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agreensh
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USB devices no longer recognised on VMWare Fusion 10

Using previous version of VMWare Fusion, whenever I plugged-in a USB device it asked me where to attach it (the OS X main machine, or the VM).

With version 10, this is no longer happening.

Has anyone else seen this? Is there anything I can do to attach the devices?

I need to access USB drives.

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W_M_Dooley
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There is a cumbersome workaround. I discovered this on a system running the public release of High Sierra 10.13 while installing Fusion 10.0.1 over top of 8.5.8.

Fusion 10 apparently does not install its USB extension until after the main installation. Maybe there's a good reason. When you first open a VM (mine was Windows XP), Fusion tries to write the USB extension to disk, but it is blocked by Apple's security.

To allow the USB extension, first open the System Preferences, Security & Privacy pane, unlock it, and then RETURN TO THE SHOW ALL PANE. The reason is that the Security pane will not refresh if it is showing (Apple's bad).

Next, start the newly installed Fusion 10 and open (but not run) a VM that normally uses USB. Now switch back to the Security pane and you should see a message about VMware with an Allow button. Click it. Nothing will happen. Close the open VM using its red button. Now click Allow and the message should disappear.

Quit and restart VMware Fusion. Run a VM and insert a USB device. It should be treated as you would expect. Maybe there's a simpler way, but the foregoing worked for me.

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dietrich_on_vmw
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Hi,

I was just thinking the same. First I thought my device was not working, but tried it with multiple USB devices to no avail.

Using Fusion Pro V10.0.1 (6754183) on a MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012).

Frankly, this Fusion 10 seems quite buggy...

regards

Dietrich

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RickShu
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Hi agreensh,

If you are running Fusion on macOS High Sierra host, would you please try with the below mentioned steps:

- Quit VMware Fusion

- Go to Apple System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General

- Select 'Allow'

- Start VMware Fusion

Regards,

-Rick

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agreensh
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Hi Rick,

Allow on what exactly? There is only "Allow apps downloaded from App Store" and identified developers, which is clicked (otherwise I wouldn't have been able to download Fusion).

Or do you mean something else?

Thanks,

agreensh

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W_M_Dooley
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There is a cumbersome workaround. I discovered this on a system running the public release of High Sierra 10.13 while installing Fusion 10.0.1 over top of 8.5.8.

Fusion 10 apparently does not install its USB extension until after the main installation. Maybe there's a good reason. When you first open a VM (mine was Windows XP), Fusion tries to write the USB extension to disk, but it is blocked by Apple's security.

To allow the USB extension, first open the System Preferences, Security & Privacy pane, unlock it, and then RETURN TO THE SHOW ALL PANE. The reason is that the Security pane will not refresh if it is showing (Apple's bad).

Next, start the newly installed Fusion 10 and open (but not run) a VM that normally uses USB. Now switch back to the Security pane and you should see a message about VMware with an Allow button. Click it. Nothing will happen. Close the open VM using its red button. Now click Allow and the message should disappear.

Quit and restart VMware Fusion. Run a VM and insert a USB device. It should be treated as you would expect. Maybe there's a simpler way, but the foregoing worked for me.

agreensh
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Thanks W_M_Dooley. That did it!

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Steve_Graybill
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I am running High Sierra 10.13.2.  After the install and update of VMWare Fusion 10.1.0 from 8.5.8, I also could no longer access any USB drive on Windows XP Professional.  I tried my USB drive on my laptop, which is still running VMWare Fusion 8.5.8, and it worked fine. 

I opened Apple Preferences then opened Security & Privacy and unlocked it.  The "App Store and identified developers" was already checked before the unlocking. I returned to the main System Preferences page in Apple Preferences, leaving Security & Privacy unlocked. 

Next I opened VMWare Fusion clicked on Virtual Machine then USB & Bluetooth.  My external DVD writer was now showing as connected to the Mac, it was not listed before.  I plugged in my USB  drive device and Fusion/Windows XP recognized it in the Virtual Machine USB & Bluetooth Settings.  Under Plug In Action I chose "Ask what to do" since I use it on both the Mac side and Windows side.  Everything worked, I was able backup and transfer data to and from the USB again.  I returned tp the Security & Privacy pane; I was not ask to approve or change anything.  I left the "App Store and identified developers" checked. 

Next I locked Security & Privacy in Apple Preferences to see if everything would work while locked.  I shut down VMWare then reopened it, plugged in my USB and I was asked whether I wanted to installl to Mac or Windows.  I chose Windows and everything worked fine.

Thanks W_M_Dooley, your recommendation  was very helpful.

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nmrf
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For me the issue was caused by upgrading the hardware compatibility version when prompted to V14.

I rolled back the VM by selecting "Use Hardware versions" and selecting "10" under the compatibility tab and the problem stopped.

Neither rainbow usb superpro nor my other USB key worked with hardware version 14 and it drove me nuts working out what had gone wrong.

NMRF

VMWare Fusion on Mac OS X since 2006
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stephan55
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I never got the "message about VMware with an Allow button" mentioned in the answer, but it still solved my issue and USB is working again.

UliTs
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I have similar problems since a few weeks. Also internet access did not work since 1 week.

Now with your help internet access works fine again.

But USB ist still not working 😞 .

I have installed vmware fusion Version 10.1.2

and macOS high sierra Version 10.13.6

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Martin_59
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same problem with 10.13.6 and 10.1.2

the recommended processes did not heal it - no usb access at all

message under security&privacy

"System software from developer "VMWare, Inc." was blocked from loading

does not disappear ...

so this worked for me - finally  - and let the message disappear - and  returned all usb devices:

"Thank you! I don't know why, but quitting all other applications and turning off WiFi did the trick. Weird."

after quitting all, WiFi off, disconnecting Ethernet aka WiFi cable 😉 the mouse click finally makes the message disappear.

found there "Allow" button not working when System So… - Apple Community

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tykmoore00
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This fixed my issue with the 11.0.1 update as well.

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r1200gs1
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I have new 2018 MacBook Pro running Mac OS X 10.14 running VMWare 11.0.2.

This fix required an extra step for me.

System Preferences does not remained unlocked for me when I go to 'show all' so I wasn't able to get the 'enable' button to appear.

In order to get the enable button to come up in System Preferences -> Security and Privacy I had to shut VMWare down altogether,

locate VMWare in Finder, control click to bring up the context menu and click open.

Starting VMWare in this way, as opposed to double clicking on it or opening via LaunchPad, caused the enable button to appear

and then clicking on it and restarting VMWare enabled USB device connection to happen via the normal 'Choose where you would like to connect...'

alert box.

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mikefromd
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I had the same problem when updating from VMWare Fusion 11.0.1. to 11.0.2 with MacOS 10.14.2. Your workaround is still working! Thanks.

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vbeekjan
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Yes that's it.

I have this issue after upgrading to Catalina. Then I had to upgrade Fusion 10 to VMware Fusion 11.5 to overcome the black screen.

Now it is working again.

Saves my day. Thanks a lot.

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beingisfj
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This helped me solve my issue. Thanks a lot guys.

Regards - Claire

Being ISFJ

isfj relationships

isfj careers

movierulz

isfj strength and weaknesses

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koira
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thank you! this one worked for me after the problem showed up when having upgraded from catalina 10.15 to 10.15.1 - now works again.

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