To create a virtual machine in VirtualBox, open VirtualBox Manager, choose Home > New, set the guest operating system and virtual hardware, then start the VM and install that OS from its installation image. You need an installer image or other installation media for the guest; creating the VM does not install or license an operating system.
Before you create the VM
Install the VirtualBox package for your host computer—such as Windows, macOS, or Linux—and check that the host and guest operating systems are supported together. The available guest choices and hardware options can vary by host architecture. Oracle’s release directory listed VirtualBox 7.2.20, with its guide, installers, and Guest Additions ISO dated 22 September 2026; check Oracle’s release directory for current packages and documentation.
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Also obtain the guest OS installation image, usually an ISO, from the operating system’s publisher. VirtualBox provides the virtual hardware and runs the guest, but the guest OS and any required license are separate.
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- Open the creation workflow. In VirtualBox Manager, select Home > New. If the guided workflow is not shown, select the Basic experience level. Choose Expert instead if you want the available creation options together on one page.
- Name the VM and identify its OS. Enter a descriptive name and select the guest operating system and version that match the installer you plan to use. Choices may differ depending on the host architecture.
- Set memory and processors. Allocate resources that satisfy the guest OS requirements while leaving enough for the host and other running applications. Memory assigned to the guest is unavailable to the host while the VM runs; there is no single safe allocation for every computer and guest.
- Choose the installation image. If you want VirtualBox’s unattended installation, provide the OS image and enter any requested setup details, such as account credentials or a product key when applicable. Otherwise, create the VM without unattended setup and attach the installation media for a manual install.
- Create or select a virtual disk. Choose a disk location and capacity appropriate for the guest OS and the files you expect to store in it. The disk is a file on the host, not a separate physical drive. VirtualBox’s default machine folder is
VirtualBox VMsin your home directory; choose a different folder if you need to use another drive or organize VM files with your backups. The machine folder contains the VM’s.vboxsettings file and virtual disk image. - Finish and review. Complete the workflow and check that the VM appears in VirtualBox Manager with the intended name, OS, memory, processors, disk, and installation source.
Start the VM and install its operating system
Select the VM in Manager and click Start. If you supplied an image for unattended installation, VirtualBox starts that process automatically on first launch. Otherwise, boot from the guest OS installation media or image and follow the operating system’s installer. When installation finishes, use the guest OS’s normal shutdown procedure before closing the VM.
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Choose a network mode that fits the guest’s job
VirtualBox’s default networking choice is often suitable for a first VM, but the right mode depends on which systems the guest must reach. Oracle describes NAT as the simplest way for a VM to access an external network. The modes below serve different connectivity needs; exact network configuration can depend on your host and network.
| Mode | Use it when |
|---|---|
| NAT | The guest needs ordinary outbound access to an external network, without needing to appear as a separate device on the local network. |
| Bridged | The guest needs to participate on the host’s local network as a separate machine. |
| Host-only | The guest needs direct communication with the host, but should not be connected to the external network through that interface. |
| Internal | VMs need to communicate with one another on an isolated virtual network, without ordinary host or external-network access. |
| NAT Network | You want NAT-style external access for multiple VMs that also need to communicate with each other. |
Change a VM’s network mode in its settings under Network, then select the adapter’s attachment type. If the guest cannot reach a service, check both the VirtualBox mode and the guest OS’s own network configuration.
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Install Guest Additions for better integration
Guest Additions are optional and separate from the host VirtualBox application. After the guest OS is installed, start the VM and choose Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD Image. Run the installer inside the guest OS and reboot the guest when it finishes. The additions provide guest drivers and system applications that improve integration and usability. Oracle advises keeping Guest Additions at the same version as the host VirtualBox release for best results.
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64-bit guest choices or multiple virtual CPUs are unavailable
Oracle says 64-bit guest support and multiprocessing require hardware virtualization to be enabled. On many computers, you can enable it in BIOS or UEFI settings, though the setting’s name and location vary by manufacturer.
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The VM will not start or performs poorly
- Confirm that the host has enough free memory and storage for the VM’s allocation and the guest’s needs.
- If another hypervisor is running, consider whether it is competing for hardware virtualization. Oracle cautions that competing hypervisors can conflict; this is one possible cause, not the explanation for every startup failure.
- Check that the selected guest OS matches the installation image and that the image is still attached if the installer has not finished.
The guest lacks expected integration features
Installing VirtualBox on the host does not install Guest Additions inside the guest. Complete the guest OS installation first, then install the additions from the VM’s Devices menu.
The default machine folder does not have enough space
VM settings and virtual disks occupy host storage. Before creating the disk, choose a machine folder on a drive with enough room for the VM files and future guest data. An external drive is an option only if the host’s existing storage is insufficient; it is not required.
Quick Recap
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