Here you will discover:
- whether it is possible to increase the screen resolution or not
- how to make virtualbox full screen
- How DiskInternals Software Can Help You
Are you ready? let's read
When you install a guest operating system (OS) in VirtualBox, the guest operating system's user interface is displayed in windowed mode by default. Also, the window size is generally not large, and when the window size is increased, the guest OS UI resolution stays the same. In most cases, working on a low-resolution guest operating system is inconvenient. But don't panic; You can increase the screen resolution of the guest operating system user interface and run it in full-screen mode. Learn how to create full-screen VirtualBox for Mac OS X and Windows guest operating systems in today's blog article.
How to Make VirtualBox VM Full Screen in Windows 11/10
Running Windows 10 as a virtual machine (VM) in VirtualBox is a smart option if security is an issue. In host-only mode, you can disconnect from the internet or create a virtual network adapter for a VM to allow network communication only between host and guest systems and prevent Windows 10 guest from connecting to other networks including the internet . As you remember, VirtualBox is installed on the host OS running on a real machine and on the guest OS running on a virtual machine.
Guest OS UI size does not expand when you try to expand the VirtualBox virtual machine window right after installing Windows 10 in a VirtualBox virtual machine.
In the virtual machine's settings, note the amount of video RAM it has. It is recommended to set 128 MB of video memory, since more video memory is required when using a higher resolution video mode. You can also enable 2D and 3D acceleration.
You can increase the resolution of the guest OS by accessing the Windows 10 display settings (right-click on the desktop and choose Display settings from the context menu), but you still cannot use full-screen mode. The monitor resolution in our situation is 1920x1080, while the maximum resolution in the Windows 10 guest settings is 1600x1200 (the available guest OS resolution settings are not for wide screens, as you can see). The guest OS screen does not expand when you try to switch to full screen mode by selecting View > Full Screen Mode in the virtual machine window or by pressing the VirtualBox host key and F (right Ctrl + F in this example).
The guest OS screen does not expand to the size of your screen when you try to switch to full screen mode by selecting View > Full Screen Mode in the virtual machine window or by using the VirtualBox host's keyboard shortcut and F ( right Ctrl + F in this case example).
Install VirtualBox Guest Additions on the guest OS to fix this problem and put VirtualBox in full screen mode.
To place the ISO disk in the virtual machine's virtual CD drive, in the virtual machine window, go to Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD Image.
To install VirtualBox Guest Additions on a Windows 10 guest, open Windows Explorer, navigate to the virtual CD drive (drive D: in this example) and launch the VBoxWindowsAdditions-amd64.exe file.
Installing Guest Additions is a very simple process. After the installation is complete, restart the virtual machine.
After installing VirtualBox Guest Additions, the Windows 10 guest has a new set of resolution options. From the VM's window menu, go to View and make sure Auto resize guest screen is checked.
Resize the VM window by hovering over the corner and pressing the left mouse button. Windows 10 guest UI resolution will be updated automatically. You can now increase the Windows 10 guest virtual machine window size.
We are approaching the question "how to make Windows 10 full screen from VirtualBox". After completing the above steps, go to View > Full Screen Mode in VM Control Panel to enable full screen mode for your Windows 10 VM. The default host in VirtualBox is Right Control to enter full screen mode for a Windows 10 virtual machine , press Right Ctrl + F.
How to make VirtualBox full screen for Mac OS X
The default screen resolution of the guest operating system after installing macOS in VirtualBox is 1024 x 768. System Preferences > Display contains the macOS display settings. You cannot adjust the screen resolution in the display settings. Only 1024 x 768 resolution is available in these configurations.
Go to VM Settings > Display and make sure Video RAM is 128MB and Enable 3D acceleration is checked before adjusting the screen resolution for your macOS running in a VM (similar to the one above for the Windows VM procedure described).
Let's adjust the macOS guest's screen resolution.
Shut down your macOS virtual machine.
On the host computer, open the console. Since we are using Windows 10 as the host system, we need to run CMD as administrator.
Go to the VirtualBox directory; The default installation path for VirtualBox is C:\Program Files\oracle\virtualbox
cd "c:\Programme\oracle\virtualbox"
Set the required resolution using VBoxManage, VirtualBox's command-line configuration utility. The resolution you set can be smaller than or equal to the resolution of your real (host) screen. In our case, the screen has a FullHD resolution (1920x1080). To set the required resolution, use the command in the host operating system.
VBoxManage setextradata „macOSMojave10-14“ VBoxInternal2/EfiGraphicsResolution 1920x1080
On a host system running Linux or macOS, the configuration idea is the same: run VBoxManage with the same configuration.
Power on the virtual machine.
After powering on the VM, you should see that the VM display resolution in the VM window is now higher (during VM startup). When a virtual machine starts, the macOS guest display settings reflect its resolution. There's still only one resolution parameter listed, but it's now 1920x1080 instead of the old 1024x768.
F and the host key are pressed together. This is the correct keyboard shortcut Ctrl + F in this scenario. You can also click View in the virtual machine window and select full screen mode instead of using the hotkey.
Your VirtualBox-based macOS guest is now running in full-screen mode.
This approach has the following advantages: It is easy to use.
Disadvantages of this method: In order to change the screen resolution in the VirtualBox VM window, you must first shut down the VM.
VirtualBox Guest Additions for macOS guest operating systems have been available since VirtualBox v.6.0.0, but previous versions of VirtualBox did not offer Guest Additions for macOS. Unfortunately, the current version of macOS Guest Additions lacks visual macOS drivers to automatically change the VM display resolution when the guest VM window is expanded or maximized.
For now, only the most basic functionality is available, which means that after installing Guest Additions, you won't be able to use the same approach to changing your screen resolution that you can use for Windows and Linux guest operating systems running in VirtualBox.
How to make VirtualBox full screen for Linux
First, make sure the video RAM size is set to 128 MB in the virtual machine's display settings (Machine > Display) (as in the previous two examples).
On your Linux guest, install VirtualBox Guest Additions.
Let's see how to create VirtualBox for full-screen Linux guests using Ubuntu as an example. You can install VirtualBox Guest Additions on Linux by placing the ISO disk image in a virtual CD/DVD drive of a VM and running the installer for the appropriate platform, as explained in the first section for Windows. This is how we talked about it in our blog post about installing Ubuntu in VirtualBox. It is possible to install guest additions from online package repositories using your package manager, although there are currently some downsides due to package dependencies. So now it is suggested to install Guest Additions from a virtual ISO drive.
Install guest additions and make VirtualBox full screen for Linux guests by following the steps below:
- In the virtual machine window, click Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD Image.
- The autorun window is displayed when autorun is enabled. To ensure the installation runs, click Run and enter your password.
- In the opened console box, type y and press Enter.
- Restart the Linux virtual machine when the installation is complete.
You can now vary the VM window size and the Linux guest resolution will automatically adjust to the VM window size. To set VirtualBox to full screen mode for your Linux guest, go to View > Full Screen Mode or press the Host+F combination.
Note: If for some reason you are unable to install VirtualBox Guest Additions on your guest operating system, you can manually and statically increase the guest operating system's screen resolution using VBoxManage (a VirtualBox command-line configuration tool) on a host operating system, as described in the macOS setup section:
VBoxManage setextradata „VM_name“ VBoxInternal2/EfiGraphicsResolution 1920x1080
How to enable EFI in VirtualBox Virtual Machine
Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI), often referred to as UEFI, stands for Extensible Firmware Interface. It is intended to replace the older BIOS system used since the first IBM PC was released in 1981.
What was the point of that? Since the BIOS has been around for so long, its limitations have become apparent as PCs have become more powerful. Compared to the BIOS, EFI allows much larger boot partition sizes.
It also enables secure boot, reducing the risk of corruption from malware or firmware hijacking. As a result, when Windows 8 launched, Microsoft made UEFI support essential for PC manufacturers.
Not only real PCs support EFI, but also virtual machines like Oracle VirtualBox as OS support was developed.
Step 1 - Enable EFI in VirtualBox
All you have to do to enable EFI support on a Linux virtual machine is select a menu item.
In the VirtualBox machine selector, select the virtual machine you want to enable EFI on and click Settings. Go to the System tab and check Enable EFI (for specific operating systems only). Isn't Linux something special?
In VirtualBox you can now boot and install a Linux virtual machine with EFI.
Step 2: Install and boot a Linux distribution
Installing a Linux virtual machine via EFI should be the same as installing with BIOS. Installation disks can be booted normally. We will use Debian in this situation. It will be easier to set up a completely new virtual machine to get the best results.
The procedure should be virtually identical to a BIOS install, but the partitioning scheme is different, using GPT instead of MBR. For the virtual drive you are creating, the setup application should present an acceptable partition plan.
Conclusion
Using a full-screen virtual machine is easy and allows you to take advantage of hardware virtualization. This functionality allows you to use the guest OS on the VM just like you would on a host computer, allowing you to run high-resolution programs, have a large workspace, etc. In today's blog post we will look at how to use VirtualBox in the Created full-screen mode for Windows, macOS, and Linux guest operating systems running in virtual machines.
The first technique is to manually adjust the resolution using VBoxManage, a VirtualBox command line control tool. This approach works on all operating systems including Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. The disadvantage of this strategy is that changing the guest operating system's display resolution requires shutting down the virtual machine. Only use this procedure if installing VirtualBox Guest Additions on a guest operating system is difficult. After installing Guest Additions, Windows and Linux guests can automatically change the resolution on the fly when resizing a VM window or switching to full screen mode.
The second option is to use a computer. Unfortunately, the current version of VirtualBox Guest Additions for macOS (v.6.0.8) does not include dedicated display drivers that allow macOS guests to instantly change resolutions and switch to full-screen mode.
FAQs
How do I maximize my screen in VirtualBox? ›
2. Press the "Host Key" and "F" simultaneously to enter full-screen mode. Alternatively, click the "View" menu at the top of the window and select "Switch to Fullscreen." This displays a dialogue box containing information about the full-screen mode in VirtualBox.
How do I make 1920x1080 full screen in VirtualBox? ›To make VirtualBox full screen for your Linux guest, go to View > Full screen mode or press the Host+F combination.
Does VirtualBox work on Windows 11 yet? ›VirtualBox is an open-source virtualization platform from Oracle that makes it easy to create virtual machines to run Windows 11, Windows 10, or another OS alongside the main installation on the same hardware.
How do I force my screen to maximize? ›On Windows, click the - in the top right corner of the window. You can also press ⊞ Win and click the app's icon in the taskbar to minimize it. On Mac, press the yellow - button at the top left of the window or press ⌘ Command + M to minimize the window.
How do I fully maximize my screen? ›Press Windows keyboard button + any keyboard arrow buttons to move your window. WIN + Up: Maximize full screen.
How do I force my resolution to 1920x1080? ›- Stay in, or open, Display settings. Open your Display settings.
- Scroll to Scale and layout.
- Find Display resolution, and then choose an option. It's usually best to stick with the one that's marked (Recommended).
Right-click the VMWare Horizon Client icon on the system tray, then select 'Settings'. Change the size of your virtual desktop screen to your needs from the 'Display' drop down menu.
How do I turn off VirtualBox scaling? ›- host + f , to switch to full screen mode, if not yet,
- host + c , to switch to/out of scaled mode,
- host + f , to switch back normal size, if need,
There is a menu option in VirtualBox GUI under Screen > Go to full screen; also accessible through Host + F by default. (you can configure the host key in VBox options).
How do I enable 1920x1080 resolution in Windows 11? ›- Click the Windows icon on the taskbar.
- Locate the Settings app icon and select it.
- Click Display to open the display settings.
- Scroll down until you see Scale & Layout.
- Select 1920x1080 resolution from the drop-down menu to the right to commit to the changes.
Will Windows 11 support virtual machines? ›
Note: Many Windows 10 PCs—and all PCs that come preinstalled with Windows 11—already have Virtual Machine Platform enabled, so you may not need to follow these steps. Here's how to turn it on: Select Start, enter Windows features, and select Turn Windows features on or off from the list of results.
How to enable efi in Windows 11 VirtualBox? ›To enable support for EFI in a Linux virtual machine, all you have to do is select a menu option. In the VirtualBox machine selection, click on the virtual machine you want to enable EFI in, then click Settings. Switch to the System tab and check the box that says Enable EFI (Special OSes only).
How to use Windows 11 in VirtualBox? ›- Click on the newly created Windows 11 virtual machine. ...
- Select the System option in the Settings section. ...
- Scroll down and check that the Secure Boot checkbox is active as well. ...
- Click on OK to save changes and exit the Settings window.
Right-click the program on the taskbar, and then click Maximize. Right-click a blank area of the taskbar, and then click Cascade Windows.
Why is my screen not maximized? ›Step 1: On the Windows Desktop, right-click the blank space and choose Display settings. Alternatively, you can click Start > Settings > System to enter the Display interface. Step 2: Under the Scale and layout section, ensure the scaling of Change the size of text, apps, and other items is set to 100%.
How do I get full screen without F11? ›- To go full screen on Google Chrome, click the full screen mode icon in its hamburger menu.
- You can also enter full screen by pressing "F11" on PC or "Control + Command + F" on Mac.
- Mac users can also press the "expand window" button to enter or exit full screen in Chrome.
- Step 1: Right-click on the desktop and select Nvidia Control Panel on the pop-up menu.
- Step 2: Select Change Resolution listed under Display on the left.
- Step 3: Click the Customize button at the bottom.
- Step 4: Check the box next to Enable Resolutions Not Exposed By the Display.
Full HD is just another term for 1080p or 1920x1080, and those are all ways of referring to the same resolution. By contrast, 4K has a resolution of 3840x2160. That's a lot more pixels in the overall image — totaling over 8 million pixels. As always, the higher the resolution, the sharper the picture will be.
How to get 3440x1440 resolution Windows 10? ›To change the resolution settings, scroll down this window and click on Advanced Display Settings. Select 3440 X 1440 screen resolution from the drop down menu and click Apply. If Resolution is set to Default for display, click on Scaled, then select the 3440 x 1440 option.
How do I adjust my virtual machine Display? ›- Select Window > Virtual Machine Library.
- Select a virtual machine in the Virtual Machine Library window and click Settings.
- Under System Settings in the Settings window, click Display. ...
- Select the Single Window resolution setting. ...
- Select the Full Screen resolution setting.
How do I make my screen fit resolution? ›
Click Start, and then click Control Panel. In the Control Panel window, click Appearance and Themes, and then click Display. In the Display Properties window, click the Settings tab. Under Screen resolution, click and drag the horizontal slider control to change the screen resolution, and then click Apply.
Why is my virtual desktop zoomed in? ›If the Magnifier is set to Full-screen mode, the entire screen is magnified. Your operating system is most likely using this mode if the desktop is zoomed in. If you don't want to use Windows Magnifier, pressing the "Windows" and "Esc" keys together automatically disables it.
Why is VirtualBox not full screen? ›Right Control is the default host key in VirtualBox, hence, you should press Right Ctrl + F to enter full screen mode for a Windows 10 VM.
How much RAM should I allocate to VirtualBox? ›VirtualBox recommends that the memory size be at least 512MB, however, the more memory you make available to the VM, the smoother and more powerful it will be. As a rule of thumb, 1/4 of the amount of memory you have on your computer should be just fine.
Can VirtualBox damage your PC? ›In general, using a virtual machine will not cause any problems!
How do I fit screen resolution in Windows 11? ›- Select Start > Settings > System > Display.
- If you want to change the size of your text and apps, choose an option from the drop-down menu next to Scale. ...
- To change your screen resolution, use the drop-down menu next to Display resolution.
Open Settings. Click on System. Click the Display page on the right side. Under the "Scale & layout" section, use the Scale drop-down menu and select the scale setting — for example, 100%, 125%, 150%, and 175%.
How do I increase the actual size of my virtual machine? ›Right-click the virtual machine. Click Edit Settings. Select Virtual Disk. Increase the size of the disk.
Why is Windows 11 not showing correct screen resolution? ›Update Display and Graphics Drivers
Outdated display drivers on your PC can often lead to screen resolution issues on Windows 11. In most cases, you can fix the issue by simply updating those display drivers.
- Change resolution to 3440 x 1440.
- Enter monitor OSD menu - Image - Screen Size.
- Set the ratio to 21:9.
Which is better VirtualBox or Hyper-V? ›
If Windows is used on the physical machines in your environment, you could preference Hyper-V. If your environment is multiplatform, then you can take advantage of VirtualBox and run your virtual machines on different computers with different operating systems.
How to bypass Windows 11 requirements VMware? ›The easiest way to fix the PC can't run Windows 11 error is to edit your virtual machine's vmx file and add the VTPM (Virtual Trusted Platform Module). This method works on all the versions of VMware Workstation, including Pro, Player and Fusion.
What is not compatible with Windows 11? ›Windows 11 will only be released for 64-bit systems, so computers with a 32-bit processor will not be able to upgrade. However, 32-bit programs can still be used in the 64-bit environment.
Should I enable UEFI for Windows 11? ›Does Windows 11 require UEFI? Microsoft has decided to leverage the advances of UEFI in Windows 11 in order to offer enhanced security for users. This means that Windows 11 MUST run with UEFI and is not compatible with BIOS or Legacy Compatibility Mode.
Does Windows 11 need UEFI mode? ›While the requirement to upgrade a Windows 10 device to Windows 11 is only that the PC be Secure Boot capable by having UEFI/BIOS enabled, you may also consider enabling or turning Secure Boot on for better security.
How do I bypass UEFI in Windows 11? ›One such issue is the requirement of 'Secure Boot' along with 'TPM 2.0' enabled computers. However, if you are using a UEFI BIOS Mode machine, you can pretty straightforwardly bypass TPM on Windows 11. You simply have to go to BIOS settings and enable the 'Secure Boot' and 'TPM 2.0' options.
What are the system requirements for VirtualBox for Windows 11? ›- 1 GHz or faster two core 64-bit compatible processor.
- 4 GB or more RAM.
- 64 GB or larger storage space.
- UEFI, Secure Boot capable system firmware.
- TPM 2.0.
- A graphics card compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver.
On the taskbar, select the Task view icon, then select New desktop. Open the apps you want to use on that desktop. To switch to another desktop, select Task view again.
How do I enable TPM 2.0 in VirtualBox? ›...
Repeat the following steps to enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in VirtualBox.
- Press the Win key and search VirtualBox. ...
- Click on a Windows virtual machine and then click on the Settings icon.
- Navigate to the System settings option.
- Find the TPM option. ...
- Select the TPM v2.
In the VM Window menu, go to View and make sure that the Auto-resize Guest Display option is enabled. Move the mouse pointer over the corner of the VM window, push the left mouse button and change the size of the VM window. The resolution of the user interface of guest Windows 10 is automatically changed.
How much RAM should I have to smoothly run a virtual machine? ›
A good starting point is to allocate 1GB for 32-bit Windows 7 or later desktops and 2GB for 64-bit Windows 7 or later desktops. If you want to use one of the hardware accelerated graphics features for 3D workloads, VMware recommends 2 virtual CPUs and 4GB of RAM.
How do I increase virtual disk size when running Windows 10 in a VM? ›In Boxes, right-click the Windows 10 VM, click “Properties,” and click “System.” Use the bottom slider to change the size of the virtual disk. Disks in Boxes expand dynamically, allowing the VM to report a larger size than is allocated on the host machine drive, but using only the real space taken up by the VM.
How do I get out of scaled mode in VirtualBox? ›- host + f , to switch to full screen mode, if not yet,
- host + c , to switch to/out of scaled mode,
- host + f , to switch back normal size, if need,