How to add users to vboxusers to enable USB usage

Question

I want to use my flashdrive in Windows XP, which I am currently running in Virtualbox, but when I open up the settings to enable usb usage, I get an error:

Failed to access the USB subsystem.
VirtualBox is not currently allowed to access USB devices. 
You can change this by adding your user to the 'vboxusers' group. 
Please see the user manual for a more detailed explanation


Result Code: 
NS_ERROR_FAILURE (0x00004005)
Component: 
Host
Interface: 
IHost {30678943-32df-4830-b413-931b25ac86a0}
Callee: 
IMachine {22781af3-1c96-4126-9edf-67a020e0e858}

Does anyone know how to fix this!?

Does this answer your question? [How to access a shared folder in VirtualBox?](https://askubuntu.com/questions/161759/how-to-access-a-shared-folder-in-virtualbox) — wesinat0r, Aug 19 '20 at 22:48
@wesinat0r That's about shared folders, and this is about directly accessing USB devices (which VirtualBox supports). — Eliah Kagan, Aug 21 '20 at 18:30

score 82 · Answer 1 · edited Aug 22 '17 at 00:32

82

In your host, run this command:

sudo usermod -a -G vboxusers $USER

Now perform a logout (always required after add current user to a group).

After login, check that you are in the vboxusers group with this command, make sure that vboxusers is in the shown list:

groups $USER

edited Aug 22 '17 at 00:32

Rael Gugelmin Cunha

6,745
2
34
35

answered Nov 16 '13 at 03:38

kiri

27,676
16
81
117

2

i am getting error: usermod: group 'vboxusers' does not exist – Alex Jones Dec 29 '14 at 14:42
1

```adduser: The group `vboxusers' does not exist.``` Now what? – endolith Oct 07 '16 at 18:16
2

Oh wait, this is something you run in the host OS, not the guest OS? – endolith Oct 07 '16 at 18:20
4

Actually, for Linux guests + hosts (not exactly the question but helpful), you need to do BOTH `sudo usermod -a -G vboxusers "$USER"` on the **host** AND `sudo usermod -a -G vboxsf "$USER"` on the **guest** after extension pack install and then **reboot** the guest. – KrisWebDev Jan 05 '20 at 08:11

score 17 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 29 '19 at 13:14

17

This works for me and my problem with VirtualBox was solved

sudo usermod -a -G vboxsf "$USER"

edited Jul 29 '19 at 13:14

Zanna

69,223
56
216
327

answered Aug 05 '14 at 06:43

Serjik

368
4
12

3

i am getting error: `usermod: group 'vboxsf' does not exist` – Alex Jones Dec 29 '14 at 14:42
I don't know why installing VirtualBox does not add that group for you, maybe will it be good idea to add group manually first – Serjik Dec 30 '14 at 05:08

score 6 · Answer 3 · edited Aug 22 '20 at 02:36

6

In a terminal run:
```
sudo adduser $USER vboxusers
```
Reboot all systems.

edited Aug 22 '20 at 02:36

Zanna

69,223
56
216
327

answered Feb 12 '20 at 20:43

Cesar Devesa

207
2
5

score 6 · Answer 4 · edited Dec 18 '14 at 02:36

6

Add the user as suggested by other answer using usermod command.
Run the command id. You should see vboxusers in the list.
If you don't see that, you may restart your computer and try id again.

When you get vboxusers listed as a result of running id, you're good to use USB with virtual box.

edited Dec 18 '14 at 02:36

Aaron Hill

4,867
4
41
62

answered Dec 18 '14 at 01:36

Shakus

171
1
3

1

Instead of restarting, simply logging off and on again also works. – nsane Oct 12 '16 at 18:35

score 2 · Answer 5 · edited Aug 22 '20 at 02:38

2

id <username>

That will give you

uid=1000([username]) gid=1000([username]) groups=1000([username]),10(wheel),18(dialout),497(plugdev)

if vboxusers is missing in that then add it

sudo usermod -a -G vboxusers [username]

This should resolve the issue

edited Aug 22 '20 at 02:38

Zanna

69,223
56
216
327

answered Jul 17 '14 at 09:39

user306403

21
1

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Aug 29 '20 at 07:58

Would like to mentionn for those who no solution work like me, ensure you are part of the group vboxusers, if it does not exist, addgroup vboxusers.... after, delete in the host usb settings all the usb filters (devices) you have... reboot the guest In the host, use empty filters to recreate manually your devices, put any name just copy the two following fields from the original filter still available, restart your virtual guest.... voila, your devices are there ... its the only way i found to force them out of at least ten other solutions.. Enjoy

How to add users to vboxusers to enable USB usage

6 Answers6

Linked

Related