USB devices only work in guest if plugged in after guest boot up

J

JasonC2

Bit poster
I have a USB hub connected to my MacBook Pro. Attached to the USB hub are my keyboard, mouse, wireless headset for Lync, and smartcard reader. The hub is, obviously, already plugged into my Mac when I launch Parallels and start my Windows 10 VM. Once the Windows 10 VM boots up, it does not see my wireless headset or smartcard reader.

However, if I unplug and re-connect the headset or smartcard reader once Windows 10 is running, Parallels sees it and asks me if I want the device available for OS X or Windows 10. If I select Windows 10 they work fine. Same goes for any other USB device that I connect after Windows 10 is running. So the problem is only USB peripherals (except keyboard and mouse) that are already connected prior to Parallels, and, VM's, starting.

Is this the expected behavior? Is there any way for my Windows 10 VM to see my USB peripherals that were connected to my Mac prior to starting Parallels?

Jason
 
Hello JasonC2,
Parallels Desktop allows you to use USB, Thunderbolt, and Fire Wire devices with Windows.
Many external devices, such as mice and printers, are available by default to both Windows and Mac OS X when you connect them to your Mac.
Some external devices, such as an Apple iPhone,wireless headset and smart card reader, can only be used with either Mac OS X applications or Windows programs, but not both at the same time. When you connect such a device, you can choose whether you want to use it with Mac OS X or Windows.
 
Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately that doesn't really address my issue. Let me ask in a different way:
If I want to use a device such as a USB smartcard reader or wireless headset in a Windows VM, do I have to wait until AFTER the VM boots up to connect them?
If so, then that causes a bit of a problem as these devices are connected to a USB hub that is connected to my MacBook. It would mean that after I boot my VM, I have to crawl under my desk to disconnect/reconnect these devices.
Thanks,
 
For the devices you mention, you have to choose whether they should be used in the VM or in Mac OS X. That's why when you start the VM, you see the dialog that appears asking where you want to use the device. As the dialog says when it appears, you can hold a key (I think it's the option key) to choose the default use of the device. You can manage this in Parallels Desktop menu -> Preferences -> Devices. You can choose how attaching new devices will work and manage your preferences for existing devices. To quickly switch a device between OS X and the VM, when in the VM, go to the Devices menu or use the PD shortcut menu ("||" near your sound, notifications, etc. in the title bar) to attach devices to the VM or not, without having to crawl under your desk!

Steve
 
Perfect! I somehow missed that option in the menu bar to connect an existing USB device to a VM, that seems to be exactly what I needed, thanks!

Jason
 
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