How to install Guest Additions for Windows 11 (or 10) on VirtualBox

• To install VirtualBox Guest Additions on Windows 11 or 10, start the VM, then go to Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD image.
• Open the virtual disc in File Explorer, run the installer (VBoxWindowsAdditions), and follow the steps.
• After the reboot, the integration features and drivers will be fully active.

UPDATED 7/30/2025: On VirtualBox, the Guest Additions package is essential for running Windows 11 or Windows 10 virtual machines smoothly in a virtualized environment. Guest Additions is distributed as a virtual ISO image that includes optimized drivers and system utilities to improve performance and usability on the guest operating system.

Installing this package improves integration with features such as mouse pointer and keyboard synchronization, allowing for seamless interaction and easier release of input devices between the host and the virtual machine. It also adds virtual video drivers that enable better display performance, dynamic screen resizing, hardware-accelerated graphics, multi-monitor support, and the ability to run virtual windows as if they were native apps on the host through seamless mode.

In addition, the tool includes time synchronization between the host and guest, shared clipboard, drag-and-drop support, and automated logging for troubleshooting. Without these drivers, the virtual machine would have limited capabilities, significantly affecting overall performance, and many advanced features (such as the ability to change the screen resolution, control transparency, mouse support, etc.) wouldn’t be available or work correctly.

In this guide, I’ll outline the steps to install the VirtualBox drivers on a virtual machine regardless of the version of Windows.

Install VirtualBox Guest Additions on Windows 11 or 10

To install the Guest Additions on a Windows 10 or Windows 11 virtual machine, use these steps:

1. Open VirtualBox.

2. Right-click the virtual machine, select the Start submenu, and choose the Normal Start option.

3. Sign in to your Windows account.

4. Click the Devices menu and select the “Insert Guest Additions CD image” option.

   

5. Open File Explorer inside the virtual machine.

6. Click on This PC from the left side.

7. Double-click to open the “VirtualBox Guest Additions” disc under the “Devices and drives” section.

8. Double-click the VBoxWindowsAdditions file to launch the installer.

   

9. Click the Yes button.

10. Click the Next button.

11. Click the Next button again.

12. Click the Install button.

    

13. Select the Reboot now option.

14. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, the virtual drivers will install, and after the restart, the guest OS will run normally in a virtual environment.

Update Guest Additions

When a new version of VirtualBox becomes available, the update will also include an updated version of the VBoxGuestAdditions.iso file containing newer drivers. If necessary, you can use the same instructions to update the Guest Additions on your VMs running Windows 10 or Windows 11. The setup will replace the virtual drivers with the versions as you run the installer.

Troubleshooting

If you cannot mount the image into that machine, the VBoxGuestAdditions.iso is located in the VirtualBox installation folder (in this path: C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox), which you can use to add the package manually.

Update July 30, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.