This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Tarun Kumar
Virtualization is the creation of virtual (rather than physical) versions of computing environments—like operating systems, storage, or servers.
With virtualization tools like VirtualBox, you can:
- Run multiple OSes on one computer
- Test applications safely
- Learn Linux without dual-booting
Step 0: Is Virtualization Enabled?
Before setting up anything, make sure virtualization is enabled on your system:
- Press
Ctrl + Shift + Escto open Task Manager - Go to the Performance tab
- Click on CPU
- Look for Virtualization in the bottom-right corner
👉 If it says Enabled, you're good to go.
❌ If it says Disabled, go into your BIOS/UEFI settings and enable virtualization.
Step 1: Download and Install VirtualBox
Download VirtualBox from its official site: 🔗 Download VirtualBox
Choose the version that matches your OS (Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.) and install it just like any regular software.
Step 2: Download Ubuntu ISO
Download Ubuntu Desktop ISO (we're using 22.04.5 in this tutorial)
when you go to that page, you just need to scroll down little bit, and you will see the Ubuntu model:
-
File:
ubuntu-22.04.5-desktop-amd64.iso - Release Date: 2024-09-11
- Size: 4.4 GB
Once you locate the file, click on the download link to start the process. Depending on your internet connection speed, the download may take some time to complete, so be patient as it prepares your system for installation.
Save it somewhere easy to find like your Downloads folder.
Step 3: Create a New Virtual Machine
Open VirtualBox
In my case, VirtualBox shows two virtual machines that I had previously created. You can ignore them.
Click New this will open the interface to create a virtual machine, as shown in the image above.
Set a name (e.g.,
tarun_ubuntu_vm) that you want give your Virtual Machine.Choose a folder (e.g.,
D:\VMs) to store the virtual machine, I recommands you to create a folder in the D-drive and provide the path to the folder, it separates all data of the Virtual Machine from your C drive.-
Select:
- Type: Linux
- Version: Ubuntu (64-bit)
- Press Next
Set Memory size: At least 4096 MB (4 GB)
-
Create a Virtual Hard Disk:
- Type: VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image)
- Storage: Dynamically allocated
- Size: 20 GB
Click Create when done.
Step 4: Load Ubuntu ISO and Begin Installation
Now connect the Ubuntu ISO to your VM:
- Select your VM and click Settings > Storage
- Under "Controller: IDE", click Empty
- Click the CD icon > Choose a disk file
- Select the Ubuntu ISO you downloaded earlier and click OK
- Then click Start to launch the VM!
Follow the on-screen installation steps within the VM to complete the Ubuntu setup.
Once the installation is finished and Ubuntu boots up successfully, you should see a desktop environment similar to the one below:
At this point, your VirtualBox and Ubuntu environment are fully set up and ready for use.
Step 5: Install Essential Packages (Optional)
Once Ubuntu is installed and booted, open the terminal and run:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install build-essential curl git -y
Let’s Connect
If you found this guide helpful:
- Leave a ❤️ to support my first Dev.to post!
- Drop a comment if you ran into any issues
- Follow me for more beginner-friendly Linux and IoT tutorials coming soon
Thanks for reading, and happy virtualizing! 🐧🚀
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Tarun Kumar
Tarun Kumar | Sciencx (2025-07-13T06:48:08+00:00) Beginner’s Guide: How to Set Up a Virtual Machine with Ubuntu in VirtualBox. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/07/13/beginners-guide-how-to-set-up-a-virtual-machine-with-ubuntu-in-virtualbox/
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