{"id":74688,"date":"2023-11-17T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/?p=74688"},"modified":"2025-06-19T01:50:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T05:50:27","slug":"how-to-install-and-use-virtualbox-on-your-chromebook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/how-to-install-and-use-virtualbox-on-your-chromebook\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Install and Use VirtualBox on Your Chromebook"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

VirtualBox lets you run multiple operating systems on your computer<\/a> in virtual machines. The virtualization software supports Windows, Linux, macOS, Solaris, and FreeBSD devices. Although VirtualBox doesn\u2019t support ChromeOS, you can run the virtualization software on Chromebooks through the Linux environment.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VirtualBox is open-source, free, and easy to install. We\u2019ll show you how to install VirtualBox and use it to run guest operating systems on your Chromebook.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Enable Linux Development Environment\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Connect your Chromebook to the internet and follow the steps below. Jump to the next section if you already have the Linux development environment set up on your Chromebook.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Open the Settings<\/span> app, expand the Advanced<\/span> drop-down section on the sidebar, and select Developers<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Select the Turn on<\/span> button next to \u201cLinux development environment.\u201d\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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    1. Select Next<\/span> to proceed.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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      1. Enter a username in the dialog box, choose a preferred disk size for the Linux environment, and select Install<\/span>. You can adjust the disk size later in your Chromebook\u2019s settings.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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        \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

        Wait while your Chromebook downloads and sets up the Linux virtual machine. The operation takes 10-30 minutes, depending on your Chromebook model and internet speed.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        You might get a prompt to update your Chromebook if its operating system is out-of-date.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

        \n
        \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

        Select the Open Settings<\/span> button (or head to Settings<\/span> > About ChromeOS<\/span>) and select Check for updates<\/span> or Restart<\/span>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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        \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

        Your Chromebook should automatically open a Terminal window when it successfully configures the Linux environment. Proceed to the next section to install VirtualBox for Linux version on your Chromebook.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Install VirtualBox on Your Chromebook\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        Since VirtualBox doesn\u2019t support ChromeOS, installing the Linux version in your Chromebook\u2019s Linux environment is the only workaround. It\u2019s a straightforward process that takes less than 5 minutes.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        1. Download the latest version of the software from VirtualBox\u2019s website<\/a>. Chromebooks have the Debian 11 (Bullseye) Linux environment. Hence, choose the Debian 11<\/span> or Debian 10<\/span> package on the VirtualBox download page.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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          \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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          1. Save the setup file in the Linux files<\/span> folder on your Chromebook.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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            \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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            1. Open the Linux files folder in the Files<\/span> app, right-click the VirtualBox setup file, and select Install with Linux<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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              1. Select Install<\/span> to start the installation.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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                \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

                Check the installation progress in the bottom corner of your Chromebook\u2019s display.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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                1. Open your Chromebook\u2019s launcher (press the Search key<\/span>) and check the Linux apps folder for Oracle VM VirtualBox<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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                  \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

                  Install Virtual Machines on Your Chromebook Using VirtualBox\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                  VirtualBox lets you create virtual machines that run Windows, Linux, Solaris, macOS, Unix\u2014see all VirtualBox-supported OS<\/a>. We\u2019ll use VirtualBox to install a Windows 8.1 virtual machine on our test Chromebook for this tutorial. The steps and procedures might vary per operating system.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                  1. Launch VirtualBox and select New<\/span> on the toolbar.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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                    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

                    Alternatively, select Machine<\/span> on the menu bar and choose New<\/span>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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                    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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                    1. Give the virtual machine a descriptive name in the Name<\/span> dialog box.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    2. Next, open the ISO Image<\/span> drop-down menu and navigate to the location of the installation media\/file.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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                      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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                      1. Select the installation file and tap Open<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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                        \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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                        1. Select Next<\/span> to proceed.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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                          1. Configure the guest OS by adding a username, password, and hostname. Also, enter a product key for the guest OS if you have one. Select Next<\/span> to move to the hardware configuration phase.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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                            \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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                            1. Here\u2019s where you allocate RAM and CPU to the guest operating system. The more hardware you assign the guest OS, the better its performance.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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                              \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

                              Contact the guest OS developer or check their website if you\u2019re unsure about OS system\/hardware requirements. For instance, if you\u2019re installing Windows 11, you\u2019ll find its system requirements on Microsoft\u2019s website<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                              1. Set the virtual hard disk (VHD) size and select Next<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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                                \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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                                1. Review the configuration for the guest OS and select Finish<\/span> to start the installation.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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                                  \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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                                  1. VirtualBox should automatically power up the guest OS when setup is complete. If it doesn\u2019t, double-click the virtual machine to power it on. Alternatively, select the machine on the sidebar and tap Start<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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                                    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

                                    Pro Tip:<\/span> You can run Windows applications in ChromeOS without installing a guest OS or virtual machine. Emulators or \u201ccompatibility layer apps\u201d like Wine or CrossOver let you install Windows-based apps on Chromebooks. Refer to our tutorial on installing\/running Windows apps on Chromebooks for instructions.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                    Run Multiple OS on Your Chromebook\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                    Installing VirtualBox on Chromebooks is a straightforward process. Running guest operating systems in VirtualBox is even easier. Although the virtualization software works best on computers with powerful processors, it\u2019s stable on budget Chromebooks with mid-range hardware.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                    Ensure you allocate sufficient hardware (RAM, storage, processor core, etc.) to the guest operating system. If your Chromebook runs slow<\/a> when using VirtualBox, closing unneeded applications or browser tabs can help speed things up.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                    VirtualBox lets you run multiple operating systems on your computer in virtual machines. The virtualization software supports Windows, Linux, macOS, Solaris, and FreeBSD devices. Although VirtualBox doesn\u2019t support ChromeOS, you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":74665,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[10373,10456,10482],"class_list":{"0":"post-74688","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-how-to","8":"tag-chromebook","9":"tag-virtualbox","10":"tag-virtualization"},"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/wp-content\/pictures\/2023\/11\/preview-media-how-to-install-and-use-virtualbox-on-your-chromebook-1.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Sodiq Olanrewaju","author_link":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/author\/solanrewaju\/"},"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t