How to Install VirtualBox on macOS

How to Install VirtualBox on macOS: A Step-by-Step Guide

Hello everyone! I’m back with another helpful tutorial. In this post, we’ll walk through the process of installing VirtualBox on your Mac. VirtualBox is a powerful virtualization tool that allows you to run multiple operating systems on your Mac. Whether you’re a developer, tester, or just someone who likes experimenting with different OSes, VirtualBox can help you easily create and manage virtual machines.

Without further ado, let’s dive right into the installation process!

Step 1: Download VirtualBox

To get started, we’ll first need to download the VirtualBox installation file.

1. Open Your Browser
   On your Mac, open any browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.).
2. Search for VirtualBox
   In the search bar, type “VirtualBox” and go to the official website: VirtualBox.org.
3. Choose the Right Version for Your Mac
   Once on the VirtualBox download page, you’ll see various options depending on your Mac’s processor. If you have an Intel-based Mac, select the macOS (Intel) version. If you’re using an Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or later), choose the macOS Apple Silicon Host option.
4. Download VirtualBox
   After selecting the appropriate version for your system, click on the Download button. The installation file will begin downloading. It’s approximately 132 MB, so it won’t take long to complete.

Step 2: Install VirtualBox

Once the download is complete, let’s start the installation process.

1. Open the Downloaded File
   Navigate to your Downloads folder, and double-click the VirtualBox .dmg file to open it. This will mount the disk image and display the installation window.
2. Start the Installation
   In the installation window, double-click the VirtualBox.pkg file to start the installation process.
3. Follow the Installation Steps
   You’ll be greeted with the Oracle VirtualBox installation screen. Click Continue to move forward.
4. Select Installation Type
   Next, you’ll be asked to choose where to install VirtualBox. Select Install for all users of this computer and click Continue.
5. Install VirtualBox
   Now, click Install to begin the installation. You’ll be prompted to enter your administrator password (the password you use to log in to your Mac). Enter it and click Install Software.
6. Wait for Installation to Complete
   The installation process will take a few moments. Once it’s done, you’ll see the option to Close the installer. If you wish to delete the installer file, you can click Move to Trash.
7. Python 3 Installation (If Prompted)
   If you’re prompted to install Python 3 during the process, click Install and follow the instructions to complete the Python installation.
8. Finish Installation
   Once everything is installed, you’ll see a message saying that the software was successfully installed. Click Done to finish the process.

Step 3: Launch VirtualBox

Now that VirtualBox is installed, it’s time to launch it and start using it.

1. Open LaunchPad
   Click the LaunchPad icon in your Mac’s Dock to view all installed applications.
2. Find VirtualBox
   Type “VirtualBox” in the search bar, and you’ll see the VirtualBox application. Click on it to launch the program.

Step 4: Use VirtualBox to Create Virtual Machines

Now that VirtualBox is up and running, you can start creating virtual machines (VMs) on your Mac. With VirtualBox, you can install and run different operating systems—such as Windows, Linux, or even other versions of macOS—on your Mac, all within a virtualized environment.

1. Create a New Virtual Machine
   To create a new VM, click the New button in the VirtualBox interface and follow the on-screen instructions to set up a new virtual machine.
2. Install an Operating System
   Once your virtual machine is created, you can install your desired operating system by following the prompts in VirtualBox.

Install VirtualBox Extension Pack on macOS

Conclusion

And there you have it—this is how you can install VirtualBox on your Mac and begin using it to run virtual machines. Whether you’re testing new software, running another OS, or simply experimenting, VirtualBox makes it easy to manage different operating systems on a single machine.

I hope this guide was helpful! If you found this tutorial useful, don’t forget to hit that like button and subscribe to the channel for more tutorials and tech tips.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next post!

Bye for now!