How to Install Elementary OS on Virtual Box

How to Install elementary OS on VirtualBox (The Safe & Easy Way!)

Hi there, and welcome back to Darren’s Tech Tutorials!

Elementary OS is hands down one of the most aesthetically pleasing Linux distributions available today. Built on Ubuntu, it provides a clean, fast, and gorgeous computing experience. If you’ve been wanting to try it out but aren’t ready to commit to a full installation on your primary machine, VirtualBox is the perfect solution.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the entire process of setting up a safe, sandboxed environment in VirtualBox and installing elementary OS step-by-step. By the time we’re done, you’ll have a fully functional virtual machine ready for you to explore!

Step 1: Gathering Your Essentials (Downloads)

Before we jump into VirtualBox, we need two things:

VirtualBox: Ensure you have the latest version of Oracle VM VirtualBox installed on your host system.
Elementary OS ISO: We need the installation file.

To download the elementary OS ISO:

Navigate to the official elementary OS website.
While they encourage you to donate or purchase the software (which we highly recommend if you enjoy it!), for a simple test install, you can click the custom amount option and set the value to $0.
Click the Download button to begin downloading the ISO file.

Once the download is complete, keep the ISO file handy—we’ll need it in the next step.

Step 2: Creating and Configuring Your Virtual Machine

With the ISO downloaded, open VirtualBox and let’s start building our virtual environment.

Creating the VM Shell

In VirtualBox, click the New button.
Name: Enter a descriptive name, such as Elementary OS.
ISO Image: Click the dropdown and select Other…. Locate and select the elementary OS ISO file you just downloaded.
VirtualBox should automatically detect the type as Linux and the version as Ubuntu (64-bit) since elementary OS is based on Ubuntu.

Allocating Resources

Next, we need to dedicate enough RAM and CPU power to the virtual machine for a smooth experience.

Click Next.
Base Memory (RAM): We recommend providing at least 4096 MB (4 GB) of RAM.
Processors (CPU): Assign 3 CPUs to the machine for better performance.
Leave the EFI box unchecked unless you have a specific requirement.
Click Next.

Creating the Virtual Hard Disk

We need a dedicated space for elementary OS to live on.

Hard Disk Size: While 25 GB is often the minimum, let’s give it a little extra breathing room. Allocate 40 GB of virtual hard drive space.
Click Next and then Finish.

Your virtual machine is now created and ready for installation!

Step 3: Initiating the Elementary OS Installation

Select the newly created Elementary OS machine in the VirtualBox sidebar and click Start.

The system will boot up and load the initial installation environment.

Navigating the Installation Screen (The Critical Trick!)

The elementary OS installation environment can be tricky to navigate at first, especially within VirtualBox. You will reach a language selection screen, but you can’t simply click the options.

Here is the essential tip:

Hold down the Windows Key (or the Super Key) on your keyboard.
While holding the Windows key, use your Left Mouse Button to click and drag the installation window slightly. You will see a small hand icon appear.
Continue holding the Windows key and use the left click to select your language and keyboard layout (e.g., United Kingdom and English UK).
Click Select to continue.

Installing the OS

Once you’ve selected your language and location, follow these steps:

You will be prompted with installation options. For a standard test environment, select Erase disk and install. (Remember, this is the virtual disk, not your physical hard drive!)
If you see a warning about installing in a virtual environment, simply ignore it and click Continue.
Select the 40 GB virtual disk you created.
For this tutorial, we will select Don’t encrypt and click Erase disk and install.

The installation process will now begin. This is a great time to grab a coffee—or check out the useful Linux cheat sheets on my Patreon!

Step 4: The Crucial Post-Installation Step

When the installation is complete, you will see a success screen. Do not restart immediately!

If you restart the VM now, it will likely boot back into the installer ISO, trapping you in a perpetual installation cycle. We need to eject the virtual disk first.

Click the Shut Down button on the success screen.
Once the VM is fully powered off, right-click the Elementary OS machine in VirtualBox and select Settings.
Go to the Storage section.
Under the Controller: IDE section, click on the Elementary OS ISO file listed under the Optical Drive.
Click the small disk icon next to the Optical Drive selection box, and choose Remove Disk from Virtual Drive.
Click OK to save the settings.

Step 5: First Boot and Final Setup

Now that the ISO is removed, we can start the machine for the first time.

Select the Elementary OS VM and click Start.
The system will boot up and ask for final setup details.
Again, use the Windows Key + Left Click trick to navigate and select your preferences (language, time zone).
Enter your desired Name and set a Password for your user account.
Click Finish Setup.

Congratulations! You will now be taken to the login screen. Enter your new password, and look at that—we’re in! You are now running the beautiful elementary OS inside VirtualBox.

Conclusion

Elementary OS truly stands out with its clean design and thoughtful user experience. You’ve successfully installed it in a safe, risk-free environment using VirtualBox. This is a great starting point for anyone curious about Linux!

I’ll be doing more tutorials on elementary OS, including how to install Guest Additions to enable full-screen support, so keep an eye out for that.

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