How To Install VirtualBox on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
In this tutorial, we will show you how to install VirtualBox on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. VirtualBox is a powerful virtualization software that allows you to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single physical machine. It’s an essential tool for developers, system administrators, and anyone who needs to test or run applications in different environments.
This article assumes you have at least basic knowledge of Linux, know how to use the shell, and most importantly, you host your site on your own VPS. The installation is quite simple and assumes you are running in the root account, if not you may need to add ‘sudo‘ to the commands to get root privileges. I will show you the step-by-step installation of the VirtualBox on Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble Numbat). You can follow the same instructions for Ubuntu 22.04 and any other Debian-based distribution like Linux Mint, Elementary OS, Pop!_OS, and more as well.
Prerequisites
- A server running one of the following operating systems: Ubuntu and any other Debian-based distribution like Linux Mint.
- It’s recommended that you use a fresh OS install to prevent any potential issues.
- SSH access to the server (or just open Terminal if you’re on a desktop).
- An active internet connection. You’ll need an internet connection to download the necessary packages and dependencies.
- An Ubuntu 24.04 system with root access or a user with sudo privileges.
Install VirtualBox on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Noble Numbat
Step 1. Updating the Package Repository.
Before installing VirtualBox, it’s crucial to update your Ubuntu system to the latest version. This ensures that you have access to the most recent packages, bug fixes, and security updates. Open a terminal window and run the following commands:
sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade
The sudo apt update command refreshes the package list, fetching information about the newest versions of packages and their dependencies. This step helps the package manager determine which packages need to be upgraded.
Step 2. Installing VirtualBox on Ubuntu 24.04.
- Method 1: Installing VirtualBox from Official Source.
The first step in installing VirtualBox is to download the appropriate package for your Ubuntu 24.04 system:
wget https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/7.0.18/virtualbox-7.0_7.0.18-162988~Ubuntu~jammy_amd64.deb
Once the download is complete, verify the integrity of the downloaded package by checking its SHA256 checksum against the one provided on the website.
Next, follow these steps to install it on your Ubuntu 24.04 system:
sudo dpkg -i virtualbox-7.0_7.0.18-162988~Ubuntu~jammy_amd64.deb
If you encounter any missing dependency errors during the installation, run the following command to resolve them:
sudo apt install -f
- Method 2: Installing from the Ubuntu Repositories.
If you choose to download VirtualBox from the Ubuntu repositories, the installation process is straightforward. Open a terminal and run the following command:
sudo apt install virtualbox
Verify the installation by checking the version:
vboxmanage --version
- Method 3: Installing from Oracle’s Repository.
First, add Oracle’s repository to your system:
echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/oracle-virtualbox-2016.gpg] http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian $(. /etc/os-release && echo "$VERSION_CODENAME") contrib" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list
Add Oracle’s public key:
wget -O- https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc | sudo gpg --dearmor --yes --output /usr/share/keyrings/oracle-virtualbox-2016.gpg
Update the package list and install VirtualBox:
sudo apt update sudo apt install virtualbox-7.0
Verify the installation:
vboxmanage --version
Step 3. Installing the VirtualBox Extension Pack
The VirtualBox Extension Pack is a collection of additional features and utilities that enhance the functionality of VirtualBox. It includes support for USB devices, remote desktop connections, and disk image encryption, among other features. To install the Extension Pack, first download it from the official VirtualBox website using wget command:
wget https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/7.0.18/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-7.0.18.vbox-extpack
Now install the Extension Pack using the following command below:
sudo VBoxManage extpack install --replace Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-*.vbox-extpack
Follow the on-screen instructions to accept the license agreement.
Step 4. Accessing VirtualBox on Ubuntu 24.04.
You can start using VirtualBox by launching it from the Ubuntu Dash. Search for “virtualbox” and launch it when its icon appears.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed VirtualBox. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the VirtualBox on the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the VirtualBox website.
