You can install Ubuntu 26.04 LTS in VirtualBox or VMware by downloading the official Desktop ISO, creating a virtual machine (VM), mounting the ISO as its virtual optical disc, and following Ubuntu’s guided installer. Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, codenamed Resolute Raccoon, was released on 23 April 2026; Ubuntu’s official listing now includes 26.04.1 images dated 27 August 2026. Get the current image from Ubuntu’s official release listing.
Check the requirements before creating a VM
Ubuntu’s release notes list these Desktop requirements for a comfortable experience: a 2 GHz dual-core processor or better, at least 6 GB of RAM, and 25 GB of free storage. These are requirements for the Ubuntu guest, not a complete resource budget for the computer running it. The host operating system and its other active applications also need memory and storage, so leave the host enough capacity when allocating resources to the VM. See Ubuntu 26.04 LTS release notes.
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS receives five years of standard security updates and critical bug fixes, through April 2031. Ubuntu Pro provides access to ten years of Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM); that extended period is not the standard support term. Ubuntu documents the support terms in its release notes.
Choose VirtualBox or VMware based on your setup
Either option follows the same basic ISO-to-VM workflow. Before proceeding, check the Ubuntu guest compatibility guidance for the particular hypervisor product and version installed on your computer. The available documentation does not establish current, version-specific Ubuntu 26.04 guest certification for both products, so do not assume that host support means guest support.
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| Ubuntu 26.04 guest compatibility | Not established by the VirtualBox 7.0.26 manual; consult guidance for your installed version. VirtualBox manual | Not established by the cited host-compatibility article. It lists Ubuntu 26.04 as a host for Workstation 26H1 and 26H1u1, which is a different compatibility direction. Broadcom supported host operating systems |
| General VM setup | Configure virtual hardware, including memory and CPU, then mount the ISO. Menu names depend on product version. | Create a VM, allocate resources, and mount the ISO. Menu names depend on product version. |
| Guest tools | Guest Additions are installed inside the guest to improve performance and integration features; check guidance for your VirtualBox and guest versions. VirtualBox Guest Additions manual | Broadcom says Linux guests may receive VMware Tools functionality through native operating-system packages, and that support varies by product and version. Check current guidance rather than assuming a specific package or command. Broadcom VMware Tools guest operating system support |
Ubuntu’s official desktop guide recommends an 8 GB or larger flash drive for installing on a physical computer. For a VM, you mount the ISO as virtual optical media instead; you do not need to buy or prepare a USB drive for this workflow. Ubuntu Desktop installation guide.
Download Ubuntu and install it in the VM
The exact labels and screens differ between hypervisor versions. Use this general sequence, and consult the documentation for your installed product if a control is named differently.
- Download the ISO. Open Ubuntu’s official 26.04 release listing and select the Ubuntu Desktop image. The listing includes 26.04.1 images dated 27 August 2026.
- Create a new VM. In VirtualBox or VMware, start the new-VM workflow and choose settings for an Ubuntu Linux guest if prompted. Allocate a virtual processor, memory, and storage appropriate to Ubuntu’s published requirements while retaining sufficient resources for the host.
- Mount the ISO. In the VM’s virtual hardware or storage settings, attach the downloaded ISO as its virtual optical disc. This tells the VM to boot from the Ubuntu installer without physical media.
- Start the VM. Power it on and, if needed, select the virtual optical disc as the boot device. The Ubuntu installer should load from the ISO.
- Follow Ubuntu’s guided installer. Complete the on-screen installation prompts. Ubuntu’s installation guide describes the process as guided; choices and screen labels can vary by release and setup.
- Restart into the installed system. When the installer finishes, restart the VM. If it starts the installer again, detach or eject the ISO from the virtual optical drive, then boot the VM again.
Troubleshoot the documented display issue
Ubuntu’s 26.04 release notes identify a known configuration issue: “GTK 4 apps (including the desktop wallpaper) do not display correctly with VirtualBox or VMWare with 3D Acceleration.” This is a reported issue, not a claim that every VM will be affected, and the notes do not give a universal fix. Read Ubuntu’s 26.04 changes and known issues.
If GTK 4 apps or the wallpaper display incorrectly, check whether 3D acceleration is enabled in the VM’s settings and try disabling it as a diagnostic step. This is a troubleshooting test, not a guaranteed permanent fix; consult the current hypervisor guidance if the symptom persists.
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VirtualBox Guest Additions and VMware Tools-related functionality can improve integration between a guest and its hypervisor, but the right support path depends on the product, version, and guest. For VirtualBox, the 7.0.26 manual describes installing Guest Additions inside the guest; it does not certify Ubuntu 26.04 as a guest. For VMware, Broadcom notes that Linux guests may use native operating-system packages for VMware Tools functionality and that support varies by product and version. Check current Ubuntu and hypervisor documentation before installing tools or running commands.
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