How to install VirtualBox on Windows Server (2023)

On Windows Server (including version 2022, 2019, and older versions), you can install VirtualBox to create and run virtual machines, and in this guide, you will learn how.

Although the server version of Windows comes with the Microsoft Hyper-V feature, it’s also possible to use alternative virtualization solutions, such as Oracle’s VirtualBox, since it’s free and includes support for a variety of operating systems, including Windows 11, 10, Windows Server 2022, 2019, Linux, Solaris and OpenSolaris, and OS/2.

If you’re familiar with the installation of the virtualization application on the desktop version of Windows, the setup process for the server version is virtually the same.

This guide will teach you the steps to install VirtualBox on the latest version of Windows Server.

• Install VirtualBox on Windows Server
• Install extension pack for VirtualBox

Install VirtualBox on Windows Server

To install VirtualBox on Windows Server, use these steps:

1. Open Oracle download website.

2. Under the “VirtualBox binaries” section, click the “Windows hosts” option and save the installers on the computer.

   

3. Double-click the VirtualBox-x.x.x-x-Win.exe file to launch the installer.

4. Click the Next button.

5. Click the Next button one more time.

   

6. (Optional) Clear the options you want to skip.

7. Click the Next button to begin the VirtualBox install process.

8. Click the Yes button to confirm the virtual network adapter install warning.

   

9. Click the Yes button to install missing dependencies (as necessary).

10. Click the Install button.

11. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, the VirtualBox setup will complete the installation on Windows Server 2022, 2019, or any other version you may have running on the server.

If you’re having issues installing the software, it’s likely because virtualization isn’t turned on in the motherboard’s Basic Input Output System (BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). If this is the case, check your server documentation for more specific details on how to enable the feature.

Install extension pack for VirtualBox

To install the VirtualBox extension pack for Windows Server, use these steps:

1. Open Oracle download website.

2. Under the “VirtualBox Extension Pack” section, click the “All supported platforms” link to download the latest pack.

   

3. Open VirtualBox.

4. Click the File menu, select the Tools submenu, and choose the “Extension Pack Manager” option.

   

5. Click the Install button.

6. Select the “.vbox-extpack” file.

7. Click the Open button.

8. Click the Install button.

   

9. Click the “I Agree” button.

10. Click the OK button.

11. Click the OK button again.

After you complete the steps, the extension pack will be added to the setup of VirtualBox, enabling support for USB 2.0 and 3.0 devices, VirtualBox RDP, drive encryption, NVMe, and PXE boot for Intel Cards.