Introduction
VirtualBox
has excellent features, and provides the VirtualBox Extension Pack to extend the basic functionalities of the software. Having a remote console to run your virtual machines or testing a cross-platform USB device are just a few examples that can improve your experience.
In this article, you will get step-by-step instructions on how to install the VirtualBox Extension Pack on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Prerequisites
- Installed and upgraded Oracle VM
- Extension Pack binary file
- VBoxManage CLI interface to install via
- CLIWhat
VirtualBox Downloaded VirtualBox
is VirtualBox Extension Pack?
The VirtualBox Extension Pack is a package that extends the basic functionalities of VirtualBox.
See the table for a description of the features contained in this package: Description of
the
Method 1: Install VirtualBox Extension Pack
via GUI VirtualBox GUI
works from the
same way cross-platform, and the installation of Virtual Box Extension Pack is similar for any operating system
.
1. Open the VirtualBox GUI
.
2. Click the Preferences icon:
3. Navigate to the Extensions tab and click the Add New Package button on the right side. Then, locate the extension pack file on your computer.
4. Review the description in the dialog box and click Install.
5. Read the license agreement, click Accept, and follow the installation instructions.
When the wizard finishes copying files and completes the installation, the VirtualBox Extension Pack appears in the list of extension packs.
Method 2: Install VirtualBox
Extension Pack via CLI
Use VBoxManage to install the Virtual Box extension pack on any operating system
.
Install VirtualBox Extension Pack via Command Prompt in Windows
1. Open the command prompt.
2. Navigate to the default VirtualBox installation directory using the cd: 3 command.
Then, install the VirtualBox extension package using
the VBoxManage tool: VBoxManage extpack install <file path/filename.file extension>
For example, if the file is in the Downloads folder, type
: VBoxManage extpack install C:\users\millicad\Downloads\Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.16.vbox-extpack
4. Finally, read the license terms and conditions and press Y to accept.
The message “Installed successfully” appears when the process ends.
Install VirtualBox Extension Pack via Terminal on macOS
1. Open the terminal. Pressing CMD+Space and searching for terminal.
2. Install the VirtualBox extension package using VBoxManage tool with sudo privileges: sudo VBoxManage
extpack install <path to file/filename.file extension>
3. Press Y to accept the license terms and conditions and start the installation.
The “Installed successfully” message appears when the installation is complete.
Install VirtualBox Extension Pack via Terminal on Linux
1. Open the terminal and navigate to the folder where you downloaded the extension pack binary file:
cd <path to file>
2. Then, using the VBoxManage tool, install the privileged extension pack sudo: sudo VBoxManage
extpack install -replace <filename.file extension>
The -replace flag replaces any previous version of the package if there is one
.
3. Follow the installation instructions and accept the license terms and conditions by pressing Y.
4. Finally, verify that the extension pack has been installed correctly by running:
VBoxManage list extpacks
Conclusion
You now have VirtualBox Extension Pack installed and ready to use in VirtualBox. This package adds great functionality and features that you need for advanced VM usage.
Read our guide on How to install Kali Linux on VirtualBox to test the functionalities of the VirtualBox Extension Pack.
