Virtual Machines are like a gateway to enjoying multiple OSs on a single system. A Windows user can enjoy Linux, Mac, and other operating systems. However, a lot of users are complaining that Ubuntu is freezing in Oracle VirtualBox. We are going to resolve this issue with some simple solutions.
Why is Ubuntu on VirtualBox so slow?
A very logical reason why Ubuntu runs slow on your system is the lack of resources. If you have a ton of applications running in the background, you can’t be expecting VirtualBox to run smoothly. It needs some resources and when you distribute your CPU, GPU, RAM to other apps as well, VirtualBox is left with scarce resources.
Talking about resources, when you create the VM, you allocate RAMs, CPUs, etc to it. Your VM tries to adjust its performance as per the resources you allocate to it, so, if you feed it fewer resources, it will make sure that it doesn’t crash by dialing down the resources.
There are some other settings that we are going to make to make the app work. If you want a smooth run with Ubuntu, then try the solutions and workarounds mentioned hereinafter. Without wasting any time, let us hop into it.
Ubuntu freezing or not starting in VirtualBox
Before going to the troubleshooting guide, it is important to update your system. Sometimes, updating alone can resolve the issue, so, do that and if it didn’t work, move to the solutions.
If Ubuntu is freezing in Oracle VirtualBox, check out the following solutions to resolve the issue.
- Close other apps or restart
- Turn off 3D Acceleration
- Allocate more CPUs
- Tweak other settings
- Update VirtualBox
- Reinstall Ubuntu
Let us talk about them in detail.
1] Close other apps or restart
This may not be a solution, but can be called a permanent workaround. Try closing all the apps before starting your VM. If that doesn’t work, restart your system, and see if it work. You are basically closing all the resource-hogging programs and giving utmost importance to the Virtual Machine. Hopefully, it will do the job for you.
2] Turn off 3D Acceleration
3D Acceleration has been causing problems to VirtualBox users regardless of the Operating System they are using. It was meant to grant a lot of different features to the mix, but in that process, it makes your VM crawl. So, follow the prescribed steps to turn off 3D Acceleration.
- Open Oracle VirtualBox.
- Right-click on your VM and click Settings.
- Go to Display > Screen.
- Untick Enable 3D Acceleration.
- Click Ok.
Restart your computer and check if the issue persists.
3] Allocate more CPUs
If you have not allocated more resources to your Virtual Machine, then you can still grant it more processors by going into the settings. This works for most users, as people don’t allocate a lot of resources during setting up the VM. You should follow the given steps to allocate more CPUs.
- Open Oracle VirtualBox.
- Right-click on the Ubuntu and go to Settings.
- Go to System > Processor.
- Use the slider to increase the Processor(s).
- Click Ok,
While you are there, go to the Motherboard tab and increase your Base Memory. Finally, restart your VM and system and check if the issue persists.
4] Tweak other settings
Changing CPU count and disabling 3D Acceleration will work for most users, but if it doesn’t work for you then try the trial and error method. For that, right-click on your VM and go to Settings. Then, go to tabs one after the other, change them depending on your knowledge, if that doesn’t work, you can always change them.
Read: VirtualBox displays Black screen and not Booting guest OS
5] Update VirtualBox
Ubuntu or other VM can also crawl on your computer because of a bug. Since you are not an Oracle developer, you can’t change the codes to get rid of the bug. That’s why it is better to check the update for VirtualBox. If you see an update, go ahead and download the package. Then install it and your issue will be resolved.
6] Reinstall Ubuntu
Your OS can get corrupted, which as a result can make your Ubuntu crawl. So, go to ubuntu.com/download and download the Ubuntu ISO. Then install it on your VirtualBox, allocate it a good amount of resources, and hopefully, it will do the job for you.
Read: How to make VirtualBox VM full screen in Windows 11/10
Why is VirtualBox freezing?
VirtualBox usually freezes when it is not getting the perfect environment to run. The environment means an abundant amount of resources such as CPU, RAM, Storage, etc. Usually, we think that we have given everything it needs, but it still requires more. If you have more, give that to the machine and it will respond perfectly, otherwise, it will stutter.
Also Read: How to Install Windows 11 on Oracle VM VirtualBox.
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