Windows 11 has gone through its fair share of ups and downs since its release. The operating system is now more stable and has many changes that seem to work for most users. Windows as a platform has always been versatile, capable of creating virtual machines, drives, hardware devices, and more.
This is helpful for internal testing, coding in different environments, or just some good old tinkering. If you have been looking to emulate or virtualize your platform on Windows 11, then VirtualBox is a great choice for you. Let’s learn more about it!
VirtualBox is a long-established virtualization software that has been favored by most users since its release. Currently published and managed by Oracle, VirtualBox allows you to virtualize an x86 environment on your PC.
Not only does the tool support Windows, but it also offers dedicated clients for other platforms, including Linux and macOS. If you've been looking to test tools, platforms, or code in a virtual environment, VirtualBox is a great choice for you. You can create multiple virtual machines and launch them at will, with the ability to install custom operating systems on them.
You even have access to all essential drivers and the ability to use native keyboards in host and virtualized environments.
Here’s how to use VirtualBox on a Windows 11 PC. Your setup needs to meet some hardware requirements so that VirtualBox can run as expected. Additionally, there are a few things you should keep in mind before continuing with this tutorial.
The same is listed below. Once you have your setup ready as expected, you can use the following tutorial to install and set up VirtualBox on your PC.
The following are the minimum system requirements for running VirtualBox on a Windows 11 PC.
# If your operating system is not listed above, you can find the full list of supported operating systems at this link.
Before you start using VirtualBox, you need to prepare some methods. You may need to enable some settings on your system and download some files to help you. Use the following sections to help you through the process.
First, you will need the operating system you wish to install on the virtual machine. We recommend that you download the same beforehand to help you with the process. We've listed download links for popular operating systems below to help you get started.
Note: This is a web archive link that may be updated after a while stop working.
Download and save your operating system ISO. We will need this to boot and install the operating system during the initial VirtualBox setup.
You can easily run out of available space when using VirtualBox. If you plan to virtualize in the long term, it is recommended that you create enough free space on your disk drives. Although VirtualBox creates and manages its own virtual disk space based on the size of the operating system and the files it contains, to be on the safe side you should create a separate partition if possible.
Keep in mind that the page file also interferes with the virtual folders that VirtualBox uses as virtual disk drives. If you are low on space, it might be a good idea to close the paging file for the current disk.
VirtualBox comes bundled with most universal drivers and has the ability to install extension packs that provide additional options and functionality. While ideal for most systems, some proprietary hardware or components may require manual installation of their drivers.
This includes custom monitors, USB hubs, unsupported iGPUs, etc. If you have any of these components, we recommend keeping their drivers handy. This way you can install them and get your setup up and running in case your component is not supported by the VirtualBox driver.
Now that you are ready to virtualize, here’s how to use VirtualBox on your PC. Please follow the steps below to help you through the process.
Click the link above to install your Access the VirtualBox download page in your preferred browser. Now click Windows Hosting to download the latest VirtualBox for Windows package.
Save settings in a convenient location in local storage. Once downloaded, double-click and launch it on your PC.
Click Next to start setup.
Click Browse and select the VirtualBox installation directory on your PC if necessary.
Note: This will be the VirtualBox installation directory, not the space used by the virtual machine, unless you specify the same.
Click Next step when completed.
Check the boxes below depending on where you want to place VirtualBox shortcuts and context menus. If you are not sure what to choose, we recommend that you leave them at their default values.
Click Next.
You will now be notified that the internet will be disconnected for a period of time during the installation process. This might be a good time to pause any ongoing downloads in the background. Click Yes when you are ready.
Click Install to confirm your choice.
After the setup is complete, uncheck the Start Oracle VM VirtualBox nnnn after installation checkbox.
Click Finish.
That's it! VirtualBox is now installed on your PC. You can now follow the next steps to create a new virtual machine on your PC using VirtualBox.
Here’s how to create your first virtual machine in VirtualBox.
First launch VirtualBox using the desktop or start menu shortcut.
Click New.
Now enter the name of the new virtual machine at the top. We recommend using a name that will help you easily identify your machine and the operating system installed on it. We will be using Windows 10 in this tutorial.
Now click on the drop-down menu for the Machine folder and select Other.
Select the location where the virtual machine will be created. Your virtual machine will use this space to install the operating system and other tools it needs. If you created a dedicated partition for it, you should select the same partition here. When finished click Select Folder.
Click the drop-down menu for type and select your operating system. We will choose Windows for this tutorial.
Then, click the drop-down menu for Version and select the appropriate operating system version you wish to install on the new virtual machine.
Click Next step when completed.
Now you will see the available RAM on your PC. This will be shared while your virtual machine is running. Use the slider to adjust the amount of RAM you want allocated to the virtual machine. VirtualBox will automatically select the recommended amount of RAM required for the selected operating system.
When finished, click Next.
You will now be asked if you want to add a virtual hard drive. If you plan to use the operating system as is, adding a virtual hard drive is a good idea. However, if you wish to split storage or try a dual-boot setup, you can choose to do so later when you install the operating system as needed. Choose one of the options below based on your preference.
Click Create.
You will now be asked what type of virtual hard drive you want to create. If you wish to use the space only for VirtualBox, you can use the VDI option. If you wish to use it with other emulators or virtualization software, you can choose one of the following options depending on its support.
Click after making your selection Next step.
#Now select one of the following options based on the type of disk you want to create.
Note: Although the space will be used as needed, once the space is released it cannot be reclaimed.
Click Next after making your selection.
#Click the folder icon on the next page.
Now choose a location for the virtual hard disk on your system. Click Save.
Note: Do not change the file extension of the virtual hard drive when selecting a location.
If you selected Dynamic Allocation previously, now use the slider at the bottom to select the initial space you wish to allocate to the virtual hard drive. If you select Same size, this will be the fixed size of your virtual hard drive.
When finished, click Create.
You will now create a new virtual machine. We will now install the extension pack. Start by downloading the expansion pack on your PC using the link below.
Switch back to VirtualBox. Click Tools on the left, then click Preferences at the top.
#Now click on Extensions on the left.
Click the Add extension icon.
Select the expansion pack we downloaded before.
Click Install.
Scroll to the bottom of the License Agreement and click I agree when available.
After successful installation, click OK.
Click OK again.
You can now use the following steps to install the operating system on your new machine.
Installing the operating system on a new virtual machine should be the same as installing an operating system on any setup. We'll use Windows 10 as an example for this tutorial, but the following steps should help you configure other operating systems as well. let's start.
Launch VirtualBox on your PC, then click and select the desired machine from the left sidebar.
Click Settings.
Click Storage on the left.
#Now click and select the disk icon below the virtual drive.
Click the disk icon next to the default SATA port on the right.
Click to select the disk file.
Now select the OS ISO that you downloaded earlier from local storage.
When finished, click OK.
You will now be taken back to the home page. Click at the top to get started.
#The virtual machine should now automatically boot on your system using the downloaded ISO. If not, use F12 to enter the boot menu and select the same.
Now that your virtual machine is set up in VirtualBox, here's how to use and troubleshoot it if you encounter any issues.
You can start the virtual machine by selecting the same virtual machine on the VirtualBox homepage and clicking Start.
You can click the drop-down menu to access the following startup options for your virtual machine.
To shut down the machine, you can click File > Shutdown .
You can now choose one of the following options based on your preference.
Click "OK" after making your selection.
You can also use the Host Q keyboard shortcut to access the Shutdown option. Host keys can be customized to your liking. By default, Right Ctrl will be the host key for every virtual machine created in VirtualBox.
Let’s see how to manage resources such as RAM, video memory, graphics controllers, storage devices, monitors, audio devices, network interfaces, and serial ports .
Sometimes you may want to allocate more resources to a virtual machine. Here's how you can do the same thing in VirtualBox.
Launch VirtualBox on your system and click on the relevant virtual machine on the left.
Click Settings.
Click System.
Use the Base Memory slider to increase or decrease the amount of RAM allocated to the virtual machine.
Use the Boot Order section to manage your boot devices. Check the checkboxes of boot devices to include them or uncheck the same checkboxes to exclude them.
You can also reorder the devices to change the boot order. Click and select a device.
Now use the arrows on the right to move it up or down in the boot order as needed.
#If your operating system does not support touch input, you can use the Pointing Device's drop-down menu to select mouse input.
Now click and switch to the Processor tab.
Use the Processor slider to increase or decrease the number of CPU threads used by the virtual machine. If you have a multi-CPU setup, then you should set a different slider for each CPU in this section.
You can use the Execution Cap slider to indicate the CPU cap on allocated threads.
Click and switch to the Acceleration tab.
You can select your paravirtualization interface in this tab. This selection will help your guest operating system kernel work as expected and provide additional functionality based on your hardware. Here are the options available to you and the recommended operating systems for each.
#When finished, click on the left to display.
#You can adjust the amount of video memory used by the virtual machine by adjusting the slider at the top.
If you have a multi-monitor setup, you can use the Monitor Count slider to increase or decrease the number of monitors used by the virtual machine.
If your monitor has scaling issues, you can use the Scale Factor slider to increase or decrease the same value.
Storage on the left.
Type drop-down menu.
disk icon next to the storage controller as shown below to add the virtual disk to your computer.
drive icon next to the storage controller to add a virtual drive to the virtual machine.
You can select a new virtual drive using the drive iconnext to the assigned SATA port. You can also use the same option to create a new virtual drive for your machine in VirtualBox.
Check the following boxes based on the type of drive you wish to emulate in your environment.
We can now go ahead and customize your machine’s audio device . Click Audio on the left.
# Depending on your preference, check or uncheck the Enable Audio checkbox.
Click the drop-down menu for Host Audio Driver and select your audio driver.
Again, use the Audio Controller drop-down menu to select your sound controller.
According to your preferences, check the following boxes under Extensions.
Click and select Network on the left.
If you wish to use the selected adapter, select the Enable Network Adapter checkbox. You can enable as many network adapters as needed using the tabs at the top.
Now click on the drop-down menu attached to and configure your virtualized network adapter as required.
Click Advanced to configure additional settings for your network adapter.
If necessary, click Port Forwarding and configure it to your preference.
Click USB on the left.
If you wish to use a USB controller in the virtual machine, select the Enable USB Controller checkbox.
Now click on the on the right to add a new USB icon.
#Select the desired USB device from the USB devices available on the host. Continue to add more USB devices as needed, based on your current needs and your host's setup.
Finally, click OK.
That's it! You will now customize the resources for your new virtual machine in VirtualBox.
Here are some common issues encountered when setting up a new machine in VirtualBox. You can use the above fixes to try to resolve your issue accordingly.
Display issues are primarily caused by incorrect allocation of video memory and graphics controller. We recommend that you verify and assign the correct one based on your host and virtualization operating system.
Storage issues can occur due to incorrect storage controller assignments or incorrect number of SATA ports. It's also possible that your boot order assignment is incorrect or is missing newer virtual drives and disks that you added. We recommend that you perform the same verification in your virtual machine setup. Also, keep in mind that virtual disks may not appear without an ISO or disk image assigned to them, depending on the operating system.
Depending on your hardware and its PIN configuration, audio issues may or may not occur when virtualizing. We recommend that you adjust your audio settings and add new devices based on availability. You can also try switching drivers or audio controllers.
With VirtualBox, out-of-the-box USB support is limited. USB 2.0 and 3.0 are not supported unless you install the VirtualBox extension pack. Use the steps above to add it to your setup. This will help introduce USB 2.0 and 3.0 support as well as the following features on your virtual machines.
Here are some frequently asked questions about installing and setting up VirtualBox to help you stay up to date. let's start.
Yes, VirtualBox allows you to easily export and import virtual machines between different hosts. Use the File > Export Devices or the Ctrl E keyboard shortcut to perform the same operation.
A snapshot is a saved state of a VM that allows you to restore data or restore the machine to its snapshot state. This comes in handy when making changes, testing code, or developing applications.
Yes, you can use the same keyboard and mouse on the VM by default. Use host keys to easily switch between your host and virtual machines. By default, Right Ctrl is your host key. You can easily customize this key using VirtualBox preferences.
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