Windows – How to manage USB devices between host and guest with VirtualBox on Windows

usbvirtualboxwebcamwindows 7

I would like to make my host computer’s webcam available to my guest OS under VirtualBox. Having never shared USB devices between the two before, though, I am a bit skittish about the language in the VirtualBox user guide on USB settings:

As soon as the guest system starts using a USB device, it will appear
as unavailable on the host… On a Windows host, you will need to
unplug and reconnect a USB device to use it after creating a filter
for it

If I were to share my host’s integrated webcam, relinquishing control to the guest OS, how would I restore control to the host since I cannot unplug the webcam?

(My host is Windows 8 and my guest is Windows 7.)

Best Answer

It means that you should create usb filter, follow this:

  1. Open the VM setting (this is your Windows 7).
  2. Go to the USB tab and make sure Enable USB Controller has checked. You can check the USB 2.0 but you have to install vmbox extensions.
  3. Click the add button and select the webcam, done.
  4. Now you can replug your USB device and start the Windows 7 to see whether is succeed
Related Question