Run several OSes such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, BSD, and others inside a virtual machine (VM). This article shows how to prepare, setup, and install Windows 11 in a VirtualBox VM. IMPORTANT: If you are looking to dual-boot Windows from a separate drive, please contact customer support to receive a full installation kit.
Run Windows 11 alongside Kubuntu using VirtualBox.
Please read the disclaimer before proceeding. We review and update guided solutions regularly. If you have suggestions or requests, please write support@kfocus.org.
Click on the icon to the left to install and set up Virtualbox. If you prefer, you can do this manually, as shown below.
# Manually install virualbox
sudo apt install virtualbox-guest-additions-iso \
virtualbox virtualbox-ext-pack
# Add user to group
sudo usermod -aG 'vboxusers'"$USER";
# Now log out and back in
If you are using Kubuntu 22.04, Windows 11 may complain that the VM's hardware does not meet its requirements during the installation process. If this happens, you can bypass the hardware requirements to continue with the installation. Note that this procedure is unnecessary when using Kubuntu 24.04, which uses a newer version of VirtualBox.
Step 1: Upon reaching the 'Activate Windows' screen (step 4 of Install W11), press [SHIFT][F10] to open a terminal window, then run 'regedit'. You may need to press the 'Back' button to get here if you've already hit the hardware requirements error.
Step 2: Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup key.
Step 3: Right-click the 'Setup' key and click New > Key, then name the new key 'LabConfig'.
Step 4: Right-click the 'LabConfig' key you just made, then click New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name the new value 'BypassTPMCheck' and set its value to '1'.
Step 5: Create three more DWORD values, named 'BypassCPUCheck', 'BypassRAMCheck', and 'BypassSecureBootCheck'. Set each of these values to '1'.
Step 6: Close Registry Editor, then resume the Install W11 procedure starting from step 4. You should now be able to proceed with the installation.
⚠ IMPORTANT! If you are using the Windows 11 install ISO, version 25H2, the video below shows a procedure that may be required to set a local account. Otherwise, proceed to Step 1.
ISO version 25H2 guidance (Credit: Chris Titus).
Step 1: Press Shfit+F10 to open a terminal, then run 'OOBE\BYPASSNRO'. This will bypass needing a Microsoft account. The VM will reboot automatically.
Step 2: Select your country and click 'Yes'.
Step 3: Select your keyboard layout and click 'Yes'.
Step 4: Skip adding a second keyboard layout. You can enable additional layouts if needed.
Step 5: Wait for updates to be installed. The VM will automatically reboot.
Step 6: Choose a name for the VM and click 'Next'.
Step 7: Right-click the virtual network adapter and disconnect it. This is necessary to bypass needing a Microsoft account.
Step 8: Choose to set up the VM for personal use, then click 'Next'.
Step 9: Enter your desired username, and click 'Next'.
Step 10: Enter and confirm your password. Click 'Next' when prompted.
Step 11: Choose three security questions and their answers. We recommend using your VM password as the answer to each question.
Step 12: Turn off all privacy-invasive features and click 'Accept'.
Step 13: Wait for Windows to finish setup.
Step 14: Verify that the Windows desktop appears as shown. Do not connect to the Internet yet.
Step 15: Click 'Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD image...'.
Step 16: Click 'File Manager > This PC', and double-click 'VirtualBox Guest Additions'.
Step 17: Double-click 'VBoxWindowsAdditions'.
Step 18: At the User Account Control prompt, click 'Yes'.
Step 19: In the installation wizard, click 'Next' until the 'Choose Components' screen appears.
Step 20: On the 'Choose Components' screen, click 'Install'.
Step 21: Wait for the installation to finish. This usually takes less than a minute.
Step 22: After finishing the installation, click 'I want to manually reboot later', then click 'Finish'.
Step 23: Click 'Start Menu > Power > Shut Down'.
Step 23: In the VirtualBox manager window, ensure the Windows 11 VM is selected, and click 'Settings'.
Step 25: Click 'Display', then check the 'Enable 3D Acceleration' box. Increase video memory to 256 MB, then click 'OK'.
Step 26: Click 'Start' to launch the VM again.
Step 27: Right-click the virtual network adapter and reconnect it.
Step 28: Install OS updates and reboot.
Step 29: In Settings, find the 'Activation' screen. Click 'Change product key', and enter your product key to activate Windows.
A: One may use virtual machines to run applications that are not available on other Operating Systems, as illustrated here. However, one can also use them to test system and package development.
Q: I'm having trouble getting Windows 11 (my guest OS) to show at the resolution I prefer. What can I do?
A: Make sure you have installed the Guest Additions, as discussed above. You should then be able to set the resolution for your VM either by resizing the VM window or setting the resolution in the guest OS. Another suggestion we received is that you may provide a hint to the guest OS: after starting a VM and when its window first appears, select File > Preferences > Display, and change Set Maximum Guest Screen Size to Hint.
We try hard to provide a useful solution validated by professionals. However, we cannot anticipate every situation, and therefore cannot guarantee this procedure will work for your needs. Always backup your data and test the solution to determine the correct procedure for you.
THIS SOLUTION IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS “AS IS” AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOLUTION, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
VirtualBox Installation
Download Windows 11 ISO
![Step 1: Upon reaching the 'Activate Windows' screen (step 4 of Install W11), press [SHIFT][F10] to open a terminal window, then run 'regedit'. You may need to press the 'Back' button to get here if you've already hit the hardware requirements error.](../img/wf/vbox-w11/vbox-bypassvm-000.webp?1725558517 "Step 1: Upon reaching the 'Activate Windows' screen (step 4 of Install W11), press [SHIFT][F10] to open a terminal window, then run 'regedit'. You may need to press the 'Back' button to get here if you've already hit the hardware requirements error.")
