How to Install Elementary OS 8 Codenamed Circe on Virtualbox

Elementary OS 8, codenamed “Circe,” is a sleek, user-friendly Linux distribution with a macOS-like interface. Whether you’re testing it out or using it for daily work, installing it in VirtualBox is a quick and safe way to get started. This guide walks you through the full installation process step-by-step.

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What You’ll Need

• VirtualBox (latest version) installed on your system
• Elementary OS 8 ISO — download it from the official website
• At least 4 GB RAM and 15 GB disk space available

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Step 1: Create a New Virtual Machine

1. Open VirtualBox and click New.
2. Name it Elementary OS 8 Circe.
3. Set Type to “Linux” and Version to “Ubuntu (64-bit)”.
4. Allocate memory (RAM). 4096 MB (4 GB) is ideal.
5. Choose Create a virtual hard disk now, then click Create.
6. Select VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image) > Dynamically allocated.
7. Set disk size to at least 15 GB, then click Create.

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Step 2: Configure the VM Settings

Before booting, tweak a few settings:

1. Select your new VM > click Settings.
2. Go to System > Processor tab. Set CPU count to 2 or more (if available).
3. Under Display, bump Video Memory to 128 MB.
4. Under Storage, click the empty optical drive, then click the disk icon and choose “Choose a disk file…”
5. Select your elementary OS 8 ISO file.

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Step 3: Boot and Begin Installation

1. Start the VM. It should boot into the Elementary OS live environment.
2. Select “Try or Install elementary OS”.
3. Choose your language and click Install elementary.
4. Follow the guided setup:
   • Keyboard layout
   • Connect to a network (optional)
   • Installation type: Choose Erase disk and install elementary OS (this only affects the virtual disk)
   • Set your user name and password

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Step 4: Complete the Installation

1. Let the installer run. This may take a few minutes.
2. Once done, click Restart Now.
3. When prompted, remove the ISO from the virtual drive:
   • In VirtualBox, go to Devices > Optical Drives > Remove disk from virtual drive
4. Press Enter to restart.

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Step 5: First Boot and Post-Install Tips

After reboot, you’ll land on the Elementary OS desktop. A few things to check:

• Install Guest Additions: Improves performance and enables features like clipboard sharing and window resizing.
  • In the VM menu, go to Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD image…
  • Follow the prompts inside the VM (you may need to install additional packages).
• Enable Shared Clipboard and Drag’n’Drop under VM settings > General > Advanced.

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Wrapping Up

That’s it—you’re now running Elementary OS 8 “Circe” in VirtualBox. Use it to explore Linux, develop software, or just enjoy a clean, minimalist desktop. For the best experience, keep your VirtualBox version updated and consider assigning more resources if your host system can handle it.

Have questions or run into issues? Drop them in the comments.