When you are attempting to connect a USB device to your VirtualBox on the PC, you are likely to receive an error message that says: failed to create a proxy device for the USB device. (Error: VERR_PDM_NO_USB_PORTS). What can you do when the error occurs? Some feasible solutions to this error are provided in this post. You can follow them to work your problem out.
Digression: If the USB device is not showing up even on your host computer, it may indicate the USB drive has no drive letter. In this case, you can make the drive appear by adding a drive letter to it. MiniTool Partition Wizard can help you finish the operation with its Change Drive Letter feature. You can download this program on your PC and have a try.
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Method 1: Eject the USB Device from the Host Computer
A USB device cannot connect to the host and virtual machines at the same time. So, if you have plugged the USB device into your host PC, you are likely to experience the “VirtualBox failed to create a proxy device for the USB device” issue. To fix this issue, you have to eject the USB from the host computer.
This way is very easy. You just need to right-click the USB icon in your taskbar and then select Eject to remove it. Then you can connect it to your virtual machine.
Method 2: Enable USB 3.0 Controller
If you encounter the error: failed to create a proxy device for the USB device. (Error: VERR_PDM_NO_USB_PORTS) with a USB 3.0 device, you can try to solve it by enabling the USB 3.0 controller in VirtualBox Manager.
Step 1: Open the VirtualBox on your PC.
Step 2: Right-click the virtual machine and select Settings.
Step 3: Go to USB and then check the Enable USB Controller option.
Step 4: Select the USB 3.0 Controller option. Then click the Add icon to add the problematic USB device.
Step 5: Once done, click OK to save the changes.
Method 3: Install Guest Additions
It’s also recommended that you install Guest Additions to see if you can remove the error message: failed to create a proxy device for the USB device. (Error: VERR_PDM_NO_USB_PORTS).
Step 1: Open VirtualBox and then run the virtual machine by double-clicking it.
Step 2: After that, click Device and then select Insert Guest Additions CD image from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Method 4: Install VirtualBox Extension Pack
VirtualBox Extension Pack can extend VirtualBox functionality. If you are trying to connect a USB 2.0 or 3.0 device, it’s important to install this pack to avoid the error: failed to create a proxy device for the USB device. (Error: VERR_PDM_NO_USB_PORTS). If you have no clue how to execute the installation, you can read this post: Guide – How to Install VirtualBox Extension Pack on VirtualBox?
Method 5: Modify Windows Registry
Deleting the UpperFilters and LowerFilters in Registry Editor may also help you solve the error: failed to create a proxy device for the USB device. (Error: VERR_PDM_NO_USB_PORTS).
Step 1: Open Registry Editor on your computer.
Step 2: Navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlClass{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}
Step 3: Right-click the UpperFilters and LowerFilters values and then select Delete to delete them.
Method 6: Reinstall the USB Driver for VirtualBox
Another solution to the “VirtualBox failed to create a proxy device for the USB device” issue is to install the VirtualBox USB driver manually. To do this, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
Step 2: Navigate to the path: C:Program FilesOracleVirtualBoxdriversUSB.
Step 3: Open the device folder. Then right-click the VBoxUSB.inf file and select Install.
Step 4: Go back to the USB folder and then open the filter folder.
Step 5: Right-click the VBoxUSBMon.inf file and select Install.
Step 6: Once the installation is completed, restart your host computer and virtual machine to check if the error persists.
It’s annoying to get stuck in the error: failed to create a proxy device for the USB device. (Error: VERR_PDM_NO_USB_PORTS). But don’t worry. You are able to fix it with the above methods. If you have any problems with this issue, you can leave a message in the following comment part.