How to Install Linux Mint on a Virtual Machine (VirtualBox)

If you want to try or test Linux Mint on your Windows PC/laptop then the best way to do is to install Linux Mint on a Virtual Machine (VM). This way, without modifying your machine’s partition or boot order, you run Linux Mint within your current system. One of the best ways to run Linux within the existing operating system is to run it as a standard desktop program.

Therefore, it would be easier to have the benefit of running a virtual machine on your current device instead of downloading Linux Mint directly on your PC. It has its own virtual disc, but it shares resources from your PC, such as RAM, CPU, graphics. The development and destruction of virtual computers is a more efficient way to explore new operating systems without caring about your e-mail intrusion.

To set up a virtual machine (VM) on your Windows PC, many people typically use software like Parallels or VMware Workstation, or Player. To do this, VirtualBox is a nice, free alternative. Plus, in just a few minutes, you can install and set it up.

Linux Mint

Linux Mint is an Ubuntu and Debian-based free and open-source operating system (OS) distribution that can be used on x-86x-64 compatible machines.

Mint is intended for ease of use and an out-of-box ready-to-roll experience, including desktop multimedia support. The operating system is easier to install than most Linux distributions. Mint includes software required for e-mail and online functionality as well as support for multimedia content, whether online or from a user’s own files and physical media.

Unlike other Linux distributions, Mint provides proprietary third-party browser extensions, Java, media codecs, and other elements that support commonly agreed standards. This support allows for DVD and BluRay playback, as well as Flash for streaming media. Although the OS includes a firewall, Mint claims to have no need for antimalware. Mint is compatible with the Ubuntu launcher, providing access to 30,000 pieces of free, open-source software available today.

In order to better support various hardware, there are many distinct desktop versions of Mint, including Cinnamon, GNOME, XFCE, and KDE. For those that are more familiar with Linux, the operating system is also supported in the alternative Linux Mint Debian version. It is said that this version is less intuitive and user-friendly, but it is also quicker and more sensitive.  In the meantime, the third most popular home operating system is Linux Mint, behind Windows from Microsoft and Mac OS from Apple.

Linux Mint Key Features:

• The Cinnamon interface of Linux Mint gives you the impression that you are using a classic Microsoft Windows-style desktop so that the user can get used to the interface quickly.
• Linux Mint comes with a surprisingly significant range of pre-installed applications such as Firefox, LibreOffice, GIMP photo editing, and many more, unlike most Linux distributions, so you’re good to go out of the box.
• The desktop is incredibly versatile. By design, it has plenty of themes, window boundaries, and device icons, so you do not need any extra programs to modify the look and feel.
• Thanks to its simpler user interface and ease of configuration, Linux is easy for beginners. Hardware drivers can be quickly installed using a program called Driver Manager.
• Linux Mint is light on the resources of the system. The Cinnamon version needs about half the memory of the Popular Unity and the GNOME desktop.

Step 1. Download & Install Virtual Machine (VirtualBox) to Install Linux Mint

Step 1. First, download the latest version of VirtualBox for Windows. Click Windows Hosts and the download will begin automatically.

Download VirtualBox

Step 2. Navigate the folder where you have downloaded your VirtualBox and double-click on the downloaded “VirtualBox” file to install it.

Step 3. Oracle VM VirtualBox 6.1.16 Setup” window will appear on the screen and click on the “Next” button to continue.

Step 4. Choose the location where you want to install the VirtualBox and click on the “Next” button to continue.

Step 5. Click Next.

Step 6. Click Yes and then click the Install button to start the installation process.

Step 2. Download Linux Mint ISO File for VirtualBox

Second, we need to get the new update of the ISO file for Linux Mint from a certain site. There are three versions of Linux Mint available for download; we will select Cinnamon, the Mint’s flagship version.

Download Linux Mint ISO

Step 3. Creating a New Virtual Machine to Install Linux Mint

Once you have downloaded and installed both the Linux Mint ISO and VirtualBox, open-up the virtual machine and click on the New option.

New

Type a name for your virtual machine with its location. Based on the name you entered, VirtualBox will try to predict the Type and Version. Otherwise, from the drop-down menu, select Linux as the type and Ubuntu 64 bit as the version and click on the Next button.

Next

On the following screen, choose how much RAM (the amount of memory) you want to allocate to your VM, and then click Next. The default recommendation is 1024 MB, which is enough to run most installers. Heavier code or applications might require at least 1 GB, though. You can always change this later in Settings.

RAM

Select the Create a virtual hard disk now option and click on the Create button to continue.

Create a virtual hard disk now

Select the VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image) option and click Next.

VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image)

On the next screen, if you want a faster setup, select Dynamically allocated. If you want faster performance (which we recommend), select Fixed size, and then click Next. If you don’t know which one to choose from then leave it as it is.

Select the amount of space for your virtual machine and click the Create button.

Step 4. Edit the Created Virtual Machine-

Once a Virtual machine is created, click on the Settings button on the menu, and it will open a setting window.

Settings

Select Display and change the display settings as required. We recommend setting video memory to 128 MB and check the box next to Enable 3D acceleration.

Display

Go to System > Processor and choose how many CPU cores you want to allocate to the virtual machine. By default, it has one core, but if you want more power, you can increase it to half of the total cores available.

System > Processor

Installing Linux Mint on VirtualBox Virtual Machine

Now, your virtual machine has been successfully created and it is time to install Linux Mint on a virtual machine (VirtualBox).

Go back to VirtualBox, and then click Start.

Start

A new window opens so you can do this manually. Click the folder with the green up arrow.

Green up arrow

Click the Add button and locate the Linux Mint ISO file and then click Open.

Make sure that Linux Mint ISO is selected and click Choose.

Now, you are ready to install Linux Mint via VirtualBox virtual machine on your Windows 10 PC, click Start.

Start

Go with the default option Start Linux Mint and press Enter, and you will see the following window with the Install Linux Mint icon on the desktop. Double-click on it to start the installation wizard.

Click Next.

Select your preferred language and click Next.

Next, select your time zone and click Next.

Choose your keyboard layout and select Next.

Set up your user account and select Next.

Select Automated Installation and make sure to select VBOX_HARDDISK (/dev/sda) and click Next. After that click Yes twice.

Install the GRUB boot menu and click Next and also make sure that /dev/sda is selected.

At last, simply click Install.

Please wait a few minutes to let the installation complete.

Once the installation process is completed then click Yes to reboot the virtual machine.

Enter your Login password and username.

Finally, we have successfully installed Linux Mint on a VirtualBox virtual machine.

Linux Mint on a Virtual Machine

Wrapping Up

That’s it. This is how you can install Linux Mint on Windows 10 via VirtualBox virtual machine. Meanwhile, the process is very easy and it might seem a bit tricky while following the above-mentioned steps but that’s not the case. If you faced any kind of problem feel free to contact us in the comment section below.

Related Posts:

• How to Install Kali Linux on VirtualBox in Windows 10

• How to Install Debian 10.7 on Oracle VM VirtualBox in Windows 10