Bluetooth not working in VMware Workstation – How to fix?

VMware Workstation lets you create virtual machines that share your system’s resources. However, in some cases, a virtual machine may not be able to access the Bluetooth adapter installed on the host computer. This can be frustrating, especially if you rely on Bluetooth devices for your workflow.

In this guide, we will explain why this happens, how to fix it, and how to enable Bluetooth in VMware Workstation if it is currently disabled.

Why Bluetooth may not work in VMware Workstation

Bluetooth issues inside a VMware Workstation VM are often linked to passthrough limitations, driver problems, or service misconfigurations. When you share the Bluetooth adapter with the VM, the host operating system may still retain partial control. This can result in devices pairing successfully but failing to maintain a proper connection.

Bluetooth not working in VMware Workstation – How to fix?

If you are facing this problem, you can try the following fixes.

Reclaim the Bluetooth Adapter from VMware

If Bluetooth sharing in VMware does not pass the adapter fully to the virtual machine, it can cause both the host and VM to compete for control. This usually leads to connectivity issues. Reclaiming the adapter can help.

Here’s how:

1. Shut down your virtual machine.
2. Open VM > Settings > Hardware > USB Controller.
3. Untick Show Bluetooth devices with the virtual machine to disable passthrough.
4. Remove the USB Controller.
5. Add the USB Controller again and tick Show Bluetooth devices with the virtual machine.
6. Start the VM and check if Bluetooth works correctly.

Reset Host Bluetooth Services and Drivers

After using VMware passthrough, Windows Bluetooth services on the host system may crash or hang due to driver corruption or resource conflicts. Restarting the services and reinstalling drivers can restore normal operation.

To restart Bluetooth services:

1. Open the Run Dialog Box, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Locate BluetoothUserService, Bluetooth Support Service, and Device Association Service.
3. If any of them are not running, right-click and select Start.
4. If they are running, right-click and choose Restart.

To reinstall the Bluetooth driver:

1. Open Device Manager from the Start Menu.
2. Expand Bluetooth, right-click your Bluetooth adapter, and select Uninstall device.
3. Confirm by clicking Uninstall.
4. Right-click on Bluetooth in Device Manager and select Scan for hardware changes.
5. Check if the Bluetooth connection now works inside the VM.

Disable Power Management for Bluetooth

Windows may power down Bluetooth adapters to save energy. After VMware passthrough, this can prevent the adapter from waking up properly, causing reconnection failures. Disabling the power management feature can prevent this.

Follow these steps:

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Bluetooth, right-click your Bluetooth adapter, and select Properties.
3. Go to the Power Management tab.
4. Untick Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
5. Click OK and restart the host computer.

How do I enable Bluetooth on my VMware Workstation?

If you need to enable Bluetooth for a VMware Workstation virtual machine, follow these steps:

1. Shut down your virtual machine.
2. Open VM > Settings.
3. Go to the Hardware tab and select USB Controller.
4. Tick Show Bluetooth devices with the virtual machine to allow passthrough.
5. Start the virtual machine and check if Bluetooth devices are now accessible.

This process ensures that VMware Workstation passes the Bluetooth adapter from the host machine to the VM so that it can detect and use Bluetooth devices.