Skip go content

VirtualBox

ApplicationOracle

Dem still dey call am oracle vm virtualbox, vbox

OracleSystem

Free type-2 hypervisor from Oracle. Guest Additions na separate ISO. E no be VMware.

Wetin you need know

VirtualBox na Oracle free hypervisor. Guest Additions na separate ISO.

VirtualBox.exe dey run guests. Guest Additions no dey inside the first installer. VMware na different product.

Wetin e be?
Free type-2 hypervisor
Still current?
Yes, see Current status
Official download?
Use di vendor link inside dis article
Feex tok say
If the guest mouse hang, I dey mount Guest Additions, no be VMware Tools. VirtualBox.exe no be vmware.exe.

Wetin be VirtualBox?

VirtualBox dey run guest VMs on Windows. Guest Additions na separate ISO wey you dey mount inside the guest. VMware Tools no fit substitute am.

If you never use am before

If you want free VM app, VirtualBox na Oracle hypervisor. Install the platform package from virtualbox.org, den add Guest Additions inside the guest from separate ISO. E no be VMware Workstation, and e no be Hyper-V Manager.

Wetin dem dey use am for?

Local VMs

Windows or Linux guests. Dis no be WSL and e no be dual-boot.

Guest Additions ISO

Mouse integration and display. Mount the Additions ISO. No install VMware Tools here.

Extension Pack extras

Optional USB and RDP extras under Oracle Extension Pack license. The base app still be GPL.

Na who e dey for?

  • People wey want free hypervisor
  • Classes wey dey assign VirtualBox, no be VMware
  • Users wey dey import .ova wey dem tell dem say na "for VirtualBox"

Current status

VirtualBox (2007) na current free type-2 hypervisor from Oracle. The vendor still dey point Windows users go https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads.

How old e be?

Innotek ship VirtualBox, Sun buy am, Oracle still dey ship am. The 2007 product na the same line. Extension Pack licensing change over time. Read Oracle current PUEL if you need USB 2/3 extras.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers no dey all verified here.

VirtualBox platform
Extension Pack (optional, PUEL)

System requirements

Values dey follow wetin di publisher release publicly. Workload still dey change di real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system Current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, according to di vendor
RAM E reach for Windows plus dis app. Heavy projects go want more.

Resource profile

CPU demand
Dey follow wetin you open inside di app
RAM demand
Dey follow documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

Dese executables belong to dis product when e dey installed.

Installed processes
VirtualBox.exe Main Windows executable
VBoxSVC.exe Service process
VBoxHeadless.exe Headless VM

Startup components

VBoxSVC dey start when you open VirtualBox or VM. E no be Startup Apps checkbox wey must dey.

File locations

Common VirtualBox locations
Typical install C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\

File formats

VBOXVDIVMDKOVA

Common wahala dem

Forget Guest Additions

Poor video and mouse wey lock. Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD image. No be VMware Tools.

Hyper-V or WSL 2 dey run already

VirtualBox fit fall back or fail until you arrange Windows hypervisor settings.

How to get unstuck

Install only from virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

The platform package plus, if you need am, the Extension Pack from Oracle. Skip "VirtualBox full" forums.

Insert Guest Additions from the Devices menu

Dat ISO na part of VirtualBox, no be second download from random host.

If VMs no start, read the VBox.log inside the VM folder

Hypervisor conflicts dey show for there. No delete VBoxSVC.exe.

Alternatives

VMware Workstation na the commercial sibling. Hyper-V dey in-box on Pro. WSL na Linux environment, no be Windows guest desktop.

Official help and downloads

Start with di vendor. Random exe sites no be support channel.

Official contacts
Download www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads Official installer or vendor page
Help www.virtualbox.org/manual/ Vendor support
Official site www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads Start here, no be random exe host

Related hardware

Need CPU virtualization inside firmware and RAM for the guest. Same class of host like any type-2 hypervisor.

Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers dey change. Dis article no pin down any build.

Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. How we dey do research.

Dis article make sense to you?

Yes or no dey enough. Choose reason if you want, or add short note.

Dis article make sense to you?