The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Yes, you can run a VirtualBox virtual machine from an external hard drive. The usual method is to keep the VM’s machine folder and its virtual disk image on the external drive, while VirtualBox itself stays installed on the computer. The drive must be connected and mounted at the same path every time you start the VM. This guide covers new VMs, existing VMs, and the two similar-sounding tasks people often confuse with this one.
Which of the three tasks do you mean?
“Run VirtualBox on an external drive” can describe three different things:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Store the VM files on the external drive. The guest sees an ordinary virtual disk, while VirtualBox reads and writes an image file on the drive. The Oracle VM VirtualBox User Manual calls this approach, using large image files on a real hard disk presented to the guest as a virtual hard disk, “the most common method” (User Manual 7.0.26). This is what the rest of this guide covers.
- Let the guest see a physical USB drive. This is USB passthrough: the host device is attached to the running VM and appears inside the guest. You do not need it just to store the VM externally.
- Give the guest direct access to a host disk. The manual documents raw host-disk access as an advanced feature (User Manual 7.0.26). Choosing or writing to the wrong physical disk can destroy real data, so it is not a beginner setup.
Installing VirtualBox itself on the external drive is a different question, and this guide does not cover it. What matters for portability is where the VM’s files live.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Before you start
- Connect the drive and make sure it is mounted before you open VirtualBox. Pick a stable folder, such as a
VirtualBox VMsfolder at the top level of the drive. - Check free space. A dynamically allocated image grows toward its size limit, so leave room for that limit plus snapshots.
- Check that the drive’s file system works with your host and holds large files. Large virtual disks can exceed the file-size limits of some older formats.
- Shut the VM down completely, not just saved or paused, before moving anything.
Create a new VM on the external drive
- With the drive mounted, click New in VirtualBox.
- In the wizard, set the machine folder to the folder on the external drive. The manual describes the machine folder as the place that holds the VM’s settings and disk images.
- When the wizard asks for a virtual hard disk, create a new one and confirm its location is also inside that folder on the drive. The virtual hard disk wizard lets you specify the image location.
- Finish the wizard, then start the VM to confirm it boots from the external drive.
Labels vary between VirtualBox versions. The manual used here is version 7.0.26, while the official download directory, checked 5 October 2026, lists 7.2.20 as current (download directory). If a label differs on your screen, look for the equivalent folder and disk-location fields.
#1 Best Overall
- Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
- Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
- Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
- Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5). Non-Operating Temperature -20°C to 85°C
Move an existing VM to the external drive
The manual is explicit: “Always use the Virtual Media Manager or the VBoxManage modifymedium command to move a disk image.” This lets VirtualBox update its references to the file.
Option 1: Virtual Media Manager
- Power off the VM.
- Open Virtual Media Manager from the VirtualBox Manager’s tools or file menu, depending on your version.
- Select the disk image and use its move or location option to choose the folder on the external drive.
- Start the VM and confirm it boots.
Option 2: Move with your file manager, then re-register the path
If you already moved the file with your operating system’s file manager, VirtualBox will no longer find it. The manual says to run VBoxManage modifymedium --setlocation to configure the new path. A typical form looks like this, with your own paths:
Rank #2
- Solid state performance with up to 800MB/s read speeds in a portable drive. (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, interface, usage conditions and other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Back up your content and memories on a storage solution that fits seamlessly into your mobile lifestyle.
- Take it with you on your adventures—up to two-meter drop protection means this durable drive can take a beating. (Based on internal testing.)
- Secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind thanks to the tough rubber hook.
- From Sandisk, a brand professional photographers trust to take on assignments.
VBoxManage modifymedium disk "/path/to/old/MyVM.vdi" --setlocation "/media/external/VMs/MyVM/MyVM.vdi"
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Depending on your version, VirtualBox may need the disk to be registered under the old or the new path. If the command fails, check the exact syntax with VBoxManage modifymedium --help.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Keep the whole VM folder together
A disk file alone is not the whole VM. The .vbox configuration and other files in the machine folder hold the settings. Where practical, keep the complete folder together. To move a VM to another computer, use VirtualBox’s import and export features (File menu, Export Appliance and Import Appliance) rather than copying a lone disk image.
Choose a disk type: dynamic or fixed
| Type | Space use | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamically allocated | Starts small and grows as the guest stores data, up to the limit you set | Saves space at first; the manual notes more overhead than fixed-size |
| Fixed size | Occupies its full capacity immediately | The manual notes less overhead and slightly faster operation, at the cost of using the space up front |
On a drive with limited capacity, dynamic is the practical default. Neither type guarantees a particular speed.
Rank #4
- NEARLY 2X FASTER THAN OUR PREVIOUS GENERATION(8) – move 1,000 high-res photos in under 60 seconds(6) with up to 2000MB/s transfer speeds(2).
- IP65 RATING AND UP TO 3M DROP PROTECTION(3) – protects against spills and drops.
- POCKET-SIZED – fits easily in pockets and small bags.
- SPACE TO OWN YOUR AI CONTENT – speed and capacity to download your high-res clips and photo edits.
- 256-BIT AES ENCRYPTION(4) – helps keep private files secure with password protection.
Does the drive type matter?
An external SSD is a sensible choice for VM storage, but it is not a requirement. A VM runs from whatever drive holds its image, and speed depends on the drive, the connection, the host and the guest’s workload. No benchmark figures are claimed here. When choosing a drive, compare:
- Capacity and price per gigabyte.
- Interface and whether your computer’s ports support it, such as USB-C versus older USB-A ports.
- Portability, if you will carry it between machines.
- Your workload: a light Linux guest has very different needs from a Windows guest with large snapshots.
Make a guest see an external USB drive
This is separate from storing the VM. To use a flash drive or external disk’s contents inside a running guest, attach the host USB device to the VM through VirtualBox’s USB settings or the Devices menu, then unmount it from the host first. If the guest cannot see USB devices, check that USB is enabled in the VM’s settings and that the controller type suits your setup. Do not use a raw host-disk mapping for this purpose unless you understand the risks.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Rules for keeping a VM on removable storage
- The VM cannot start while the drive is disconnected or not mounted at the path VirtualBox expects. On Linux and macOS, mount points can change between plugs; on Windows, a changed drive letter breaks the path.
- Shut the VM down before ejecting the drive. Yanking the drive during a run risks a corrupted disk image.
- Keep a separate backup of any VM you care about. These are operational recommendations, not VirtualBox requirements.
- Test by starting the VM from the external drive before relying on it.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
