How to Run a Raspberry Pi in VirtualBox

Want to tinker with Raspberry Pi software, but don’t have the hardware? Good news: you can run Raspberry Pi OS right on your computer using VirtualBox. Here’s how to get set up, fast.

What You Need

• VirtualBox installed (free, runs on Windows, macOS, Linux)
• Raspberry Pi OS Image (x86 version, not ARM)
• At least 2GB RAM available

Note: You can’t run the standard Raspberry Pi ARM images in VirtualBox, since VirtualBox doesn’t emulate ARM hardware. You need the x86 (PC) version of Raspberry Pi OS.

Step 1: Download the x86 Image

• Go to the Raspberry Pi OS download page.
• Scroll down and find Raspberry Pi OS (for PC and Mac) – 32-bit.
• Download the ISO file (not the Raspberry Pi Imager file).

Step 2: Create a New Virtual Machine

1. Open VirtualBox and click New.
2. Name it something like “Raspberry Pi OS”.
3. Set Type to “Linux”, and Version to “Debian (32-bit)” (or 64-bit if you downloaded that).
4. Set memory (RAM) to at least 2048 MB (2GB).
5. Create a virtual hard disk (10 GB or more recommended).

Tip: If you ever run out of space on your virtual machine, you can expand the disk later. Check out this guide: How to Enlarge a Virtual Machine’s Disk in VirtualBox or VMware.

Step 3: Mount the ISO and Install

1. Select your new VM and click Settings.
2. Go to Storage > click “Empty” under Controller: IDE.
3. Click the disk icon on the right and choose “Choose a disk file.”
4. Select your downloaded Raspberry Pi OS ISO.
5. Click OK.

Now, start the VM. The installer should load. Go through the standard Raspberry Pi OS installation steps (select language, time zone, etc.), and let it install to your virtual hard disk.

Step 4: Eject ISO and Boot

Once the install finishes, shut down the VM. Go back to Settings > Storage and remove the ISO from the virtual drive. Start your VM again. You should see the Raspberry Pi OS boot screen, just like a real Pi!

Step 5: Tweak for Better Performance (Optional)

• Enable VirtualBox Guest Additions for better display/resolution support (not strictly necessary, but helps).
• In Settings > System, increase video memory to 64 MB.
• Set the number of processors to 2 if you have enough CPU power.

What Works, What Doesn’t

Works:

• Most Raspberry Pi desktop software
• Coding, testing, learning

Doesn’t Work:

• GPIO hardware features (the virtual machine has no pins)
• Official Raspberry Pi ARM-only images

Why Use VirtualBox for Raspberry Pi OS?

• No hardware required: Experiment without buying a Pi.
• Easy to reset: Snapshots make it easy to roll back mistakes.
• Great for learning: Practice Linux skills, Python, and more.

Bottom line: Running Raspberry Pi OS in VirtualBox is perfect for testing code, exploring the OS, and learning—no tiny hardware needed. Just remember: use the PC/Intel version, not the ARM image.

Have questions? Drop them in the comments—I’m happy to help!

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!