Last Updated on June 13, 2023 by Mathew Diekhake
If you’ve got another operating system such as one of the Linux distros or MacOS running as your primary OS on a computer, you can install Virtual Box and run either a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 10 on the same computer if you like.
VirtualBox is a virtual machine application that lets you install any of the leading operating systems as a virtual machine. For instance, if you’re on Windows already, you could also use VirtualBox to run Mac or Linux on that Windows computer. But since this article is all about Windows, here’s how you can install the Windows operating system as a virtual machine when you’re already using Mac or Linux instead.
This tutorial demonstrates how to install a version of the Windows 10 operating system—any ISO version of your choice— on a virtual machine by using the VirtualBox software.
How to Install Windows 10 Virtual Machine in VirtualBox
1. Head to the VirtualBox webpage and download the VirtualBox for Windows package from the link, like is shown on the screenshot below.
2. Once you’ve installed the VirtualBox software open it up and then tap/click on the “New” button from the VirtualBox manager interface.
3. Choose a name for your version of Windows 10 virtual machine, as well as the type of operating system you want to install and its version. (Double check that you have selected Windows 10 from the drop-down menu just in case your finger slips.)
Tap/click on the “Next” button when you’ve made your selection.
4. You get to choose how much memory you want your computer to allocate to the virtual machine that you’re settings up. If you have no idea, it also gives you a recommended amount so you can stick with that if you don’t have any other ideas.
Tap/click on the “Next” button when you’ve made your selection.
5. Choose to “Create a virtual hard disk now” and then tap/click on the “Create” button.
6. Choose the hard disk file type. Select “VHD (Virtual Hard Disk)” if you don’t know what to choose and then tap/click on the “Next” button.
7. Here’s the one option that makes you think a bit: do you want to allocate space on the physical hard disk dynamically or would you prefer rolling with a fixed size? For a better experience—as long as you aren’t in a hurry—you might want to go with the “Fixed size” option.
Tap/click on the “Next” button when you’ve made your selection.
8. Choose how much of the hard drive space you want to allow the virtual machine to use.
Tap/click on the “Create” button when you’re done.
9. You’ll now see the virtual hard disk being created.
10. Tap/click on the “[Optical Drive] Empty” link and then tap/click on the “Choose disk image” link.
11. Next, navigate to where you’ve stored the Windows ISO file on the hard drive and upload it to this location.
12. Tap/click on the “Start” button and the Windows 10 virtual machine is about to officially get created.
When you begin running through the motions, it’ll be just like a new clean install of the Windows 10 operating system—you’ll get to choose your language, keyboard input method, as well as eventually activate Windows.
That’s all.