Will the latest 7.1.6 version work on M4 Macs?

Discussions about using Mac OS X guests (on Apple hardware) in VirtualBox.
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NorbyD
Posts: 76
Joined: 16. Feb 2021, 22:25

Will the latest 7.1.6 version work on M4 Macs?

Post by NorbyD »

I am wondering if the latest version will work on M4 Macs?
And also what will I need to know to set it up.

Thanks!
granada29
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Joined: 3. Mar 2015, 07:27
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux, macOS, Windows

Re: Will the latest 7.1.6 version work on M4 Macs?

Post by granada29 »

VirtualBox 7.1.6 works well on my M1 Mac Mini.

You need to be aware that currently only a limited range of guest operating systems are supported.

ARM based linux systems run very well.
Windows is not supported (yet).
x86_64 (Intel) based operating systems can be made to run but they are very slow and are not recommended.
NorbyD
Posts: 76
Joined: 16. Feb 2021, 22:25

Re: Will the latest 7.1.6 version work on M4 Macs?

Post by NorbyD »

granada29 wrote: 24. Jan 2025, 02:44 VirtualBox 7.1.6 works well on my M1 Mac Mini.

You need to be aware that currently only a limited range of guest operating systems are supported.

ARM based linux systems run very well.
Windows is not supported (yet).
x86_64 (Intel) based operating systems can be made to run but they are very slow and are not recommended.
Thanks. I was referring to the M4 Mac. Just bought a M4 Mini.
Do you know if it works well with M4? Thanks again!
NorbyD
Posts: 76
Joined: 16. Feb 2021, 22:25

Re: Will the latest 7.1.6 version work on M4 Macs?

Post by NorbyD »

@granada29

Also, how do I install windows on it?
It doesn't seem you guys have links
for Windows DL.

Thanks
multiOS
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Guest OSses: Windows, Linux, BSD
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Will the latest 7.1.6 version work on M4 Macs?

Post by multiOS »

If you means Windows 11 ARM 64, that capability has not yet been implemented.
NorbyD
Posts: 76
Joined: 16. Feb 2021, 22:25

Re: Will the latest 7.1.6 version work on M4 Macs?

Post by NorbyD »

multiOS wrote: 24. Jan 2025, 02:59 If you means Windows 11 ARM 64, that capability has not yet been implemented.
So what are my windows options with my M4 Mac?

Thanks
multiOS
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Re: Will the latest 7.1.6 version work on M4 Macs?

Post by multiOS »

There is an undocumented and unsupported x86 emulation mode in VirtualBox 6.1,x but the best I achieved when last used was a usable Windows XP (32-bit) Guest VM. VM performance seemed similar to the emulation capability of the UTM virtualisation application. You would need to do some self testing to see if there has been any improvement, but I would doubt that the development team has the time to to give it any priority.

The emulation mode can be activated and deactivated/removed using the VBoxManage command line, see the 7.1.0 Beta thread: viewtopic.php?t=111989 (4th Post) and viewtopic.php?t=112168.

Please note that, in my experience, when the x86 emulation mode was activated existing Linux ARM VMs still ran, buit it was not possible to create any new ARM64 VM's until the emulation mode was completely removed (not just de-activated).





















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