How to Fix USB Not Working on VMware Ubuntu 22.04

You can fix the problem by following the steps below.

Step 1: Check VMware Settings

– To begin, launch VMware and navigate to the virtual machines settings.

– Select the “USB Controller” option.

– Double check if the “USB compatibility” setting corresponds with the correct version for your USB device (i.e. USB 3.0).

– Remember, the “USB autoswitch” feature must also be enabled.

Step 2: Install VMware Tools

– Launch a terminal in the Ubuntu virtual machine.

– In the terminal type in the commands below to install VMware Tools:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install open-vm-tools-desktop

Step 3: Reboot the Virtual Machine

– Once you have installed VM Tools, restart the virtual machine so that the changes can be finalized. 

Step 4: Check USB Device Connection

– Plug in your USB device into the host computer.

– On the VMware window, click “Removable Devices” and see if your USB device is displayed.

– If it shows up, select the device to attach it to the virtual machine.

Step 5: Update VMware and Ubuntu

– Always confirm whether VMware and Ubuntu requires updating to the most recent version.

Step 6. Update All Software. 

– If there is any software that has not been updated, it is best to do so to resolve any issues with USB devices. 

Step 7. Troubleshoot Further

– Should you need to troubleshoot further, the following steps may be helpful : 

– Unplug the USB device in vmware and plug it back in.  

– Turn off the virtual machine and turn it back on again.

– Look through the VMware logs for any messages that may indicate an issue. 

Conclusion

After conducting all the steps above, the issues regarding USB ports not functioning on VMware Ubuntu 22.04 should be solved. Always verify your configurations are correct, ensure VMware Tools has been installed and check that both VMware and Ubuntu versions are current.