How to Install Windows 10 in VirtualBox
Virtual machines are useful in various ways, such as running legacy software, installing different operating systems, software development and testing, and more. If you’re also looking forward to installing Windows 10 on your PC without dual-booting or buying a separate Windows computer, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the entire setup process for installing Windows 10 in VirtualBox.
Table of Contents
Minimum System Requirement to Run Windows 10
Before we begin the setup and installation process, first we need to download the official version of Windows 10 from the Microsoft site. Here’s how to download it:
1.Open anybrowser of your choiceand visit theMicrosoft Software Downloadpage.
2.Scroll down and click theDownload tool nowbutton to download Windows 10 Media Creation Tool.
3.Open theMedia Creation Tooland thenAcceptthe Microsoft Software T&C.
4.Now select theCreate installation mediaoption and hitNext.
5.Uncheck theUse the recommended options for this PCoption and then choose thelanguage, edition, and architectureaccordingly, and then hitNext.
6.Now choose theISO fileoption and clickNext.
7.Select apathwhere you want to download the Windows 10 ISO file. Once done, hit theSavebutton.
That’s it. It will startdownloading Windows 10 ISOon your computer.
Do note that it might take several minutes orhours to download, depending on your internet speed.
Once the download is completed, hit theFinishbutton.
How to Setup Windows 10 in VirtualBox
Now that you have downloaded Windows 10, the next step would be to install and set up the VirtualBox on your PC/laptop.
1.Open theVirtualBoxapp on your computer or click here todownload VirtualBoxif haven’t already.
2.Next click on theNewicon and choose adescriptive nameandinstallation folderfor the new virtual machine.
3.After that click thedrop-down menunext to ISO Image and select theOtheroption to select the Windows 10 ISO file.
4.Now make sure to enableSkip Unattended Installationto manually install the OS and then clickNext.
5.Select the amount ofRAMandProcessoryou want to dedicate and hitNext.
Since our PC has 16 GB of RAM and 6 cores, we will opt for 4 GB of RAM and 2 cores.
6.Now select theCreate a Virtual Hard Disk Nowoption and enter the amount ofDisk sizeyou want to allocate and then clickNext.
7.Finally, review yourconfigurationand hit theFinishbutton once you’re satisfied.
And don’t worry if you want to make any changes later, you can select theOSand go toSettings.
From there, you may customize things like RAM, video memory, processor, network adapter, audio, and more.
Now that everything is in place, it’s time to finally begin the installation process. Here’s a complete process to install Windows 10 in VirtualBox.
1.Select theWindows VM(Virtual Machine) and hit theStartbutton. After a few seconds, you will be greeted with theWindows Setupscreen.
2.Now select thelanguage,time zone, andkeyboard layoutto your liking, and then hitNext.
3.Click on theInstall nowbutton and the setup will begin.
4.On the next screen, you will be prompted to enter theWindows 10 Product Key. If you have a product key, you’re able to enter it. Otherwise, you can click on the option that saysI don’t have a product key.
5.Now choose theWindows Editionthat you want to install in your VirtualBox and clickNext.
6.Accept thelicense termsand clickNext.
7.Next, select theCustom: Install Windows onlyoption.
8.Now if your drive is showingUnallocated Space, then click theNewbutton, choose thesize, and clickApply. For reference, 1GB = 1024MB so calculate accordingly.
Quick Tip:With this method, you can create more drives in Windows.
9.Click theOKbutton when the pop-up appears.
10.Next, select theDrive(Primary) where you want to install Windows 10 and then clickNext.
Note:Make sure you don’t select the Drive that is System Reserved.
That’s all. It will now begin installing Windows 10 on your virtual machine.
Once the installation is completed, follow the on-screen instructions to finalize the setup process.
Tip:Learn how toremove ads from everywhere on Windows 11.
How to Make Windows 10 Full Screen on VirtualBox
After you have finished setting up your Windows 10, you may observe that the screen resolution remains unchanged even when switching to full-screen mode. To fix this issue, follow the below instructions:
1.Open theFile Explorer(Windows Key + E) on your Windows 10 virtual machine and navigate toThis PCsection and then go toVirtualBox Guest Additions.
If you couldn’t find it, simply click on theDevicestab and select theInsert Guest Additions CD imageoption.
2.Now run theVBoxWindowsAdditionsfile to install VirtualBox Guest Additions in your Windows 10.
3.Follow theon-screen instructions, and upon completion,restartyour VM.
After signing in to Windows, the screen resolution will automatically adjust according to the size of the window. Here is how it looks before and after:
Limitations of Running Windows 10 in VirtualBox
- What happens when the installation process is interrupted?
If the installation process is interrupted during the initial stage, the virtual machine may boot normally. However, if the installation is interrupted during the critical stage, such as disk partition, installing Windows, or updating Windows, the virtual machine may not boot at all. In that case, you may need to start the entire Windows setup and installation process from scratch.
- Can I play games in VirtualBox?
While you may be able to play some older or casual games, engaging inserious gamingis generally not possible within VirtualBox.
Tip:Learn how touse your phone as a controller to play PC games.
Summoning Windows 10 Into the Virtual Realm
Installing Windows 10 in VirtualBox is a time-consuming process, but once you finish setting up the operating system, you’re just one click away from running it. This also eliminates the need for dual-booting the system, allowing you to share system resources only when you require them.
If yourWindows PC is booting up slowly, you’re able to check out our comprehensive guide to fix it.
Rahul is your go-to guide for fixing Windows, Steam, Android, Samsung TV, and Google Chrome. An engineering college dropout who followed his passion for tech, he brings 3 years of troubleshooting experience and 2+ years of running his own tech blog to the table. When he’s not solving your tech problems, you’ll find him unwinding with the latest anime or K-drama.
