USB sound device does not work in a virtual machine

Products

• VMware
• VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

• Sound from the USB sound device works from the host
• Sound from the USB sound device does not work from the guest
• Sound in the guest doesn't work

Resolution

This issue can happen when two sound devices are presented to the guest operating system. The VMware virtual sound card is presented as the default device. The USB sound device is attached to the virtual machine and communicating directly to it instead of through the virtual sound device. You must change the default sound output device.

For a Windows guest, change the default sound device:

1. Log in as an Administrator.
2. Verify that the USB sound device is connected to the virtual machine and verify that the drivers for the device have been installed.
3. Click Start > Control Panel > Sound (Vista/7/8/10) / Sounds and Audio Devices (XP).
4. Click on the Playback tab (Vista/7/8/10) or Audio tab (XP).
5. Under the Playback tab (Vista/7/8/10) or under Sound playback (XP), change the Default device setting to the USB sound device name.