How to Install VirtualBox on Windows 11
This post show students and new users how to install VirtualBox on Windows 11 to install guest virtual machines.
VirtualBox is a x64 virtualization software or hosted hypervisor that allows power users or advanced system administrators to set up independent virtual machines on a single physical computer simultaneously.
When you install VirtualBox software in Windows, you can create multiple independent guest computers, each running its own operating system without the need for additional physical hardware or support. This is a great software for sys admins and power users who want to run multiple guest OS without the need for adding new devices.
For example, when you install VirtualBox virtualization in Windows 11, power users can create additional virtual computers inside VirtualBox to run Mac OS, Linux and Windows 11 without needing three separate computers.
With Windows 11 slated for release later this year, VirtualBox will be ready to install it and use seamlessly. Windows 11 will come many new features and enhancements such as redesigned user desktop, centered Start menu and taskbar, rounded corners windows, themes and colors and many more, which will allow users to integrate VirtualBox software and utilize these new features.
When you’re ready to install VirtualBox in Windows 11, follow the steps below:
How to Install Oracle VirtualBox on Windows 11
VirtualBox virtualization requires that the host machine has Hardware Visualization is enabled. Most computers today will have this feature, however it might be disabled in the BIOS. You may have to reboot into the system BIOS and enable Virtualization Technology (VTx) in the system BIOS settings.
Once you enable hardware virtualization, log back into Windows and and go to the link below to download the latest copy of VirtualBox software for Windows.
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
When you run the installer, you’ll be prompted with a installation wizard. On the Welcome setup wizard page, click Next to begin the installation wizard.
On the custom setup page, you’ll probably leave everything as is and continue. In most cases, you wouldn’t change anything here except for special situations.
When you’re ready, click Next to continue.
On the next page, choose from the options presented. This will add shortcuts to your desktop, add menu entries and others.
When you’re ready click Next to continue with the setup.
On the next page when prompted to install VirtualBox networking features, choose Yes. Choosing yes will interrupt your network connections briefly.
Then continue with the setup.
On the next page, when you’re click Install to begin the installation.
Finally, click Finish to complete the setup. If the check box is checked for Start Oracle VM VirtualBox, when you click Finish, VirtualBox will launch and open.
VirtualBox will open up and ready to be used. You can start creating virtual machines at this moment.
Install VirtualBox Extension Pack
After installing VirtualBox above, you’ll want to install the extension pack for VirtualBox. You can download the extension pack from the same download page above.
Choose the link to All support platforms as highlighted below.
Download and save to your desktop. Then open VirtualBox and go to Preferences ==> Extensions
Or you can simply double click on the downloaded pack and it should launch VirtualBox extension packages installation.
Click the Install button to install it.
The extension pack extend the functionality of VirtualBox base package. It provides the following enhancements to VirtualBox:
- Virtual USB 2.0 (EHCI) device
- Virtual USB 3.0 (xHCI) device
- VirtualBox Remote Desktop Protocol (VRDP) support
- Host webcam passthrough
- Intel PXE boot ROM.
- Experimental support for PCI passthrough on Linux hosts
- Disk image encryption with AES algorithm
That’s it! You’re finally ready to start creating virtual machines.
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to download and install Oracle VirtualBox on Windows 11. If you find any error above, please use the comment form below to report.
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