How to Install VirtualBox 7.0 in Debian, Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Brief: In this article, we will explain how to install VirtualBox 7.0 on Debian-based distributions such as Debian, Ubuntu, and Linux Mint distributions using VirtualBox’s own repository with an apt package manager.

VirtualBox is a powerful, general-purpose, and cross-platform full virtualization software, targeted at server, desktop, and embedded use. It can be installed on any operating system (Linux, Windows, Mac, etc) and allow you to install and run multiple guest operating systems on the same computer.

Recently Oracle has released the latest stable version of Virtualbox 7.0, the newest major update that ships with lots of major changes and new features.

What’s new in Virtualbox 7.0

• Full virtual machine encryption support via command line.
• Added support for Secure Boot.
• Added a new utility similar to “top“, which lists performance statistics of running guests.
• Reworked the new vm wizard to integrate the unattended guest OS installation.
• Much improved and better-looking user interface with smooth and easy setup of virtual machines.
• Improved theme support on all platforms.

You can see the complete new change log details about VirtualBox 7.0 on their Official Changelog Page.

Installing VirtualBox 7.0 in Debian-based Systems

To install the latest version of VirtualBox 7.0, we will be using the official Virtualbox repository using the following commands on your respective distributions.

Install VirtualBox in Debian

$ 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 -
$ sudo apt install software-properties-common
$ echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian $(lsb_release -sc) contrib" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list
$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt install virtualbox-7.0
$ virtualbox

Install VirtualBox in Ubuntu

$ 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 -
$ sudo apt install software-properties-common
$ echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian $(lsb_release -sc) contrib" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list
$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt install virtualbox-7.0
$ virtualbox

Install VirtualBox in Linux Mint

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

Note: On my Linux Mint 20.3 version, I get the following error while updating the system.

E: The repository 'https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian una Release' does not have a Release file.
N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely and is therefore disabled by default.
N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.

You can fix this error, by adding your distribution codename to /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list file as shown. I replaced una with a focal codename in the file.

amd64] https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian focal contrib

Once the system package list is updated, you can install VirtualBox 7.0 with the following command.

$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt install virtualbox-7.0

Once the package is installed, simply execute the following command to start it from the terminal or use the launcher from the menu to start.

$ virtualbox

Installing VirtualBox Extension Pack in Debian Systems

The VirtualBox Extension Pack adds additional basic functionalities to VirtualBox, to use it, first download it using the following wget command.

$ wget https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/7.0.0/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-7.0.0.vbox-extpack

Now open Virtualbox –> File –> Preferences –> Tools –> Extension Manager and browse for the vbox-extpack to install it.

[ You might also like: How to Enable USB in VirtualBox ]

That’s all! In this article, we have shown how to install VirtualBox 7.0 in Debian, Ubuntu and Linux Mint. You can ask questions or share your thoughts with us via the feedback form below.