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How to enable VirtualBox iPhone Redirection

Last updated Dec 3, 2020

Many iPhone developers rely on the virtual environment when testing their applications. However, even when the iPhone is connected via USB, when connecting an iPhone to Mac it may still not be recognized by VirtualBox. So, a few questions arise: is it possible to connect iPhone to VirtualBox and test apps in macOS hosted on VM? And if there are any alternatives that will allow redirecting iPhone to VirtualBox?

We will provide extensive answers to both of these questions in the article to follow, so read on.

How to connect iPhone to VirtualBox

USB support is not provided by default in many virtualization solutions. In situations where VirtualBox does not recognize the iPhone, a third-party software tool can solve the problem. FlexiHub is the advanced software to establish VirtualBox for iPhone connectivity

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FlexiHub is an effective USB redirection application that enables you to use VirtualBox with any iOS or USB device.
FlexiHub

Flexihub works its magic with advanced port redirection technology, enabling the data transmission from USB devices to be redirected to virtual machines. Secure connections can be created with the help of FlexiHub over any type of IP-based network. Easily connect virtual environments from VMware, VirtualBox, Hyper-V, and others to iPad, iPhones, or any other device using a USB interface.

Implementing VirtualBox iPhone redirection with FlexiHub:

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1
Register a free FlexiHub account.
flexihub account
2
Download and install FlexiHub on the computer with the physical connection to the iPhone. This machine will be known as the server.
sign up flexihub demo period
3
You also need to install the software on any machines that will access the USB devices remotely. These computers are the clients in the FlexiHub configuration.
Download Flexihub for VBox
4
Launch FlexiHub on both the server and client machines. Use the same credentials to log into the application on both machines.
Log in to connect usb to virtualbox
5
Locate the iPhone in the list of available devices and establish the connection by clicking “Connect”.
add usb to virtualbox
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Here is a handy video guide:

The advantages of using Flexihub to access iPhone in VirtualBox

FlexiHub has proven to be a reliable solution for connecting an iPhone to a VirtualBox session. There are several advantages to using this dedicated software as opposed to the native capabilities of your virtual environment. Here are some of the benefits that FlexiHub provides.

If you are looking for a way to enable VirtualBox for iPhone connectivity, FlexiHub has proven to be efficient in redirecting USB devices to virtual machines. Connecting your iPhone to VirtualBox with this dedicated software has many advantages. Here are some of them.

  • FlexiHub provides high data transfer rates that allow you to remotely access a device with the same functionality as with a physical connection.
  • Ease of use is provided with this software, as you can connect and share your iPhone from a virtual environment with a few clicks.
  • Cross-platform compatibility can be important and with FlexiHub you can connect an iPhone to VirtualBox on a Mac, Windows, or Linux host machine.
  • Data security is provided with advanced encryption. The information transferred between the virtual environment and the iPhone is safe from access by unauthorized users.
  • FlexiHub is compatible with many virtual solutions besides VirtualBox, making it useful for anyone working with virtual USB devices.
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The native way to mount iPhone in VirtualBox

In order to connect an iPhone to VirtualBox, you have to install the most current version of VirtualBox on a guest machine running either the Windows or Linux operating system. It is important to also install the extension pack that provides additional VirtualBox features.

The extension pack adds some interesting features to the versatility of VirtualBox. The addition that is of the most interest to us is VirtualBox USB passthrough - the additional support afforded for USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 devices. This functionality enables the connection of your iPhone to your VirtualBox instance.

Steps for connecting VirtualBox to your iPhone

If VirtualBox does not recognize iPhone, do the following:

  1. Open VirtualBox and select "Preferences" from the File menu. Add the extensions file by navigating to “Extensions” within “Preferences”. iPhone to VB connecting
  2. Attach the iPhone to the computer and open VirtualBox. Select the virtual machine that you will use with the iPhone and access the machine’s settings. Run iOS in VirtualBox
  3. In the left pane, click the “USB" option from the panel on the left. You want the "Enable USB 2.0 (EHCI) Controller" and "Enable USB Controller" to both be selected.
  4. Select the "Add" button located on the window’s right side and choose the iPhone. Then, close the settings by clicking “OK”.
  5. Once the USB options have been configured, it is time to start the virtual machine. Click on the “Devices” menu located in the “Title” bar and select “USB Devices”.
  6. Select your iPhone so it can be mounted in the VM. After the device is mounted, you can access the iPhone in the same way you would as if it was connected to the host operating system.

With the above configuration, you can use Xcode from inside of VirtualBox to install, test, and debug iPhone apps.

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