Install VirtualBox on Pop OS

Welcome to today’s guide on how to install VirtualBox on Pop OS. VirtualBox is an open-source virtualization software developed by Oracle Corporation. VirtualBox is a global virtualizer for x86 hardware that is suitable for PCs, servers, and embedded applications. It supports Linux, Windows, Solaris hosts, and Macintosh operating systems.

Install VirtualBox on Pop OS

You will need to install VirtualBox because Pop OS doesn’t come with VirtualBox out of the box. You can install VirtualBox on Pop OS by;

Using Pop Shop
Using APT Repositories
Using .DEB Binary Package

1. Using Pop Shop

Follow along with the screenshots below because this is a graphical-based installation.

Open the Pop Shop by pressing the Windows Key then start typing “Pop Shop“. Click on the software app below and wait for the software to load fully.

Next, click on the search icon at the top right corner;

Type “virtualbox” in the search bar and wait for Shop to locate the VirtualBox. Once the package is located, click install

When prompted for authentication, enter your password and press enter.

Wait for the installation to complete.

2. Using APT Repositories

The commandsudo apt install virtualboxcommand installs an outdated VirtualBox.

To install an updated version such as VirtualBox 6.1, update the VirtualBox APT sources list.

echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian $(lsb_release -sc) contrib" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list

Install GPG keys

GPG keys facilitate verification and communication with the VirtualBox repository.
Install the following repository signing keys.

wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -

Update the system packages.

sudo apt update

Install VirtualBox on Pop OS. Change the version code at the end, for instance, 6.1. You will be prompted to install, type in Y and press enter to install

sudo apt install virtualbox-6.1

Output;

itnixpro@pop-os:~$ sudo apt install virtualbox-6.1
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
The following additional packages will be installed:
  libdouble-conversion3 libmd4c0 libqt5core5a libqt5dbus5 libqt5gui5
  libqt5network5 libqt5opengl5 libqt5printsupport5 libqt5svg5 libqt5widgets5
  libqt5x11extras5 libsdl-ttf2.0-0 libsdl1.2debian libxcb-xinerama0
  libxcb-xinput0 qt5-gtk-platformtheme qttranslations5-l10n
Suggested packages:
  qt5-image-formats-plugins qtwayland5
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  libdouble-conversion3 libmd4c0 libqt5core5a libqt5dbus5 libqt5gui5
  libqt5network5 libqt5opengl5 libqt5printsupport5 libqt5svg5 libqt5widgets5
  libqt5x11extras5 libsdl-ttf2.0-0 libsdl1.2debian libxcb-xinerama0
  libxcb-xinput0 qt5-gtk-platformtheme qttranslations5-l10n virtualbox-6.1
0 upgraded, 18 newly installed, 0 to remove and 87 not upgraded.
Need to get 104 MB/104 MB of archives.
After this operation, 267 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]

3. Using .DEB Binary Package

Grab the VirtualBox file from VirtualBox download page. Make sure you download an option for Ubuntu 19.10 / 20.04 / 20.10 / 21.04

You can also grab the VirtualBox file by using wget command;

wget https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox-6.1_6.1.32-149290_Ubuntu_eoan_amd64

Install the downloaded VirtualBox package by using;

dpkg tool
apt package manager

dpkg tool

Open the terminal and run the command;

sudo dpkg -i virtualbox-6.1_6.1.32-149290~Ubuntu~eoan_amd64.deb

Fix outdated or missing dependencies by executing the command;

sudo apt install -f

apt package manager

In the terminal, type the command below and press enter;

sudo apt install ./virtualbox-6.1_6.1.32-149290~Ubuntu~eoan_amd64.deb

Note: Open the terminal in the current directory where your VirtualBox file was downloaded to. Right-click anywhere and select Open in terminal in the popup window.

Install VirtualBox Extension Pack(optional)

Run the command below to download VirtualBox extension pack.

wget -P /tmp https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/6.1.32/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.32.vbox-extpack

Install it using the command below

sudo VBoxManage extpack install /tmp/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.32.vbox-extpack

Running VirtualBox

Press Windows Key on the keyboard and type “virtualbox” followed by entering or opening the terminal by pressing CTLR+ALT+T then enter the command virtualbox

VirtualBox will open as below

You have managed to install VirtualBox on Pop OS.

Conclusion

Congrats! You have just learned to install VirtualBox on Pop OS. More information about VirtualBox can be found in VirtualBox documentation. Enjoy the virtualization world.

Install VirtualBox on Pop OS