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# How to Install VirtualBox on Ubuntu [Beginner’s Tutorial]

Last updated February 27, 2019 By Abhishek Prakash 18 Comments

This beginner’s tutorial explains various ways to install VirtualBox on Ubuntu and other Debian-based Linux distributions.

Oracle’s free and open source offering VirtualBox is an excellent virtualization tool, specially for desktop operating systems. I prefer using it over VMWare Workstation in Linux, another virtualization tool.

You can use virtualization software like VirtualBox for installing and using another operating system within a virtual machine.

For example, you can install Linux on VirtualBox inside Windows. Similarly, you can also install Windows inside Linux using VirtualBox.

You can also use VirtualBox for installing another Linux distribution in your current Linux system. Actually, this is what I use it for. If I hear about a nice Linux distribution, instead of installing it on a real system, I test it on a virtual machine. It’s more convenient when you just want to try out a distribution before making a decision about installing it on your actual machine.

Ubuntu 18.10 installed inside Ubuntu 18.04

In this beginner’s tutorial, I’ll show you various ways of installing Oracle VirtualBox on Ubuntu and other Debian-based distributions.

## Installing VirtualBox on Ubuntu and Debian based Linux distributions

The installation methods mentioned here should also work for other Debian and Ubuntu-based Linux distributions such as Linux Mint, elementary OS etc.

### Method 1: Install VirtualBox from Ubuntu Repository

Pros: Easy installation

Cons: Installs older version

The easiest way to install VirtualBox on Ubuntu would be to search for it in the Software Center and install it from there.

VirtualBox is available in Ubuntu Software Center

You can also install it from the command line using the command:

    sudo apt install virtualbox

However, if you check the package version before installing it, you’ll see that the VirtualBox provided by Ubuntu’s repository is quite old.

For example, the current VirtualBox version at the time of writing this tutorial is 6.0 but the one in Software Center is 5.2. This means you won’t get the newer features introduced in the latest version of VirtualBox.

### Method 2: Install VirtualBox using Deb file from Oracle’s website

Pros: Easily install the latest version

Cons: Can’t upgrade to newer version

Suggested read Shutdown or Restart Ubuntu Using Linux Command Line

If you want to use the latest version of VirtualBox on Ubuntu, the easiest way would be to use the deb file.

Oracle provides read to use binary files for VirtualBox releases. If you look at its download page, you’ll see the option to download the deb installer files for Ubuntu and other distributions.

You just have to download this deb file and double click on it to install it. It’s as simple as that.

Download virtualbox for Ubuntu

However, the problem with this method is that you won’t get automatically updated to the newer VirtualBox releases. The only way is to remove the existing version, download the newer version and install it again. That’s not very convenient, is it?

### Method 3: Install VirualBox using Oracle’s repository

Pros: Automatically updates with system updates

Cons: Slightly complicated installation

Now this is the command line method and it may seem complicated to you but it has advantages over the previous two methods. You’ll get the latest version of VirtualBox and it will be automatically updated to the future releases. That’s what you would want, I presume.

To install VirtualBox using command line, you add the Oracle VirtualBox’s repository in your list of repositories. You add its GPG key so that your system trusts this repository. Now when you install VirtualBox, it will be installed from Oracle’s repository instead of Ubuntu’s repository. If there is a new version released, VirtualBox install will be updated along with the system updates. Let’s see how to do that.

First, add the key for the repository. You can download and add the key using this single command.

    wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -

Important for Mint users

The next step will work for Ubuntu only. If you are using Linux Mint or some other distribution based on Ubuntu, replace $(lsb_release -cs) in the command with the Ubuntu version your current version is based on. For example, Linux Mint 19 series users should use bionic and Mint 18 series users should use xenial. Something like this

Suggested read Speed Up Slow WiFi Connection In Ubuntu Linux

sudo add-apt-repository “deb [arch=amd64] http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian bionic contrib“

Now add the Oracle VirtualBox repository in the list of repositories using this command:

    sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian $(lsb_release -cs) contrib"

If you have read my article on checking Ubuntu version, you probably know that ‘lsb_release -cs’ will print the codename of your Ubuntu system.

Note: If you see add-apt-repository command not found error, you’ll have to install software-properties-common package.

Now that you have the correct repository added, refresh the list of available packages through these repositories and install VirtualBox.

    sudo apt update && sudo apt install virtualbox-6.0

Tip: A good idea would be to type sudo apt install virtualbox– and hit tab to see the various VirtualBox versions available for installation and then select one of them by typing it completely.

## How to remove VirtualBox from Ubuntu

Now that you have learned to install VirtualBox, I would also mention the steps to remove it.

If you installed it from the Software Center, the easiest way to remove the application is from the Software Center itself. You just have to find it in the list of installed applications and click the Remove button.

Another ways is to use the command line.

    sudo apt remove virtualbox virtualbox-*

Note that this will not remove the virtual machines and the files associated with the operating systems you installed using VirtualBox. That’s not entirely a bad thing because you may want to keep them safe to use it later or in some other system.

In the end…

I hope you were able to pick one of the methods to install VirtualBox. I’ll also write about using it effectively in another article. For the moment, if you have and tips or suggestions or any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

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#### About Abhishek Prakash

I am a professional software developer, and founder of It's FOSS. I am an avid Linux lover and open source enthusiast. I use Ubuntu and believe in sharing knowledge. Apart from Linux, I love classic detective mysteries. I'm a huge fan of Agatha Christie's work.

- Update for Mint 19.1 users, I’m using mate DT for this install, the add too repository I found to work on Mint. bc this is Ubuntu Based – Mint has Bionic in the /etc/apt/sources.list as is most other files in /etc/apt/* cd sources.list.d/cat * | grep bionic
  so to reveal Mint ie: echo $(lsb_release -cs) provides mints release tessa, one caveat. using bionic in place of tessa as described worked.
  I believe in this you do have to syntax it all out as this cmdline.

  sudo add-apt-repository “deb [arch=amd64] http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian bionic contrib”

  2nd before performing sudo apt update – return to http://www.virtualbox.org and select into the linux downloads – and note the keys for Debian 8 and higher releases. Click in here to capture the whole Key provided. open a file editor I use vi, paste in the contents top to bottom write-save this as “oracle_vbox.asc” now sudo apt-key oracle_vbox.asc and all prayers results “OK” now your good to sudo apt update && sudo apt install virtualbox-6.0, and if required allow the Qt5 file extension dependencies to install which following the package gets installed complete.
  3rd unsure this also installs the virtualbox extensions add this might have to simply be downloaded and installed via the VB gui preferences extensions, navigate to the extn file and click on it to Add-install, forthgiving additional features usb etc. Completing a full VB Updated install.

  Reply

- Excellent Information, nice Update to your previous install method. Off to try it out. I like your moto – all knowledge learned is feature rich for all, when return’n’share openly. Beautiful Features of all *NIX OS. There are many ways to doing same thing. Each may constructively add to the pie and we all gain grow together! Cheers AtomicKidd.

  Reply

  - Glad you liked it :)

    Reply

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