How to Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox (Step by Step with Images)

Want to test or try Linux Mint? All you have to do is install Linux Mint in VirtualBox. Linux Mint is one of the most popular Linux distros. The good thing about Linux Mint is that it is very beginner friendly, minimal, and uses fewer resources compared to Ubuntu. If you wish to try new Linux Mint OS then you can install it in a virtual machine using VirtualBox, no need to install it directly on your system. In case you are wondering, here’s how to install Linux Mint in VirtualBox.

Using VMware for virtual machines? Step by step guide on how to install Linux Mint in VMware.

Download VirtualBox and Linux Mint

If you haven’t already, download and install VirtualBox. You can install VirtualBox like any other Windows software.

Download latest Linux Mint build from the official site. Once you have both of these, you can proceed to install Linux Mint on VirtualBox.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox

1. To install Linux Mint in VirtualBox, search for VirtualBox in the start menu and open it.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Open VirtualBox
Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox – Open VirtualBox

2. After opening VirtualBox, click on the button “New” on the top navigation bar.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Click New
Install Linux Mint VirtualBox – Click New

3. In the Create Virtual Machine window, enter the name of your virtual machine, select Type as “Linux” and Version as “Other Linux (64-bit).” If you’ve downloaded the 32-bit version of Linux Mint then select “Other Linux (32-bit)”.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Name VM
Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox – Name VM

4. Here, select the memory size by sliding the bar. In my case, I’m assigning 2GB memory. At the minimum, assign at least 1GB to good performance.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Set Memory Size
Install Linux Mint VirtualBox – Set Memory Size

5. Select “Create a virtual hard disk now” and click on the button “Create”.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Create Virtual Disk
Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox – Create Virtual Disk

6. Now, select “VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image)” and click “Next” button.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Select VDI
Install Linux Mint VirtualBox – Select VDI

7. Here, select the radio button “Dynamically allocated” and click “Next” button.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Select Dynamically Allocated
Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox – Select Dynamically Allocated

8. Enter the amount of hard disk size you want to assign and click on the “Create” button. In my case, I’m assigning 20GB hard disk space. Minimum recommended hard disk space is 8GB.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Set Hard Disk Size
Install Linux Mint VirtualBox – Set Hard Disk Size

9. You’ve successfully created a virtual hard disk to install Linux Mint in VirtualBox. On the main window, right-click on the newly created virtual machine and select the option “Settings”.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Select Settings
Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox – Select Settings

10. In the Settings window, navigate to “Storage” on the left pane, select “Empty CD drive” under Storage Tree section, and select “Choose Virtual Optical Disk File” from the drop-down menu.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Select Virtual Disk Option
Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox – Select Virtual Disk Option

11. Navigate to the Downloads folder, select the downloaded Linux Mint ISO file and click on the button “Open”.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Select Linux Mint ISO File
Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox – Select Linux Mint ISO File

12. This is how it looks like in the virtual machine settings window. Click on the button “Ok” to save the changes.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Confirm Virtual Disk File
Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox – Confirm Virtual Disk File

13. In the main window, click on the “Start” button to start the newly created virtual machine.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Click Start Button
Install Linux Mint VirtualBox – Click Start Button

14. As soon as you start the virtual machine, you will boot into Linux Mint. Here, double-click on the option “Install Linux Mint”.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Select Install Linux Mint
Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox – Select Install Linux Mint

15. Here, select your language and click “Continue”.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Select Language
Install Linux Mint VirtualBox – Select Language

16. If you want to download third-party software like codecs, select the checkbox and click on the “Continue” button. You can also install this third-party software after install Linux Mint.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Install Third-party Software
Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox – Install Third-party Software

17. Select “Erase disk and install Linux Mint” and click on “Install Now” button.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Select Erase Hard Disk Option
Install Linux Mint VirtualBox – Select Erase Hard Disk Option

18. You will be prompted with a warning message. Simply click on the button “Continue”.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Confirm Erasing Disk
Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox – Confirm Erasing Disk

19. Now, select your country and click “Continue” button.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Select Country
Install Linux Mint VirtualBox – Select Country

20. Here, select your keyboard layout and click “Continue”. By default, Linux Mint automatically detects your proper keyboard layout. If you want to verify, simply click on the button “Detect Keyboard Layout”.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Select Keyboard Layout
Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox – Select Keyboard Layout

21. Enter your name, computer’s name, username, password and click on the button “Continue”.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Set Username and Password
Install Linux Mint VirtualBox – Set Username and Password

22. That’s it. Linux Mint will now begin the installation procedure. Just sit back and wait. The installation will be done in a few minutes.

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Installation Started
Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox – Installation Started

23. Once the installation has been completed, you will be prompted to restart your virtual machine. Just click on the button “Restart Now.”

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Click Restart Now Button
Install Linux Mint VirtualBox – Click Restart Now Button

That’s all there is to do and it is that simple to install Linux Mint in VirtualBox. If you are again booted into the ISO image, then remove the disk image the virtual machine settings (refer step 10).

Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox - Installation Completed
Install Linux Mint in VirtualBox – Installation Completed

Hope that helps and do comment below sharing your thoughts and experiences about installing Linux Mint in VirtualBox.

Featured image credit: medithIT