Connect an iPhone or iPad with USB

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

On iPhone and iPad there is nothing to switch on: no developer settings, no drivers on the device, and no device to pick. Plug in the cable, open the app, and it connects by itself.

Step 1: Install Apple Device Software (Windows only)

Windows needs Apple’s device software so it can see your iPhone or iPad over USB. Install one of these:

Apple Devices - free app from the Microsoft Store (recommended)
iTunes - the same support, and it works on older versions of Windows

VirtualTablet Server shows both download options for you: open the Connect tab, switch to USB, and look at the iPhone / iPad section. If it can’t find Apple’s software, the download buttons appear right there.

Already installed but still not working? Make sure the Apple Mobile Device Service is running (open services.msc, or simply restart your PC).

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On a Mac there is nothing to install - macOS already includes everything needed. Skip to Step 2.

Step 2: Connect the Cable

Connect your iPhone or iPad to the PC with a USB data cable
Unlock your device. A device that has been locked for a while only charges over USB and stays invisible to the PC
If a “Trust This Computer?” prompt appears, tap Trust

When the PC can see it, the iPhone / iPad section of the server’s USB tab changes from “No device connected” to “iPhone/iPad detected”.

Step 3: Open the App and Connect

Open VirtualTablet on your iPhone or iPad
Tap the USB tab
That’s it - as soon as the PC is detected, the app connects automatically

If you leave the drawing screen and want to go back, tap Connect over USB in the USB tab.

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The PC only links to devices that have the VirtualTablet app open. You can leave several iPads plugged in - each one connects on its own, and there is no device list to choose from.

Troubleshooting

The PC never detects the device (Windows):

Install Apple Devices or iTunes - Windows cannot see an iPhone or iPad without Apple’s device software
If it is already installed, check that the Apple Mobile Device Service is running, or restart the PC
Unlock your device and reconnect the cable

The device is detected but never connects:

Make sure the VirtualTablet app is open on the iPhone or iPad
Keep the device unlocked while connecting
Tap Trust if the “Trust This Computer?” prompt appears

Nothing happens at all:

Use a data cable - many spare cables are charge-only
Plug directly into the PC and avoid USB hubs
Try a different USB port, then a different cable
Restart both the PC and the device

Related Resources

USB Connection

Back to the USB overview

Android

USB setup for Android devices

WiFi Connection

Learn about wireless connection options

Troubleshooting

How to fix common problems you might face with VirtualTablet

Connect an Android Device with USB

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Android connects through ADB, so USB debugging has to be turned on once. The VirtualTablet app walks you through it with a live checklist that turns green as each step is done.

Step 1: Install the USB Driver (Windows only)

Windows needs your manufacturer’s USB driver to recognize the device.

Download the official driver for your device
Install it, then restart your PC

On a Mac, no driver installation is needed.

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You do not need to install ADB or Android platform-tools. VirtualTablet Server already includes everything it needs to talk to an Android device.

Step 2: Turn On Developer Options

Open Settings on your Android device
Navigate to About phone (on Samsung: About phone → Software information)

Tap “Build Number” 7 times until you see the “Developer mode enabled” message

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The build number sits in a different place on each brand - on Xiaomi it is OS version, on OPPO/OnePlus/realme it is under Version, on vivo it is Software version. The VirtualTablet app detects your brand and shows the right path, so just follow the app.

Step 3: Turn On USB Debugging

Go back to Settings
Open Developer options (usually near the bottom of Settings)

Scroll to the Debugging section
Turn USB debugging ON

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In the VirtualTablet app, open the USB tab and tap any unfinished step - it opens the matching Android settings screen directly, and the checklist updates as soon as you come back.

Step 4: Connect and Allow Debugging

Connect your Android device to the PC with a USB cable
When Android asks “Allow USB debugging?”, tap Allow
Check “Always allow from this computer” so you are not asked again

Step 5: Select the Device and Connect

Open VirtualTablet Server on your PC, go to the Connect tab and switch to USB
In the Android device section, pick your device from the dropdown
In the app, tap Connect over USB

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Pro users can turn on Auto-connect when ready in the app’s USB tab, and the connection starts by itself once every step is green.