Recommended Free Tools
VirtualBox is software that runs virtual computers, or virtual machines (VMs), on a physical computer. It is a hosted hypervisor: VirtualBox runs on your computer’s operating system (the host), while a separate operating system (the guest) runs inside a VM. Before installing it, check that your host’s operating system and processor architecture can run the guest you want, and whether any feature you need requires the separately licensed Extension Pack.
What VirtualBox does
A VM is a software-defined computer with virtual hardware, such as processors, memory, storage, and network devices. VirtualBox allocates host resources to that virtual computer, allowing you to install and run a guest operating system without replacing the host OS. Oracle describes VirtualBox as a hosted, or type 2, hypervisor in its VirtualBox User Guide, Release 7.2.
This arrangement is useful for trying another operating system, running software that needs a different OS, or keeping a test environment separate from the host. It does not make every guest compatible with every computer: the host’s OS, CPU architecture, available resources, and the guest’s own requirements all matter.
Check host and guest compatibility first
Host operating systems
Oracle’s VirtualBox 7.2 download directory lists host packages for Windows, macOS on Intel and Apple silicon, Linux, and Solaris, as well as packages for several named Linux distributions. A package being listed does not guarantee support for every version or configuration of that operating system. Check Oracle’s current downloads and the accompanying documentation for your host before installing.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Processor architecture
The VirtualBox 7.2 guide describes running x86 operating-system guests on x86-64 hosts and selected Arm guests on Arm hosts. Do not read that as a promise of general cross-architecture emulation. In particular, having VirtualBox for an Arm-based Mac does not by itself mean that an arbitrary x86 guest will run on it. Confirm the guest OS and architecture are supported for your host.
Running Windows in a VM
VirtualBox can host a Windows guest when the host, CPU architecture, and Windows version meet the relevant compatibility requirements. You must supply Windows installation media and comply with the applicable Windows licensing terms; installing Windows in a VM does not provide a Windows license. Check the requirements and licensing for the specific Windows edition you intend to use.
Understand the three VirtualBox components
The host package, Extension Pack, and Guest Additions have different roles. The latter two are not interchangeable: the Extension Pack adds host-side capabilities, while Guest Additions are installed inside a guest.
| Component | Where it goes | Purpose and licensing |
|---|---|---|
| VirtualBox platform package | On the host computer | The core virtualization software. Oracle’s VirtualBox User Guide, Release 7.2, says the platform package consists of open-source components licensed under GPLv3. |
| Extension Pack | Added to the host’s VirtualBox installation | Optional features, including VRDP remote access, host webcam passthrough, Intel PXE boot ROM, AES disk-image encryption, and cloud integration, as listed in the 7.2 guide. It is separately licensed; review the current terms for your intended use. |
| Guest Additions | Installed within a supported guest OS | Guest drivers and system applications intended to improve performance and provide integration features. Oracle recommends matching their version to the host’s VirtualBox version for best results. |
The platform package and Extension Pack are separate downloads. Oracle’s release directory lists a 7.2.20 Extension Pack artifact, but its presence does not establish what license terms apply to your use. Review the applicable current license before installing it, especially for commercial or organizational use.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Rank #3
Install VirtualBox and create a VM
- Check compatibility. Confirm that Oracle provides a host package for your operating system and that your intended guest OS and CPU architecture are compatible.
- Download the host package. Use Oracle’s downloads page to select the package for your host. The official 7.2.20 directory lists platform packages dated 22 September 2026; availability of a package is not a guarantee for every host configuration.
- Install the package on the host. Run the installer for your host OS and follow its prompts. Add the Extension Pack only if you need one of its features and have checked its separate license.
- Create or import a VM. In VirtualBox, create a VM and configure its virtual hardware, or import an existing VM. Allocate resources with the host’s capacity and the guest’s requirements in mind; a VM uses resources from the physical computer.
- Install the guest OS. Attach installation media for the guest OS and complete its setup inside the VM. VirtualBox does not supply the guest operating system or its license.
- Install Guest Additions if appropriate. With the VM running, use the VM window’s Devices menu to mount the Guest Additions ISO, then run the installer from inside the guest. The 7.2 guide notes that Linux guests may need preparation to build external kernel modules. If replacing preinstalled Linux Guest Additions, take a VM snapshot first.
When you need the Extension Pack
Use the base package if its included capabilities meet your needs. Consider the Extension Pack when you specifically need one of its documented additions, such as VRDP remote access or host webcam passthrough. It is not required simply to create a VM or install a guest OS. Because it has a separate license, check the current terms before use rather than assuming the platform package’s GPLv3 terms also cover it.
What Guest Additions are for
Guest Additions are software installed in the guest OS, not in place of the host installer and not a substitute for the Extension Pack. Their drivers and applications are intended to improve guest performance and enable integration features. Use the Guest Additions ISO that matches the installed host version where possible; Oracle recommends matching versions for best results.
To install them, mount the ISO from the VM’s Devices menu and launch the installer inside the guest. Guest OS support and setup requirements vary. Linux guests can require development tools or headers to build external kernel modules, so follow the instructions for the guest distribution and the relevant VirtualBox guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Move a VM to another computer
VirtualBox uses the same file and image formats across its supported host platforms and supports importing and exporting VMs using OVF, according to the 7.2 guide. You can therefore move a VM by copying its native files or by exporting it and importing it on the other host. Which method is convenient depends on how the VM is stored and how much configuration you want to transfer.
Best Value
Portability is not a guarantee that every VM will run unchanged on every destination. Check the destination’s host support, CPU architecture, guest compatibility, and available resources, along with VM settings and any dependencies. Oracle also warns against running VMs in competing hypervisors simultaneously on the same host because they can contend for hardware virtualization resources.
Which setup fits your use?
- Run locally in VirtualBox: Choose this when you want a VM on a computer you control and its host OS and processor architecture fit the guest.
- Use a remote or cloud-hosted VM: This places the VM on another system rather than using the local computer’s resources. The 7.2 guide lists cloud integration among Extension Pack features, but that does not establish a particular cloud provider or service arrangement.
- Use the base package or add the Extension Pack: Start with the base package. Add the separately licensed Extension Pack only when you need a documented feature it provides.
- Keep a VM local or make it portable: Local use gives you direct control of the host and VM files; copying or OVF export/import can help transfer a VM, subject to compatibility at the destination.
Version and documentation notes
Oracle’s official directory lists VirtualBox 7.2.20 platform packages, a manual, an Extension Pack, and a Guest Additions ISO with file dates of 22 September 2026. The detailed 7.2 guide cited above is for version 7.2.2, dated 10 September 2025. Treat its feature and setup descriptions as documented 7.2 behavior, not as confirmation of point-release-specific changes in 7.2.20; consult the current manual for the version you install.
Quick Recap
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.
