Having trouble when try to click "use this device" button when using the reverse client mode

Submitted by kamijou on #1

Question: Does the reverse client function need license? I checked Purchase page and found nothing about reverse client mode.

Summary: I can't click "use this device" button though the device is not used.

Now I'm trying to use virtualhere on macOS to support PS5 controller perfectly when using moonlight to play game not supported for macOS.

I've established a WAN connection successfully when using MacOS as server and my Windows PC as client.(The macOS have public IPV4 address at my home)

But when I tried to use reverse client mode to connect to my Windows PC (My company won't provide accessible public address for safety). My Windows PC have a public IPV6 address. I also established a WAN reverse connection over IPV6 by connecting my Mac to mobile hotspot. Then I encountered the problem: though I can see my controller on the Windows client list, the "use this device" button is grey and I cannot click it.

I checked the status and found that the client on my macOS side for adjustment was using the device, then I shut down it but the "use this device" was still grey. I restarted the client and server over and over again and I was sure after that I only opened one server and one client at the same time but still having the same question.
I also tried to connect my controller to my android device and use the reverse client mode but still the same question.

Does the reverse client function need license? Or I did something wrong?

 

Submitted by kamijou on Mon, 2026/05/18 - 00:55

#2

2026-05-17 22:48:35 INFO  :VirtualHere Client 5.9.8 starting (Compiled: Apr 22 2026 18:45:40)
2026-05-17 22:48:35 INFO  :Client OS is Windows 10 (build 19045), 64-bit edition
2026-05-17 22:48:35 INFO  :Using config at C:\Users\myusername\AppData\Roaming\vhui.ini
2026-05-17 22:48:35 INFO  :Administrator mode
2026-05-17 22:48:35 INFO  :IPC available at \\.\pipe\vhclient
2026-05-17 22:48:35 INFO  :Auto-find (Bonjour) on
2026-05-17 22:48:35 INFO  :Auto-find (Bonjour SSL) on
2026-05-17 22:48:35 INFO  :SSLReverseLookupService listening on port 7572 (IPv6 dual-stack)
2026-05-17 22:48:35 INFO  :ReverseLookupService listening on port 7573 (IPv6 dual-stack)
2026-05-17 22:48:38 INFO  :Drivers are up-to-date
2026-05-17 22:48:38 ERROR :You need to purchase a license for your Server (240E:************:54502)
2026-05-17 22:48:38 INFO  :Connected to the VirtualHere Client Driver (Version 2)
 

 

I checked the log again and found the line "ERROR :You need to purchase a license for your Server (240E:************:54502)"

So I need a license to use reverse client mode? I can accept it because this is a nice app and this reverse client function is wonderful, but maybe it should be written to purchase page to avoid unnecessary debug? 

Submitted by Michael on Mon, 2026/05/18 - 08:18

#3

Yes virtualhere only works on its default TCP ports for forward and reversed connections in trial mode.

 

Submitted by JeffVedia on Tue, 2026/08/25 - 20:39

#4

Hi Michael,

I’m experiencing what seems to be the same issue with Reverse Client mode and the unlicensed server.

My setup is:

  • VirtualHere Server 4.8.8 on macOS
  • VirtualHere Client 6.0.2 on Windows 11
  • Only one USB device needs to be used
  • Mac and Windows are on different routed networks
  • I specifically need the connection to be initiated from the Mac network towards the Windows network, so I’m using Reverse Client

When both machines were previously on the same network and I used the normal VirtualHere connection, the single device worked fine with the free/unlicensed server.

The macOS server reports:

Server licensed to=unlicensed max_devices=1 Listening on all network interfaces at TCP port 7575

My server configuration is:

ReverseClients=192.168.7.201

The Windows client reports:

ReverseLookupService listening on port 7573 (IPv6 dual-stack)

The Reverse TCP connection itself works correctly. On the Mac I can see:

TCP 192.168.100.227:53464->192.168.7.201:7573 (ESTABLISHED)

and the server log confirms:

192.168.7.201 connected as connection 1 (Reverse TCP)

However, the Windows client immediately reports:

ERROR :You need to purchase a license for your Server (192.168.100.227:xxxxx)

I saw your previous reply stating:

“VirtualHere only works on its default TCP ports for forward and reversed connections in trial mode.”

As far as I can tell, I’m using exactly the default ports:

  • TCP 7575 for the normal server listener
  • TCP 7573 as the destination for the Reverse Client connection

The xxxxx port shown in the license error is simply the ephemeral source port selected by macOS. It changes each time the server reconnects (for example 52782, then 53464), while the destination always remains Windows TCP 7573.

The Windows client is not installed/running as a service.

Is Reverse Client mode with one USB device still supported by the free/unlicensed server when using the standard TCP 7573 port?

If so, is there something else in my configuration that could be triggering the license requirement?

Thanks!

Submitted by Michael on Wed, 2026/08/26 - 08:05

#5

OK yes ReverseClient requires a license. I will update the docs.