How to Map Shared Folders in VirtualBox on Windows 11
Shared folders in VirtualBox let you open and move files between your main computer and a Windows 11 virtual machine without using a USB drive or cloud storage.
This setup creates a direct bridge between your physical PC and your virtual guest operating system, giving you fast access to up to 4 terabytes of local storage across both environments.
Map shared folders by selecting your virtual machine, going to Settings, then Shared Folders. Click the Add button, choose your folder path, and check Auto-mount. Assign a drive letter in the Mount point field and click OK.
How to map a folder in a VirtualBox VM on 🪟 Windows 11
To map shared folders VirtualBox users need to set up a folder on the host computer and connect it through the virtual machine settings. First, install Guest Additions (extra drivers that improve performance and integration) on your virtual machine. Open VirtualBox, select your Windows 11 virtual machine, and open the machine settings to pick the folder you want to share.
Here’s how to do that.
Install Guest Additions (extra drivers that improve performance and integration) on the virtual machine before continuing. This post shows you how to install VirtualBox on Windows 11.
Open VirtualBox. Select the Windows 11 virtual machine and click Settings, or right-click on the machine and select Settings.
On the Settings window, click Shared Folders.
In the Shared Folders window, click the Add new folder button (the green plus icon).
In the Folder Path, specify the path for the local folder you want to share with the virtual machine. Alternatively, you can click the down-arrow and select Other to browse for and select the folder you wish to share.
Type in or accept the default folder name in the Folder Name field.
The Read-only checkbox is optional. Checking it prevents you from saving files to the shared folder from within the virtual machine.
The Auto-mount checkbox is optional. When checked, the shared folder will automatically connect (or mount) every time the virtual machine starts up.
In the Mount point field, choose a drive letter that the shared folder will appear as within the virtual machine. For this tutorial, we select G:
Click OK to complete the setup and boot the machine.
After you boot the virtual machine and log in, you should see a mapped folder with the G: drive letter in the Windows virtual machine.
If you have turned on Network discovery and Public folder sharing, you will also be able to see the mapped folder in the network folder under \\VBOXSRV\
Whatever you have in the shared folder on the host machine will be accessible from the guest machines.
That should do it!
Conclusion:
- VirtualBox's shared folder feature simplifies transferring large files between hosts and guest machines.
- The setup process involves installing VirtualBox guest tools, configuring shared folders in the settings, and rebooting the virtual machine.
- Users can customize folder permissions, such as read-only access and automatic mounting upon startup.
- Mapped folders appear as drive letters in the guest OS, ensuring easy accessibility.
- Ensuring network discovery is enabled enhances the visibility of shared folders across the network.
VirtualBox shared folders simplify transferring large files between host and guest machines.
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Richard
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Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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