VirtualBox is a popular Oracle free software program that allows users to run virtual machines on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This week, Oracle released VirtualBox 7.0, which not only has multiple new features and enhancements, but also adds beta support for Apple Silicon Macs for the first time.
VirtualBox now works with M1 and M2 Macs
When the first Apple Silicon Macs were announced in 2020, running virtual machines on them wasn''t exactly an easy task, particularly when it comes to Windows virtual machines. Fortunately, major macOS virtual machine programs have already been updated to comply with the latest Macs, and now VirtualBox is on the lookout.
Users may then create and run virtual machines on a Mac equipped with an Apple Silicon chip, which includes the M1 and M2, according to Oracle. However, this is still a beta feature in the works for the time being.
The latest VirtualBox release also brings several additional enhancements. For example, virtual machines can now be fully encrypted and cloud virtual machines can be managed as local machines. DirectX 11 provides more support for better 3D graphics on Windows and removes macOS support for outdated kernel extensions in favor of more advanced APIs.
With the 7.0 update, a large list of bugs has been discovered. Oracle claims that the new version enhances local virtual machines'' network capability. VirtualBox 7.0 is available on the platforms official website. If you have a Mac with a M1 or M2, please refer to the Developer Preview for Arm64 Macs.
It''s worth noting that there are alternatives for running virtual machines on MacOS, such as the well-known Parallels Desktop and VMWare Fusion.