Share a directory between Ubuntu on VirtualBox and Windows

Verified step-by-step instructions for sharing a directory between Ubuntu running on VirtualBox and Windows.

Prerequisites

  • If you haven’t installed VirtualBox and/or Ubuntu 16.04 on VirtualBox, click here.

  • If you haven’t installed VirtualBox guest additions, click here.

Step 1 - Start VM after launching VirtualBox if its not running: click 1, click 2

start_vm_1

Step 2 - Login: click 1, enter password, hit Enter

login_to_vm_2

Step 3 - Open a terminal: right click 1, click 2

open_terminal_3

Step 4 - Create c:\shared in Windows: right click Start (1), click 2

open_windows_explorer_4

…click C: (3), right click 4, hover 5, click 6

make_new_folder_5

…name the folder shared. Result:

name_folder_shared_6

Step 5 - Open the Shared Folders Settings: click 1, hover 2, click 3

shared_folders_settings_7

… click Transient Folders (1)and the Add Folder icon (2).

transient_folders_add_folders_8

… browse to c:\shared and click the Ok button (1). Leave the radio buttons unchecked.

browse_to_c_shared_click_ok_9

…click OK (1).

click_ok_10

Step 6 - Back in the VM, create a directory and mount the shared directory.

On the guest, in the terminal type:

$ mkdir ~/guest_shared

$ sudo mount -t vboxsf shared ~/guest_shared

$ echo “Hello, World!” > ~/guest_shared/hello.txt

Back on the Windows host:

Look in c:\shared. You should see hello.txt. Open it up. You should see: Hello, World!

If you saw: Hello, World!, congratulations!

Other Info

Specific configuration

  • VirtualBox Version 5.1.14 r112924 (Qt5.6.2)

  • In VirtualBox Manager: Help > About VirtualBox…

  • Ubuntu 16.04.2 Guest in VirtualBox

  • From: http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/16.04.2/ubuntu-16.04.2-desktop-amd64.iso

  • 4 GB Memory

  • 32 GB VMDK

  • Windows Host (what VirtualBox is running on)

  • Windows 7 Professional Service Pack 1

  • System

  • Component Details (Subscore) (Base score)

  • Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6600U CPU @ 2.60GHz (7.3) (5.1) Determined by lowest subscore

  • Memory (RAM) 12.0 GB (7.6)

  • Graphics Intel(R) HD Graphics 520 (5.1)

  • Gaming graphics 1888 MB Total available graphics memory (6.9)

  • Primary hard disk 366GB Free (462GB Total) (7.9)

    ​ Windows 7 Professional

  • System

  • Manufacturer LENOVO

  • Model 20FNCTO1WW

  • Total amount of system memory 12.0 GB RAM

  • System type 64-bit operating system

  • Number of processor cores 2

  • Storage

  • Total size of hard disk(s) 477 GB

  • Disk partition (C:) 366 GB Free (462 GB Total)

  • Disk partition (Q:) 4 GB Free (14 GB Total)

  • Graphics

  • Display adapter type Intel(R) HD Graphics 520 (gfxbench)

  • Total available graphics memory 1824 MB

  • Dedicated graphics memory 192 MB

  • Dedicated system memory 0 MB

  • Shared system memory 1632 MB

  • Display adapter driver version 20.19.15.4454

  • Primary monitor resolution 1920x1080

  • Secondary monitor resolution 1920x1200

  • DirectX version DirectX 10

  • Network

  • Network Adapter Intel(R) Ethernet Connection I219-LM

  • Network Adapter Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260

  • Network Adapter Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter

  • Network Adapter Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter

  • Network Adapter Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)

  • Network Adapter VirtualBox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter

  • System Info from

  • Right click Start > Click Open Windows Explorer

  • Right click Computer > Click Properties

  • Click Windows Experience Index

  • Click View and print detailed performance and system information