Unlocking the full potential of your virtual machines can significantly enhance productivity, especially when using USB devices. For users leveraging Microsoft’s Hyper-V for virtualization, one of the more advanced features is Hyper-V USB Passthrough. Despite its advantages, setting it up can be tricky. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate through the process. Why Hyper-V USB Passthrough? Image: KnowTechie Hyper-V is a robust virtualization platform allowing the creation and management of virtual machines on Windows servers and desktops. However, one drawback is the difficulty of accessing USB devices from within a VM. This is where USB passthrough comes into play, allowing virtual machines to directly access USB devices connected to the Hyper-V host. This is particularly useful for applications that require physical USB dongles, storage devices, printers, or any other peripherals. Key methods for Hyper-V USB Passthrough There are several methods to achieve USB passthrough in Hyper-V. Here’s a breakdown of the most effective techniques: Server-side method via SCSI Controller This method involves configuring the USB device as a physical hard disk in Hyper-V, allowing it to be accessed by the virtual machine. Here are the steps: Open Disk Management by pressing Windows + R and typing diskmgmt.msc. Right-click the USB drive and set it to offline. Open Hyper-V Manager and access the VM settings. Under the SCSI Controller, add the offline USB disk. While effective, this method can be complex and may be limited to storage devices only. Client-side method (Enhanced Session Mode) Enhanced Session Mode allows for…Hyper-V USB Passthrough: Everything you need to know