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Set up Hyper-V USB Passthrough on Windows 11
Using an offline disk is the easiest option
4 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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It’s the era of Virtual Machines, and Hyper-V is often the preferred option amongst users, given its wide array of customizations and user-friendly setup. But accessing data on USB storage, or passthrough, remains a problem in Hyper-V on Windows 11.
This is all the more important considering how common VMs are, be it for performance, testing software and applications, reducing cost, and isolation from host processes.
Does Hyper-V support USB passthrough?
Hyper-V doesn’t, by default, support USB passthrough since it runs independently from the host. But you can set up passthrough on a Hyper-V VM using the native methods and with a reliable tool.
Here are a few benefits of Hyper-V USB passthrough:
How do I enable Hyper-V USB Passthrough on Windows 11?
1. Set the USB disk as offline
To set up passthrough with a Hyper-V USB device in Windows 11, you will need to set it offline on the host system. That’s because a disk can’t be accessed from two systems simultaneously.
2. Enable Remote Desktop Protocol
Remember, you can similarly set up Hyper-V USB passthrough in Windows 10. All you need is toenable the Remote Desktop.
3. Use Enhanced Session Mode
4. With a third-party software
When the built-in options don’t work or seem too much of a hassle, you can always rely on third-party software.
To just transfer data between the two or create a backup, you can useAOMEI Centralized Backupper, an easy-to-use program that allows P2V data transfer.
Or you could choose from a plethora of other options. Just make sure to scan the program files before running the software.
Limitations of Hyper-V USB passthrough
You now know how to enable USB passthrough in Hyper-V on Windows 11 and the previous iterations. For seamless connectivity, it’s recommended that you add anetwork adapter in Hyper-V, though the task is usually handled by administrators.
As a matter of fact, you can alsoboot VMware from a USB drive, something most users don’t know.
If you have any queries, drop a comment below, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
More about the topics:USB flash drive,virtual machine,Windows 11
Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim has always been fond of technology, be it scrolling through the settings on his iPhone, Android device, or Windows PC. He’s specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
Long-time Windows user, Kazim is ready to provide a solution for your every software & hardware error on Windows 11, Windows 10 and any previous iteration. He’s also one of our experts in Networking & Security.
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Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim is specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
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