How to install VirtualBox on Windows 11, 10 (2025)

To install VirtualBox on Windows 11, download the installer from the Oracle website, run the setup file, and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
You can also use the winget install Oracle.VirtualBox command from Command Prompt (admin).
After setup, configure preferences from the app’s settings to customize storage, display, and update options.

UPDATED 7/23/2025: Oracle VirtualBox is a free virtualization tool (also referred to as a hypervisor) you can install on Windows 11, Windows 10, macOS, and Linux to create and run virtual machines. This allows you to run different operating systems (including other versions of Windows, Linux distributions, and more) alongside your primary operating system without the need for dual-boot setups or additional physical devices.

You can use VirtualBox for multiple purposes, such as testing pre-release versions of Windows 11 through the Windows Insider Program, running Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Kali Linux, or safely testing applications in an isolated environment without affecting your primary system.

VirtualBox supports both Intel and AMD hardware and is designed for enterprise use, but is freely available for home users. It offers broad compatibility with guest operating systems, including Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, older Windows versions, numerous Linux kernel versions (2.4, 2.6, 3.x, 4.x), Solaris and OpenSolaris, OS/2, OpenBSD, and more.

In this guide, I’ll outline the steps to install and configure VirtualBox for basic settings, allowing you to get started on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Install VirtualBox on Windows 11
Configure VirtualBox on Windows 11
Install VirtualBox extension pack on Windows 11

Install VirtualBox on Windows 11

To install VirtualBox on Windows 11 (or 10), use these steps:

Open the Oracle download page.
Click the “Windows hosts” option under the “VirtualBox Platform Packages” section and save the installers on the computer.
Double-click the VirtualBox-x.x.x-x-Win.exe file to launch the installer.
Click the Next button.
Check the option to accept the terms and click the Next button.
Click the Next button again.

Quick note: You don’t have to change the default setup settings unless you have specific requirements to install VirtualBox.
(Optional) Clear the options you do not want to use.
Click the Next button to continue with the VirtualBox installation.
Click the Yes button to confirm the virtual network adapter install warning on Windows 11.
Click the Yes button to install any missing dependencies (if applicable).
Click the Next button.
Click the Install button.
Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, the software will finish the installation and launch automatically. You can also launch VirtualBox from the Start menu like any other application.

VirtualBox install using winget command

Alternatively, you can install VirtualBox using the Windows Package Manager (winget) in Command Prompt.

To install VirtualBox with the winget command, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
(Optional) Type the following command to search for the name of the application and press Enter:
```
winget search virtualbox
```
Quick note: While the search command is not required, the install query must match the ID, name, or moniker of the package, which can change at any time. So, searching the application to execute the correct install command is a good practice.
Type the following command to install VirtualBox on Windows 11 (or 10) with winget and press Enter:
```
winget install Oracle.VirtualBox
```

After completing the steps, the Windows Package Manager will automatically download and install the virtualization application, requiring no additional steps.

Configure VirtualBox on Windows 11

Although the default settings will suit most users, VirtualBox offers many additional settings and features. In the steps below, I’ll outline some of the basic configurations everyone should consider when working with virtual machines.

To configure VirtualBox settings, use these steps:

Open VirtualBox.
Click the File menu and select the Preferences option.
Click on General.
Confirm the folder location where you want to store the virtual machines on Windows 11 in the “Default Machine Folder” setting.

Quick note: It is typically recommended to use an external hard drive, as using the primary drive can slow down the system.
Click on Update.
Select the Check for updates option.
Confirm the update settings and decide whether you want to use pre-release versions of the software.
(Optional) Click on Display.
Click the Expert tab at the top of the page.
Confirm the maximum screen resolution for virtual machines in the “Maximum Guest Screen size” setting.

Quick tip: You can also select the “Hint” option to create a default maximum screen resolution. Typically, you should leave the default settings and configure the resolution in the virtual machine settings.
Select the scale virtual machines should use to make text and visual elements smaller or bigger in the Scale Factor option.
Click the OK button.

After completing the steps, the custom configuration will be applied to the virtualization software.

Since the virtualization application automatically configures NAT (Network Address Translation) on each host you create, you do not need to configure networking settings to get started. However, VirtualBox includes networking settings that allow you to create various host-only adapters and bridges, internal networks, and more.

Install VirtualBox extension pack on Windows 11

The extension pack is not a requirement, but it enables USB 2.0 and 3.0 devices, VirtualBox RDP, drive encryption, NVMe, and PXE boot for Intel Cards.

To install the extension pack for VirtualBox, use these steps:

Open the Oracle download page.
Click the “Accept and download” button to download the latest pack under the “VirtualBox Extension Pack” section.
Open VirtualBox.
Click the File menu, select the Tools submenu, and choose the “Extension Pack Manager” option.
Click the Install button.
Select the “.vbox-extpack” file containing the extensions.
Click the Open button.
Click the Install button.
Scroll down the page.
Click the “I agree button to confirm the terms” option.
Click the OK button.
Click the OK button again.

Once you complete the steps, the Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack will be installed on your computer. Then, you can proceed with creating the virtual machine and installing the Guest Additions.

To remove it, select the package on the “Extensions” page and click the “Remove Selected Package” button in the top-right corner.

Update July 23, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.