USB Device Connection Issue in VMware Fusion on Mac M1

[Joseph Gand]

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:

  
  plaintext
  
  
  CopierModifier
  
  
  usb.autoConnect.device0 = "0x1a86:0x55d4"
  usb.autoConnect.device1 = "0x1a86:0x7523"
  usb.autoConnect.device2 = "0x51d:0x2"
  
  
  

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

1. Has anyone else encountered similar issues with USB devices in VMware Fusion on Mac M1 (ARM64)?
2. Are there additional settings in VMware Fusion I could modify to ensure the USB devices are detected automatically?
3. 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

[Technogeezer]

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.

$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0e0f:0003 VMware, Inc. Virtual Mouse
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0e0f:0006 VMware, Inc. Virtual Keyboard
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0e0f:0002 VMware, Inc. Virtual USB Hub
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 0e0f:0002 VMware, Inc. Virtual USB Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 07ca:313a AVerMedia Technologies, Inc. Live Streamer CAM 313

But the device doesn't work. Now disconnect and reconnect:

$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0e0f:0003 VMware, Inc. Virtual Mouse
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0e0f:0006 VMware, Inc. Virtual Keyboard
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0e0f:0002 VMware, Inc. Virtual USB Hub
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 0e0f:0002 VMware, Inc. Virtual USB Hub
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 07ca:313a AVerMedia Technologies, Inc. Live Streamer CAM 313
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 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. 

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- Paul (technogeezer)
vExpert 2025
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[Technogeezer]

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
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[Technogeezer]

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
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[Joseph Gand]

Hello, and many thanks for your inputs. 

In my case, the device does not show with the lsusb command. But it shows to be connected in the VMware interface, as the only possible option is to disconnect.

After manually disconnecting and connecting again in the VMware menu, the device appears under the lsusb.

I tried your suggestions, unfortunately it didn't solve the problem.

[PK-LittleElmTX]

Im confused. ever sense the last update it doesn't remember my plugin action. I won't even let me choose to connect to windows or Mac . I have to enable each usb device I want to use each time I turn on the VM? This is bugging me.

[PK-LittleElmTX]

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?

[Keith Jones]

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.

[MCUStu3]

Hello,

Yes, I have a similar problem. My microcontroller USB device is not recognized in the VM. I'm using VMware Fusion on Mac M1 as well.

I've spent dozens of hours trying so many different things...

[Technogeezer]

One thought on the microcontroller device. Can you check in thee Mac's System Settings > Privacy & Security > Files & Folders and make sure that VMware Fusion has permission to access Removable Volumes?

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- Paul (technogeezer)
vExpert 2025
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[PK-LittleElmTX]

Hello I was having the issue.
I downgraded from 13.6.3 to the previous version 13.6.2 and the issue went away
Hope this helps.
Thanks
PK

Paul King
Retired Network Engineer 🇺🇸

[Joseph Gand]

Hello, i tried to go back to V13.6.2. It solved the savings of the preference in the GUI - connect to Linux. But it did not solve that the USB devices are not connecting trough the VM, unless manually disconnect and connect again in the GUI. I tested in both VM (HomeAssistant and Debian)

[Technogeezer]

@Joseph Gand - when using the usb.autoconnect entries and changing the  ehci.present = "TRUE"entry in the vmx file to ehci.present = "FALSE", what USB hub is the device connected to in the guest? A lsusb output when using those settings would be useful to see if the device is being attached to the right place. 

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- Paul (technogeezer)
vExpert 2025
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[Technogeezer]

Ahhh... never mind. I looked at the wrong reply before asking my last question and saw that you posted the lsusb results. 

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- Paul (technogeezer)
vExpert 2025
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[Joseph Gand]

It shows nothing under lsusb.  As if not connected at all. Look at my first printscreen in the message #5 where only the generic ones are showing. It only appears under lsusb when disconnecting and connecting again in the GUI, as in the second printscreen :  Sonoff Zigbee device. It's the same case for all USB devices. 

[MCUStu3]

The access is set to "Full Disk Access" for "VMware Fusion".
Does that answer that permission question?

[Technogeezer]

@MCUStu3 That should work, but I don't think that's the source of your problem. See my reply in the other post you made about trying to communicate with your microprocessor board. 

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- Paul (technogeezer)
vExpert 2025
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[MCUStu3]

Yeah,  I was trying to respond to that but any edits or changes or responses need to be approved while the ENTIRE post is made to disappear, which I believe is a very unnecessary and inefficient way to handle forums. 

[MCUStu3]

Okay, so I'm been trying to see how I can respond to your messages in my post, but there's no REPLY button. So, I don't know how I can respond to you there...

[Rajeswara Reddy Kotla]

@Joseph Gand, can you please share the logs so that the team will have a look.

[Joseph Gand]

Sure, thanks! The log is from a fresh start, USB auto connect for 3 devices, GUI showing the USB devices as connected. But not working. Will only work if manually disconnect and connect again. 

[Joseph Gand]

file

[Rajeswara Reddy Kotla]

Can you please share the log. We dont see any attachment in your reply.

[Joseph Gand]

Hello, I did try, one time with Safari, then with FireFox. The file is correctly uploaded with the "Upload file" button, but then disappears after posting my message. Can I send it to you by email ? Thanks !