How to Share Folders in VirtualBox with Ubuntu

Install VirtualBox Guest Additions

Installing 💿 VirtualBox Guest Additions is the first step to share folders between your main computer and Ubuntu in VirtualBox. This software helps your computer and the Ubuntu virtual machine work together more effectively, a necessary step before setting up shared folders for file access.

This utility suite bridges the gap between the host and guest operating systems, boosting graphics performance and enabling shared folder access. Additionally, it enables users to copy and paste text, images, and files between the host and guest machines, improving overall usability.

Follow the steps below to install the 💿 tool on Ubuntu. Start by updating the system packages.

sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade && sudo apt autoremove

Next, install the 💿 kernel headers and Dynamic Kernel Module Support (DKMS) package required for VirtualBox integration.

sudo apt install virtualbox-guest-dkms build-essential linux-headers-virtual

After installing the packages above, restart your machine and continue below.

To install VirtualBox Guest Additions software on Ubuntu virtual machine operating systems, select the Devices from the VirtualBox host application menu and click Insert Guest Additions CD image…

This should mount a virtual CD/DVD drive inside the Ubuntu guest machine. When that happens, you should get a prompt to run the software. Click Run to begin the installation.

Guest Additions is the official driver and utility package provided by VirtualBox.

Restart the guest machine, and you'll be all set.

Share the Host Folders

To share host folders into Ubuntu within VirtualBox, start by adding your Ubuntu user to the correct group. Next, set up the actual folder sharing in VirtualBox's settings for your virtual machine. The command to add your user to the group is: sudo usermod -G vboxsf -a $USER.

The command to do that is below:

sudo usermod -G vboxsf -a $USER

After executing the command from one Ubuntu guest to another, share the folder from the host machine using the host software's settings.

Select the virtual machine you wish to share with, navigate to the Settings tab, and select Shared Folders from the list. Click the Plus (+) button at the top to add the folder you want to share.

Navigate to the folder on the host machine and select it. Choose this option if you want the folder to mount automatically every time the guest machine starts.

Click OK to save your changes and close.

Turn on the guest machine or reboot if you're already logged in. The next time you log in, the shared folder on the host should be mounted.

If you don't see it mounted, go to the /media/sf_FOLDERNAME

That's it!

Conclusion:

This post demonstrated the process of sharing folders from VirtualBox host computers with Ubuntu guest machines. Here are the key points to remember:

• Ensure you are using the latest version of VirtualBox and install Guest Additions for optimal functionality.
• Install required packages and update your Ubuntu system to prepare for folder sharing.
• Use the VirtualBox menu to insert the Guest Additions CD image and follow the on-screen prompts to install it.
• Enable copying and pasting between guest and host by adjusting the guest machine's settings.
• Add the shared folders in VirtualBox settings and configure them for auto-mounting if desired.
• Access shared folders on the guest machine, typically located in /media/sf_FOLDERNAME.

If you encounter any issues during the folder sharing setup for VirtualBox with Ubuntu, please leave a comment for assistance. This allows us to help you resolve the problem, such as when shared folder access fails after completing step 3.