How to Install Ubuntu on VirtualBox

This minHour teaches you how to install Ubuntu Linux on a computer by using VirtualBox. VirtualBox is a program which allows you to install an operating system without changing your computer's main operating system.

Downloading Ubuntu

Open the Ubuntu website.

Go to https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop in your computer’s web browser. You can download the Ubuntu disk image (also known as an ISO file) here.

Scroll down to the latest version of Ubuntu.

You’ll find it near the bottom of the page.

Click Download.

It’s a green button to the right of your selected version of Ubuntu. Doing so takes you to the support page.

Scroll down and click Download Now.

This link is in the bottom-left corner of the page.

Make sure that Ubuntu begins downloading.

The Ubuntu ISO should begin downloading immediately, but if it doesn’t, you can click the link at the top of the page. While the Ubuntu ISO downloads, you’ll have plenty of time to set up your virtual machine in VirtualBox.

Creating a Virtual Machine

Install VirtualBox

If you don’t already have VirtualBox installed on your Windows or Mac computer, you’ll need to install it before proceeding.

Open VirtualBox.

Double-click (or click once on a Mac) the VirtualBox app icon.

Click New.

It’s a blue badge in the upper-left corner of the VirtualBox window. Doing so opens a pop-up menu.

Enter a name for your virtual machine.

Type whatever you want to name your virtual machine (e.g., Ubuntu) into the “Name” text field that’s near the top of the pop-up menu.

Select Linux as the “Type” value.

Click the “Type” drop-down box, then click in the resulting drop-down menu.

Select Ubuntu as the “Version” value.

Ubuntu should be selected by default after you set the “Type” value to , but if it isn’t, click the “Version” drop-down box and click before proceeding.

Click Next.

It’s at the bottom of the menu.

Select an amount of RAM to use.

Click and drag the slider left or right to decrease or increase the amount of RAM that VirtualBox will have available for your Ubuntu virtual machine.

  • The ideal amount of RAM will automatically be selected when you get to this page.
  • Make sure not to increase the RAM into the red section of the slider; try to keep the slider in the green.

Click Next.

It’s at the bottom of the menu.

Create your virtual machine’s virtual hard drive.

The virtual hard drive is a section of your computer’s hard drive space which will be used to store your virtual machine’s files and programs:

  • Click Create
  • Click Next
  • Click Next
  • Select an amount of space to use.
  • Click Create

Make sure that your Ubuntu file is done downloading.

Once the Ubuntu ISO finishes downloading, you can proceed with installing it to VirtualBox.

Installing Ubuntu

Double-click your virtual machine’s name.

It’s on the left side of the VirtualBox window. Doing so will open a menu.

Click the folder-shaped icon.

This icon is in the lower-right side of the menu. A new window in which you can select the Ubuntu ISO will open.

Select your Ubuntu ISO.

Go to the folder into which the Ubuntu ISO file downloaded (e.g., ), then click the ISO file to select it.

Click Open.

It’s in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so opens the Ubuntu ISO file in VirtualBox.

Click Start.

This option is at the bottom of the menu. Ubuntu will begin running.

Click Install Ubuntu.

It’s on the right side of the VirtualBox window.

Check both boxes on the “Preparing to install Ubuntu” page.

This will ensure that everything Ubuntu needs to run will be installed.

Click Continue.

It’s in the bottom-right corner of the page.

Check the “Erase disk and install Ubuntu” box.

This may sound scary, but don’t worry—nothing on your computer will be erased.

Click Install Now.

It’s in the bottom-right corner of the page.

Click Continue when prompted.

This confirms that you understand that the virtual machine’s virtual drive will be “erased” (there’s nothing on it anyway) and begins the Ubuntu installation process.

Setting up Ubuntu

Select a time zone.

Click a section that correlates with your position on the map.

Click Continue.

It’s in the bottom-right corner of the page.

Enable the on-screen keyboard.

Click the person-shaped icon in the upper-right side of the window, then click the “Screen Keyboard” switch to place a keyboard on the screen. Since Ubuntu will need to install drivers to work with your keyboard, you won’t be able to use your keyboard until it’s fully installed.

Enter your name.

Do so in the “Your name” text box at the top of the window.

  • Entering a name will also create a computer name for your virtual machine, but you can create your own computer name as well by typing it into the “Your computer’s name” box.

Enter a username.

In the “Pick a username” text box, type in the username that you want to use.

Create a password.

Type your preferred password into the “Choose a password” text box, then re-type it into the “Confirm your password” text box.

Click Continue.

It’s at the bottom of the page.

  • You can first select login options below the “Confirm your password” text field if need be.

Wait for Ubuntu to finish installing.

This process may take anywhere from a couple of minutes to half an hour depending on the speed of your computer.

  • You won’t need to do anything during the installation process.

Restart the virtual machine.

Once you see the button, do the following: click the button in the upper-right corner of the window (Windows) or the upper-left corner of the window (Mac), check the “Power off the machine” box, click , and then double-click the virtual machine’s name.

Log into your computer.

Once your Ubuntu virtual machine is back on, select your name, then enter your password and click . Ubuntu will load your desktop as though you were using a separate computer.

Tips

  • You can install programs and apps on your virtual machine, though you’ll need to make sure that doing so doesn’t cause your virtual machine to exceed the amount of space in its virtual hard drive.

Warnings

  • It’s normal for VirtualBox operating systems to run sluggishly since you’re essentially operating two different systems on one computer’s worth of hardware.
  • Make sure your hard disk has enough space to create the virtual hard disk. For example, if VirtualBox suggests you need an 8 GB virtual hard disk, make sure you have more than 8 GB of free space on your computer.

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