But what are these?
Let’s look at what VirtualBox’s Guest Additions do and how to activate them.
What Are Guest Additions in VirtualBox?
Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock
You install Guest Additions inside the virtual machine to activate this functionality.
VirtualBox is ahypervisor that allows you to create and use virtual machines.
Readour full guide to using VirtualBoxto get up to speed if you’re unfamiliar.
Certain elements of running an OS in an app window are frustrating.
What Do VirtualBox Guest Additions Do?
With the Guest Additions installed, VirtualBox packs a few features to make this easy.
First is the shared clipboard/drag-and-drop support.
To adjust this, select your VM on the VirtualBox home page and chooseSettings.
In theGeneralsection, switch to theAdvancedtab, and it’s possible for you to choose options forShared ClipboardandDrag’n’Drop.
Shared Folders
Shared folders make folders on your host system accessible in the VM.
To use it, clickSettingson a VM and jump to theShared Folderssection.
Then, hitOKto confirm.
You’ll see the folder appear as a web link drive in the guest OS.
Improved Graphics Support
As mentioned earlier, virtual machines don’t support high-resolution graphics from the start.
For instance, on a 1920x1080 monitor, you might display the VM in full-screen at 1080p.
That’s not the only graphical enhancement that the Guest Additions add.
This lets you use the VM at any size you like without playing with resolution options.
Finally, with Guest Additions, the guest OS can take advantage of your gear’s graphics hardware.
Seamless App Windows
Another neat benefit of the Guest Additions is a seamless mode.
It’s a lot likehow Parallels runs Windows apps on a Mac.
To use this mode, press theHost key + Lwhen your virtual machine is in focus.
If you haven’t changed it, the defaultHostkey in VirtualBox is the rightCtrlkey.
Once you’ve done this, the VM will go full-screen, and VirtualBox will remove its background.
you might then use its windows with your host’s desktop software.
HitHost + Lagain to turn this offif it doesn’t work, ensure you opt for VirtualBox VM first.
Other Benefits of VirtualBox Guest Additions
The above functions are the main features of VirtualBox’s Guest Additions.
There are a few other useful perks to installing them, though these are not as widely useful.
One is seamless mouse integration.
You must then hit theHostkey (rightCtrlby default) to bring the mouse control back to the host OS.
None of this greatly impacts the average user, but it makes using VMs that much more convenient.
We’ll cover installing Guest Additions for Windows and Linux sincerunning macOS in a virtual machineis more complicated.
On the toolbar at the top, selectDevices > Insert Guest Additions CD Image.
This mounts a virtual disc to the VM.
When you do this, Windows will respond like you’ve just inserted a physical disc.
If it doesn’t prompt you to run it, open a File Explorer window and go toThis PC.
You should see an item in theCD Drivereferencing Guest Additions.
Double-clicking this should start the installation process.
If not, right-click it, chooseOpen, and run theVBxWindowsAdditionsfile (orVBxWindowsAdditions-x86on a 32-bit VM).
Once you’ve booted up, selectDevices > Insert Guest Additions CD Imagefrom VirtualBox’s menu bar.
Depending on your Linux flavor, you may see a message to initiate the CD’s contents automatically.
On Ubuntu, aRun Softwarebutton appears at the window’s top-right.
Click this to start the install process, then provide your admin password to continue.
A Terminal window will open to keep you updated on its progress.
Most VirtualBox updates also include a new version of Guest Additions.
ClickDevices > Upgrade Guest Additionsfrom the menu bar to get the latest version.
Now you know how the Guest Additions make running virtual machines with VirtualBox much smoother.
