB devices reconnect correctly to the VM after a reboot or power outage?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Joseph