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Asked: 2024-09-25T17:21:19+05:30 In:

What are the steps to configure USB support in VirtualBox on an Ubuntu system?

I’ve been trying to get USB support working in VirtualBox on my Ubuntu machine, and I’m hitting a wall. I know there’s a way to do it, but honestly, I’m not quite sure where to start. If anyone has dealt with this, can you break it down for me?

Here’s the situation: I’ve got an Ubuntu system set up with VirtualBox installed, and I’m trying to get my USB devices recognized inside the virtual machines. I mean, I can see them when I’m on the host OS, but when I start the VM, it’s like they’re just gone! It’s super frustrating, especially since I really need to access some USB thumb drives and possibly a printer through the VM for my project.

I’ve seen a bunch of guides online that throw a lot of jargon at me, but they don’t seem to connect all the dots. Do I need to mess around with my user groups? I’ve heard something about adding my username to the “vboxusers” group, but what does that even mean, and how do I do it? And then there’s the whole issue of USB filters – I’ve read about setting those up too, but how do I know what settings to put in? Should I be using USB 2.0 or 3.0 support? Is there a difference in performance or device compatibility?

Also, it seems like there are different settings in the VM configuration related to USB; do I need to enable something specific there as well? Is this something that will be persistent across reboots, or will I have to redo it every time I launch the VM?

If anyone can share their experience or a step-by-step guide, I’d really appreciate it. Screenshots would be a bonus! I’m sure others have run into this issue, so any tips would help not just me but maybe a whole bunch of folks out there trying to get their USB functional in VirtualBox on Ubuntu. Thanks in advance for any help!

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    2 Answers



    1. Getting USB Support Working in VirtualBox on Ubuntu

      To enable USB support in VirtualBox on your Ubuntu machine, you need to first ensure that your user account is added to the “vboxusers” group. This is essential for the virtualization software to access USB devices. To do this, open a terminal and execute the command: sudo usermod -aG vboxusers your_username, replacing your_username with your actual username. After running this command, log out and back in or restart your machine for the changes to take effect. Once your user is added to the group, launch VirtualBox, select your VM, go to Settings, then USB. Here, ensure that you enable the USB Controller and select either USB 2.0 (EHCI) or USB 3.0 (xHCI) depending on your device compatibility; USB 3.0 generally provides better performance if your device supports it.

      After enabling USB support, you need to set up USB filters to specify which USB devices will be available to the VM. In the same Settings menu under USB, you can click on the Add Filter icon (a small USB plug with a plus sign) to create a new filter. You can select your USB device from the list, which defines that the device will automatically connect to your VM when it’s started. If you’re not sure which settings to use, simply adding the filter for the device usually suffices. This setup will persist across reboots, so you shouldn’t have to reconfigure it every time you launch your VM. If you encounter any issues after these adjustments, ensure your USB devices are physically connected before starting the VM. With these steps, your USB devices should be recognized properly in your VirtualBox environment.




    2. USB Support in VirtualBox on Ubuntu


      Getting USB Devices to Work in VirtualBox on Ubuntu

      Alright, so you wanna get your USB devices recognized in VirtualBox on your Ubuntu system? No worries, it can be a bit tricky, but here’s a simple breakdown to get you started.

      Step 1: Add Your User to the vboxusers Group

      First, you need to make sure your user has the necessary permissions. Here’s how to add your username to the vboxusers group:

      sudo usermod -aG vboxusers

      Replace <your_username> with your actual username. After running this command, you’ll need to log out and back in (or restart your computer) for the changes to take effect.

      Step 2: Enable USB Support in VirtualBox

      Next up, you need to enable USB support for your VM. Here’s how:

      1. Open VirtualBox and select your VM.
      2. Click on Settings.
      3. Go to the USB tab.
      4. Check either USB 2.0 (EHCI) Controller or USB 3.0 (xHCI) Controller. USB 3.0 is faster if your devices support it, but if they don’t, stick with USB 2.0.
      5. Now, you need to create a USB filter to capture your device. Click on the + (Add Filter) icon and select your USB device. This will ensure that the VM captures the device.

      Step 3: Start Your VM

      Now that you’ve set everything up, start your VM and check if the USB devices are recognized. If you’ve done everything correctly, they should show up inside your VM!

      Additional Tips:

      • If it still doesn’t work, make sure no applications are using the USB devices in the host OS before starting the VM.
      • The changes you made should persist across reboots, but if you change the USB filter later, just be aware of that.

      Troubleshooting:

      Still having issues? Here are a few things to check:

      • Make sure you have the latest version of VirtualBox installed.
      • Install the VirtualBox Extension Pack for more USB support (especially if you need USB 2.0 or 3.0 capabilities).
      • Look for any error messages in VirtualBox’s logs if the devices are still not showing up.

      Hopefully, this helps you get your USB devices working in VirtualBox! Good luck, and yeah, don’t hesitate to ask if you need more help!


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