Windows 10 does not have a good reputation when it comes to virtual machines. The RAM management of the operating system can be all over the place at times, leading to the virtual systems not performing well. Running virtual machines can be a demanding task in itself, as emulation is one of the most challenging jobs one can put a CPU through.
That being said, when you want to run a virtual machine, there are some things that you can try to avoid Windows 10 VirtualBox and other virtual machines running slow.
VirtualBox Running Slow On Windows 10; Complete Guide
Virtual machines can be tricky to handle, with virtual computers being popular for hogging up a lot of memory. This happens because you are actually allocating your host system resources to be split across all the operating systems that you install on your computer.
One of the first things you should do before optimizing your system for virtual machines, is understanding the virtual OS that you wish to install. This involves taking a deeper look into the system requirements of the virtual operating system.
Step 1: Allocate More Memory
Each operating system comes with a different set of minimum system requirements, which denotes the minimum stats your PC must have to run that operating system. Windows 10 requires a minimum of 4GB RAM to function normally.
This means that to split your resources, you will have to reserve at least 4 GB RAM to prevent Windows 10 from slowing down. If you have more memory than that, then allocate more RAM space to the virtual memory that you are running.
In VirtualBox., open the virtual OS settings, and go to the System option from the left pane. In the right column, you will find a slider that controls the memory allocation. Drag the memory slider to a higher value, one that is enough to support both the host and the virtual operating systems.
Check if you still see VirtualBox laggy.
Step 2: Allocate More CPU
Emulation is one of the most CPU demanding tasks. Your CPU is responsible for performing all the tasks on the virtual machine, including running the OS and all the apps on it. Thus, more CPU resources you allocate, smoother will be the experience.
This is most effective on computers with multi-core CPUs, where you can add more cores to the virtual machine for it to work more efficiently. In the System pane on the OS settings, switch to the Processor tab, where you will find the slider to allocate CPU resources.
A virtual machine with more CPU cores and execution cap will run smoother than if it was running on single core. This is the calculation you need to understand before running virtual machines.
Step 3: Allocate More Video Memory
When trying to run videos and other graphics heavy stuff, if you see VirtualBox running slow, there is a possibility that you may be able to solve it by allocating more video memory to the virtual machine. This will improve the video playback on the applications that you run on the virtual machine.
Enabling the 2D and 3D acceleration options will also allow you to use the graphics intensive applications at a much more efficient speed. However, do note that this may put more pressure on the CPU, as there is no setting to utilize the video memory via discrete graphics. The operating system will decide which memory channel to utilize automatically.
You will find the video memory option in the Display section of the operating system settings.
Step 4: Install Guest Additions
For proper functioning of the hardware devices, there are some configuration files required. Such files are referred to as drivers, and for the host machine they are already bundled along with the Windows updates. However, for your virtual machines, you need to install them manually.
To install the third party drivers required for an operating system, follow these steps:
- Once you have loaded the ISO of the desired operating system on your computer, click on Devices in the top ribbon menu.
- Here click on the following option:
Insert Guest Additions CD image
This will launch a setup wizard, which will install the drivers required to run the operating system.
Step 5: Switch Power Profile
Another common reason of slow Windows 10 VirtualBox operating systems, is power profiles. Windows 10 is geared towards portable devices in general. This means that the operating system is designed to save power wherever possible. This power saving mode applies to the Windows 10 PCs as well.
One of the drawbacks is the limited application performance in the power saving or balanced modes. In Windows 10, you can solve slow VirtualBox by changing the power mode to high performance mode. On laptops, you can change power modes by simply clicking the battery icon from the taskbar.
On PCs, you can change the power plan from Control panel > Power Options.
Step 6: Allow Hardware Acceleration
Hardware acceleration refers to using the PC hardware for enhancing the software capabilities. Dedicating resources to enhance performance can be very useful if you see VirtualBox slow on Windows 10. VirtualBox has support for the extensions for both Intel and AMD processors.
These processor extensions were specifically designed to improve the virtualization applications. However, not all machines have these options enabled by default. Enable the virtualization acceleration to improve the performance of the virtual operating systems that you run on your computer.
Under the System > Acceleration tab, you will find the options for Intel VT -x and AMD-V. Enable them and check if the error persists.
Step 7: Allow VirtualBox Through Firewall
The firewall is designed to protect malicious data exchange over your connected networks. Your firewall can limit the application performance and network capabilities if it detects incorrect data transfer on your network. However, incorrectly configured firewall can also lead to malfunctioning applications.
Read here on how to allow an app through Firewall. Check if you still see VirtualBox lagging on Windows 10.
Wrapping Up
So there you have it. This was a complete guide on how to speed up your Windows 10 VirtualBox virtual machines easily. Comment below if you found this useful, and to discuss further the same.
Étienne says
Thanks, switching the Power Profile (into the virtual machine because my host is Ubuntu) was especially useful for me!