Create Shared Folder For Virtual Machine On VirtualBox – Detailed Guide

VirtualBox is a popular piece of software that lets you run different operating systems on the same computer. By making a shared folder, you can easily move files and data between your home operating system and your guest operating system. Follow the steps below to set up a shared folder and make your virtualization experience easier.

Requirements

Before we dive into the process, ensure that you have the following requirements in place:

1. VirtualBox Installation:  Make sure VirtualBox is set up on your computer. If you haven’t already loaded VirtualBox, go to its official website and download the most recent version that works with your operating system.
2. Guest Additions:  To use shared folders, you need to install Guest Additions on the operating system that is being used as a guest. Virtual machines can get more features and better speed from Guest Additions.

Step 1: Install VirtualBox

Before we start making a shared folder, your computer must have VirtualBox installed. If you haven’t already, go to the VirtualBox website and download the latest version for your operating system if you haven’t already. Follow the instructions for setting up VirtualBox, and you can move on to the next step once it is up and going.

Step 2: Set Up a Virtual Machine

You need to set up a virtual machine in VirtualBox before you can make a sharing folder. You can skip this step if you already have a virtual machine set up. If not, you can set up a new virtual machine by following these steps:

1. Launch VirtualBox and click on the “New” button to create a new virtual machine.
2. Give your virtual machine a descriptive name and select the operating system you want to install.
3. Allocate the desired amount of memory (RAM) for your virtual machine. Ensure that you allocate an appropriate amount based on your system’s capabilities and the requirements of the operating system.
4. Create a virtual hard disk for your virtual machine by selecting the recommended options or customizing the settings as per your needs.
5. Once the virtual machine is created, select it from the list and click on the “Settings” button.

Step 3: Configure Shared Folders

Now that you have your virtual machine set up, it’s time to configure the shared folder. Follow these steps:

1. In the virtual machine settings window, navigate to the “Shared Folders” tab.
2. Click on the “Add New Shared Folder” button, represented by a folder icon with a plus sign.
3. In the “Folder Path” field, browse and select the folder on your host machine that you want to share with the virtual machine.
4. Specify a name for the shared folder. This name will be used to identify the shared folder within the virtual machine.
5. Choose the desired access rights for the shared folder. You can opt for read-only or read-write permissions.
6. Optionally, you can enable the “Auto-mount” checkbox to automatically mount the shared folder when the virtual machine starts.
7. Click “OK” to save the shared folder settings.

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Step 4: Mount the Shared Folder

To access the shared folder from within the virtual machine, you need to mount it. Follow these instructions:

1. Start your virtual machine within VirtualBox.
2. Once the virtual machine has booted up, go to the “Devices” menu in the virtual machine window.
3. Select “Shared Folders” and then “Shared Folders Settings.”
4. In the “Shared Folders” window, click on the folder icon with a green plus sign to add a new shared folder.
5. The shared folder should now appear in the list. Select it and click on the “Mount” button.
6. The shared folder will be mounted within the virtual machine, and you can access its contents through the designated mount point.

Step 5: Test the Shared Folder

To ensure that the shared folder is working correctly, perform a quick test. Follow these steps:

1. Within the virtual machine, open the file manager or explorer.
2. Navigate to the mount point or the location specified during the mount process.
3. Verify that you can see the shared folder and its contents.
4. Create a new file or modify an existing one within the shared folder.
5. Go back to your host machine and check if the changes made in the virtual machine are reflected in the shared folder.

Now you have successfully shared a folder on VirtualBox for your virtual machine. This makes it easy for your host machine and the virtual machine to share files, which increases productivity and freedom.

Remember to change the settings for shared files or add new ones whenever your needs change. VirtualBox is a powerful and flexible virtualization environment that lets you optimize your process and get things done quickly.