How to Install Windows 11 on VirtualBox 7.0
Windows 11 set a precedent for being the most difficult operating system to install. Apart from the high system requirements, it requires a TPM 2.0 chip and Secure Boot to install. Without that, you cannot try out Windows 11. Even if you have both these components in your system, running the new Windows operating system as a virtual machine is no easy feat.
But VirtualBox 7.0 supports emulation of TPM 2.0 chip and Secure Boot out of the box. We will elaborate on how to install Windows 11 on VirtualBox directly without any registry hacks.
What’s Good About the New VirtualBox 7.0?
When Windows 11 launched in 2021, many enthusiasts tried to create virtual machines using VirtualBox or other virtualization software. But Microsoft’s stern hardware requirements included Secure Boot Technology and TPM 2.0 support. No hypervisors on the market could emulate the TPM 2.0 chip, or offer Secure Boot in UEFI mode.
Until now, enthusiasts relied on registry hacks to bypass the TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements while installing Windows 11 as a virtual machine. But VirtualBox 7.0 and newer builds offer TMP 2.0 emulation and Secure Boot support for virtual machines. So, if you try to create a Windows 11 virtual machine, you can emulate these two features and not face the glaring error that says “This PC Can’t Run Windows 11”.
Make note that you could install Windows 11 on VirtualBox 7.0 without any difficulty only if your PC has a TPM 2.0 chip and supports secure boot. So, if you use an old system that doesn’t have Secure Boot or a TPM chip, you cannot install Windows 11 directly. Check out our guide onwhat Secure Boot is and how it worksfor more information.
How To Install Windows 11 on VirtualBox 7.0
Oracle revamped the UI of VirtualBox with version 7.0. So, the virtual machine creation process includes some new options as well. You will need the latest version of the Windows 11 ISO image file and the VirtualBox 7.0 setup file.
As such, before you continue, download both these files. you could grab Windows 11 from theWindows Software Download website, and VirtualBox 7.0 from theVirtualBox website.
If you are trying out VirtualBox for the first time, first enable the Virtualization feature using the system BIOS.
1. Create Windows 11 Virtual Machine
To create Windows 11 in VirtualBox 7.0, repeat the following steps:
2. Install Windows 11 on the Virtual Machine
To install Windows 11 in VirtualBox 7.0, repeat the following steps:
Windows 11’s installation will begin. It will take a while to copy files and prepare the system for the first boot. If you have an SSD in your system, the installation will take lesser time (It took us only 6 minutes on an NVMe PCI-e Gen 4 SSD).
Windows 11 is now up and running as a virtual machine in VirtualBox 7.0. All of its security features will work flawlessly, and you don’t have to modify the registry values to install it. If you want to use this Windows 11 virtual machine on another system then check out our guide onhow to export a VirtualBox VM Image to another computer.
Run Windows 11 in VirtualBox Without Any Trouble
VirtualBox 7.0 enables you to run Windows 11 without bypassing hardware requirements. But remember that your system should have Secure Boot and a TPM 2.0 chip. Moreover, you can enable or disable these components after the installation completes.
Here’s how to fix the “Failed to Attach the USB Device” in VirtualBox for Windows and get your USB devices working again.
Not Linux, not Windows. Something better.
My foolproof plan is to use Windows 10 until 2030, with the latest security updates.
Freeing up vital memory on Windows only takes a moment, and your computer will feel much faster once you’re done.
Unlock a world of entertainment possibilities with this clever TV hack.
Don’t let aging hardware force you into buying expensive upgrades.
