Here’s how to download and install the latest version of VirtualBox:

  • Goto the VirtualBox website and download the latest version for your platform on the downloads page. At the time of this writing, Virtual Box:

    runs on Windows, Linux, Macintosh, and Solaris hosts and supports a large number of guest operating systems including but not limited to Windows (NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10), DOS/Windows 3.x, Linux (2.4, 2.6, 3.x and 4.x), Solaris and OpenSolaris, OS/2, and OpenBSD

  • Verify the SHA256 checksum of your download based on the version you downloaded. At the time of the writing, here are the checksums for version 5.1.12[1]{#fnref:1.footnote}

  • Run the downloaded installer. On a Mac, you first run the .dmg downloaded from the website, which unpacks a .pkg file. Follow the installer instructions.

    virtualbox package installer

    If the installation is successful, you should see an installation success screen:

    virtualbox installation successful
  • Run the resulting VirtualBox application. On a Mac, the VirtualBox.app is in the /Applications folder.

    virtualbox welcome screen

    Congratulations — that’s it!