Why does my Keyboard become non responsive on Mac side when running VM?

[Slowayne]

I am running a Mac with OS Majave 10.14.6.  I use VMWare to access certain Windows software not available on Apple.  When running VMwear the keyboard becomes non responsive on the apple side although the mouse works fine.  I have tried uninstalling the keyboard and reinstalling it.  It says it is installed.  Keyboard works fine in VM.  I can print from both operating systems.  Windows is version 10.pro vs 1803.

[scott28tt]

Moderator note: Technical/product issue, moved to the VMware Fusion area.

[ColoradoMarmot]

Are you attaching a USB keyboard directly to the VM?

[Slowayne]

I am using a blue tooth keyboard.  I did find that if I disconnect the keyboard blue tooth connection and re-establish the blue tooth connection it then worked.  Before the last up grade on the OS I did not have to do that.  In fact even now I have turned the compueter off and reloaded and sometimes it connects without establishing the blue tooth.  It is unstable in some way I think. 

[ColoradoMarmot]

That's very strange.  Keyboards connected to the host should continue to work there, and then Fusion passes the keystrokes through to the VM.  There are known issues with not having the guest see keystrokes, but I've never seen a situation where the guest does but the host doesn't.

[wila · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Sounds to me like the VM takes control over the bluetooth keyboard.

In your VM settings, can you look at "USB & Bluetooth controller" and see if the checkbox "Share bluetooth devices with the VM" is checked?

If that's checked, then try unchecking it and see if that helps.

FWIW, the VM should not need to have this checked in order to have access to the keyboard. AFAIK, the host should pass it on.

--
Wil

[Slowayne]

The box was checked.  I un checked it and restarted the computer and loaded VM and it worked as it should.  Thank you for your help.

Wayne