Can someone tell me why VirtualBox update can't update itself?

[dhinge]

Practically every other app I use, when it prompts that there's an update, just lets me click a button to update itself... why does VirtualBox still require me to download a file and reinstall the whole application like it's new? This is rather archaic.

[socratis]

Moving to "Suggestions" from "Using VirtualBox".

Personally, even if it did offer that option, I'd take it off. I never like things being done on my computer without my explicit permission/intervention. Just see the amount of trouble that this tactic has caused in Win10 owners, when it simply decides to update, *and* reboot in the middle of whenever it feels like it...

Plus, this is not your Firefox or your Notepad++. VirtualBox installs device drivers at the lowest possible level. Not only you need administrator access, sometimes you need the extra "Run As Administrator", even if you are the administrator.

[dhinge]

Most apps I use that have an auto-update feature prompt me to update or install an auto-downloaded update... so let's not confuse things here.

All I'm asking is that it prompts me to update when there's one available, and if I do, just update the app.

Having to click a link to download then run it myself on top of everything (including possibly-running VBox virtual machines) is a bit outdated these days, don't you think?

[socratis]

All I'm asking is that it prompts me to update when there's one available, and if I do, just update the app.

That's already there. Can you check your settings? VirtualBox Preferences » Update. Do you have the "Check for Updates" enabled? Also make sure that the rest of the settings are set correctly.