How to Install VirtualBox in Windows 10

VirtualBox a free and open-source virtualization software by Oracle is used to run various operating systems within your existing Windows 10 environment. This enables you to test new software, explore different operating systems, or even run legacy applications that might not be compatible with your current system.

This guide will walk you through the procedure to install VirtualBox Windows 10 ensuring a smooth and successful setup and an overview of how to use VirtualBox in Windows 10.

Understanding Virtualization

Virtualization essentially creates a virtual machine a software program that mimics a physical computer. This virtual machine can then run its operating system, separately from the host machine. This allows you to experiment with different operating systems without affecting your primary system or provides a safe environment to test untrusted software. Here are some of the key benefits of using VirtualBox:

• Install and run various operating systems like Linux, macOS, or older versions of Windows within your Windows 10 environment.
• Test new software or applications in a sandboxed environment without risking your main system.
• Keep legacy applications that might not be compatible with your current operating system functional.
• VirtualBox allows you to allocate specific resources like RAM and CPU cores to each VM optimizing resource utilization.

System Requirements

Before proceeding, ensure your Windows 10 system meets the minimum requirements to run VirtualBox effectively:

1. 64-bit processor.
2. Minimum 4GB of RAM with at least 2GB allocated for the VM.
3. 300MB Hard Disk for VirtualBox application and additional space for each virtual machine.
4. Hardware Virtualization extensions are enabled in your BIOS settings.

Enabling Hardware Virtualization might require restarting your system. Refer to our post How to Enable Windows Sandbox in Windows where you can find techniques on how you can verify virtualization.

Installing VirtualBox in Windows 10

Now that you understand the benefits and have checked your system requirements, let’s proceed with the download process:

1. Open your preferred web browser then navigate to the official VirtualBox download page. Under “Windows hosts” click the link to download virtualbox for Windows 10.

2. Locate the downloaded installer file in your Downloads folder or wherever you saved it. Double-click the installer file to launch the VirtualBox Setup Wizard. In the welcome screen, click “Next” to proceed with the installation.

3. The next screen presents customization options for the virtual box installation which include:

• VirtualBox will be installed in the C directory.
• Creates a shortcut icon for VirtualBox on your desktop for easy access.
• Creates an entry for VirtualBox in your Start menu.
• Network adapter allows you to choose the adapter that VirtualBox will use.
• USB option allows you to configure USB device access for virtual machines.

4. Once you’ve reviewed the customization options click “Next” to proceed then a Warning Network interface option appears click “Yes” to proceed with the installation.

5. Ready to Install wizard appears, Click “Install” to begin the installation.

6. After the installation is complete, click “Finish” to complete the installation process.

Creating the First Virtual Machine

After completing the installation you can launch VirtualBox by searching for it in the Start Menu or using the desktop shortcut.

The VirtualBox Manager window will open. This is the main interface where you will manage your virtual machines. To create your first virtual machine, click the “New” button in the toolbar.

The “Create Virtual Machine” wizard will guide you through the setup process. You’ll be prompted to specify various options including:

• Name and operating system: Choose a descriptive name for your virtual machine and select the type of operating system you plan to install.
• RAM memory: Allocate a sufficient amount of RAM for your virtual machine.
• Hard disk: Choose how you want to create the virtual hard disk. You can either create a new virtual hard disk dynamically or allocate a fixed size upfront.

After completing the setup you can see the VirtualBox interface shows the operating system installed in vbox. Click “Start” to run the operating system.

Now successfully you can run the Linux operating system through VirtualBox. It is important to check the system requirements for the guest operating system you plan to install within the virtual machine.

Additional Notes

Following are the additional notes on how to install virtual box in Windows 10:

• Network Adapter Selection: The default network adapter selection should work in most cases. However, if you encounter network connectivity issues with your virtual machines, you can try changing the network adapter in the VirtualBox settings.
• VirtualBox Extension Pack: The VirtualBox Extension Pack provides additional features like USB 2.0 and 3.0 support, seamless mode, and better video performance. While not essential it can enhance your virtual machine experience.
• Sharing Folders: VirtualBox allows you to easily share folders between your host Windows 10 machine and the guest operating system running inside the virtual machine.

Conclusion

With VirtualBox set up, you can now explore the virtualization techniques experiment with different operating systems, or create secure environments to test software. Remember to allocate sufficient resources for your virtual machines to ensure optimal performance.

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