How to Enable Copy and Paste in a VirtualBox Running Ubuntu Linux

This VirtualBox tutorial walks through how to enable bidirectional copy and paste in a virtual machine running Ubuntu Linux, including a walk through of how to install the guest additional add on.

[siddharthrane]

Just a note if you're looking for the guest additions, it should be located where virtualbox path is located. Should be c drive>program files>oracle>virtualbox and the iso disk image for vboxguestadditions should be there.

[furkanozata]

I wanna ask one question. İ did what you did in the video. But When i try to click - in the VB Guest file - Run Software . No action will happen. İ mean "Run software" is NOT ACTIVE. Doyu have anyone to help at this issue ?

[-mammy]

Help- When i click run software it's not running.

[WahWahWeeWah]

Ironically this video is ALSO missing a step. Here's a more straight forward and fool-proof method:

1. Run this in the terminal: sudo apt install build-essential dkms
2. In the VirtualBox menu click on Devices then Install Guest Additions. Click Run.
3. A CD icon should appear on your desktop. Double click it to open it.
4. Click Run Software on the top-right corner of the window.
5. Restart your VM.

Note that if you check your Storage settings in VirtualBox, you will see the same .iso shown in the video. :)

[pabolus]

This has saved me a lot of work and thanks a lot for this tip.

[raghav]

I ran into the problem, when I tried to click open in the software nothing happened, So I went to the cd location and right clicked open terminal then ran ./autorun.sh and it worked

[jamesmasonic]

It still doesn't work for me. I use Ubuntu server not GUI

[VladYasha]

i cannot find virtualbox guest addition, where I can find it?

[EqualConnectCoach]

its worked for me, but u missed to tell one step how to get guestaddition

[scienceblossom]

Amazing tutorial thanks, works for me finally.
Just one thing I want to say:
I know those who create these softwares are very smart, but they're not really smart in creating documentations and manuals, which leads many of the things they create toward remaining unknown to the rest of the world!...

[nalinyogeshwarrdwivedi]

Even after enabling in the bidirectional option in virtual box still unable to drag n drop or copy paste

[duafatima]

Thanks, A lot for making this tutorial!! May God bless you and grant you success

[youssefelfadaly]

when i click on "Run as a software" noting happens!!!

[praptimaheshwari]

this is not working for me:( guestfile is not there what to do?
please help!!

[omegarider]

I'm studying computer science at the moment, and I needed to have this enabled. This tutorial made it work. So... Thank you mate ;) Awesome job!

[keshav__k]

Does this work the same for LUbuntu?,
I tried and I'm unable to find the run software (timestamp: 5:01) button on it.

Can someone help with this?

[tocafenrir]

best video, 6 years and the only one that really helped

[mckayhuang]

Thank you!! This saved me so much time!

[suksaichonj]

I dont see my run software in my right corner what should i do😥

[kamalpreetcor]

I didnt got the password enter access after run the software, can you help me please