How to Install VirtualBox on Windows 11 and 10

By Atish Rajasekharan Updated April 23, 2024

Quick Tips

Oracle’s VirtualBox is a free, open-source platform that lets users run multiple virtual computers on a single physical computer.
VirtualBox comes bundled with generic drivers, but you must download a specific driver manually if you want it.
If you are a power user and want more out of VirtualBox, you must go for VirtualBox’s extension pack.

Prerequisites for Installing VirtualBox on Windows

CPU: x86-compatible hardware (most modern Intel and AMD CPUs are supported)
RAM: The minimum requirement of the host operating system (Windows 11: 4GB) plus the minimum requirement of the operating system you wish to virtualize.
Disk space: The minimum space requirement of the virtualized operating system plus up to 50MB for the VirtualBox installation
Supported operating systems for your virtual machine: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8 and 8.1, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, 2008, and 2012 (including R2), Windows NT, Ubuntu Desktop, and macOS X.

Check out a complete list of VirtualBox-supported OS if yours is not listed above.

How to Install VirtualBox on Windows (Basic and Extension Package)

Oracle’s VirtualBox comes in two packages: the basic version and the extension pack. The basic package includes all open-source components, while the extension pack comes with features such as VRDP support, host webcam passthrough, AES-encrypted disk image support, etc.

Step 1: Go to the Oracle VirtualBox download page.

Step 2: Click on the Windows hosts link. Save the installer file anywhere you prefer.

Note: To download the extension package, scroll down to the ‘VirtualBox Extension Pack’ section and click the ‘All supported platforms’ link.

Step 3: Once downloaded, navigate to the installer file and double-click on it.

Step 4: An installation wizard will pop up; click Next.

Step 5: On the next screen, customize the things you want to install and click Next.

Note: We will go with the default installation without changing any settings.

Step 6: Check or uncheck the options you want to include and click Next.

Step 7: The next screen will show a warning about Network Interfaces. Click Yes.

Note: After clicking Yes, you may encounter a temporary network disconnection.

Step 8: If there are any missing dependencies, VirtualBox will install them. Click Yes.

Step 9: Finally, click Install in the Ready to Install screen.

The installation will take some time, depending on your system speed.

Step 10: During installation, you may get a Windows Security prompt. Click Install.

Step 11: Once the installation is complete, click Finish to close the wizard after the installation.

There you go. You have successfully installed VirtualBox on your PC.

FAQs

1. Does VirtualBox affect your computer?

VirtualBox is safe and should not have any negative effects on your computer. However, running a virtual machine on your computer using VirtualBox can consume a significant amount of resources, such as CPU, memory, and disk space.

2. Can you install VirtualBox without admin rights?

It is necessary to have administrator rights on your computer to install VirtualBox. However, you do not need administrator rights to access your virtual machine.

3. Does VirtualBox need a license?

VirtualBox is free and open-source software, so it does not require a license. You can download and use it without paying for a license. However, if you want to use certain features that are part of the Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack, you must purchase a license from Oracle.

4. Does VirtualBox use UEFI or BIOS?

Depending on how the host computer and virtual machine are set up, VirtualBox can use UEFI or BIOS to start a virtual machine. By default, VirtualBox will boot the virtual machine using EFI. If EFI is unavailable, it will fall back to BIOS.

5. Do I need an ISO file for VirtualBox?

Yes, you need an ISO file to install an operating system on a virtual machine.