VirtualBox runs other operating systems in windows on your own machine. Test a Windows update before it reaches users, keep an old application alive on Windows 7, try a Linux distribution without touching your disk, or build a small lab of servers on one laptop. It is made by Oracle, and the current version is 7.2.20 (September 2026).
One thing to understand before deploying it at work: VirtualBox comes in two parts with different licences. The main program is free for any use, including commercial. The optional Extension Pack is not.
VirtualBox at a glance
| Latest version | 7.2.20, released 22 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Licence (base package) | Free, open source (GPL v3) — commercial use allowed |
| Licence (Extension Pack) | Personal and educational use only; business use requires a licence from Oracle |
| Licence | Base package free (GPL v3); Extension Pack personal and educational use only |
| Host systems | Windows, macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), Linux, Oracle Solaris — 64-bit |
| Guest systems | Windows 11 and 10, Server 2025/2022, RHEL 8–10, Debian, Ubuntu and many others |
| Arm support | Arm virtual machines and Windows 11 Arm guests since 7.2.0 |
The licence split, in plain terms
The base package is GPL v3. Install it on office machines, use it for work, no licence needed.
The Extension Pack is a separate download under Oracle’s own terms. It is free for personal use — one person, one computer — and for teaching as part of an institution’s curriculum. Any use inside a business or organisation requires a paid licence from Oracle.
What you lose by not installing it:
- USB 2.0 and 3.0 device passthrough (USB 1.1 still works)
- The VirtualBox remote desktop server
- Host webcam passthrough
- AES encryption of disk images
- Intel network boot ROM
For most server-lab work none of this matters. If you need a USB dongle or a scanner inside the virtual machine at work, you need the licence.
What the free base package gives you
- Snapshots — freeze a machine before an update and roll back in seconds.
- Cloning, full or linked, so a prepared machine becomes a template.
- Shared folders between host and guest.
- Clipboard and drag-and-drop in both directions, with Guest Additions installed.
- Guest Additions: correct screen resolution, seamless mouse, better video.
- NVMe controller, moved into the base package in 7.2.0.
- Headless mode — run machines with no window, useful on a build server.
- VBoxManage, a complete command line for scripting and automation.
Download and install
- Click the Download button at the top of this page and unpack the archive.
- Windows: run the installer as administrator. It installs kernel drivers, so the network will drop for a moment.
- Linux: install as root. VirtualBox builds its kernel module during installation, so you need the compiler, make and the kernel headers for your running kernel. The graphical interface also needs Qt; the headless version does not.
- Install Guest Additions inside each virtual machine — without them the screen is small, the mouse is captured and there is no shared clipboard.
- Give a Windows guest at least 4 GB of memory and two processors, and enable I/O APIC. Oracle also recommends the Intel network adapter type for 64-bit Windows guests.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Machines stop starting after a Linux kernel update | The usual cause: the kernel module needs rebuilding. This happens regularly, and Oracle ships point releases specifically for new kernels. |
| Windows host error about executable memory when starting a VM | A regression fixed in 7.2.20 — update. |
| Arm Windows 11 guest crashes after restoring a saved state | Fixed in 7.2.18. |
| A USB device is not visible in the guest | USB 2.0 and 3.0 need the Extension Pack, and your user must be in the vboxusers group on Linux. |
| Cannot start a 64-bit guest | Hardware virtualisation is disabled in the BIOS, or Hyper-V is holding it on Windows. |
VirtualBox vs. alternatives
| Tool | How it compares |
|---|---|
| Hyper-V | Built into Windows Pro, runs below the operating system, no extension-pack licence question; less convenient for desktop testing |
| VMware Workstation Pro | Free for personal use, stronger 3D acceleration and snapshots management |
| QEMU/KVM | Fully open source and the standard on Linux servers; the interface is your own choice |
| vSphere Hypervisor | Installs on bare metal for a dedicated server, not on your desktop |
FAQ
Is VirtualBox free for commercial use?
The base package is, under the GPL. The Extension Pack is not — it is free only for personal and educational use, and business use requires a licence from Oracle.
Do I need the Extension Pack?
Only for USB 2.0 and 3.0 passthrough, the remote desktop server, webcam passthrough and disk encryption. Everything else works without it.
Does it run on Apple Silicon Macs?
Yes, there are Arm64 builds, and since 7.2.0 VirtualBox can run Arm virtual machines including Windows 11 Arm guests.
Why does the screen stay small in my virtual machine?
Guest Additions are not installed. They provide display resizing, mouse integration and shared folders.
Can I run macOS in it?
Apple’s licence only permits macOS virtualisation on Apple hardware, so on a PC this is not a supported configuration.
Why does it break after every kernel update on Linux?
The kernel module has to be rebuilt for each new kernel. Installing DKMS and the kernel headers makes this automatic.
