If you’re using Ubuntu 20.04 on VirtualBox and are experiencing issues with screen resizing, this article is for you. We will cover three potential solutions to this problem: changing the graphics controller, reinstalling Guest Additions, and upgrading VirtualBox.
To fix the Ubuntu 20.04 VM screen resizing issue in VirtualBox, you can try changing the graphics controller to VBoxSVGA and disabling 3D acceleration. If that doesn’t work, reinstalling Guest Additions or upgrading VirtualBox may solve the problem.
Changing Graphics Controller
The first solution involves changing the graphics controller in VirtualBox. Here’s how you do it:
- Open VirtualBox and select the Ubuntu 20.04 VM.
- Click on Settings and then on the Display section.
- In the Graphics Controller dropdown menu, select VBoxSVGA.
- Make sure the Enable 3D Acceleration option is unchecked.
- Click OK to confirm the changes.
The VBoxSVGA controller is known to handle screen resizing better than the default VMSVGA controller. Disabling 3D acceleration can also help prevent screen resizing issues.
Reinstalling Guest Additions
If changing the graphics controller doesn’t solve the problem, try reinstalling Guest Additions. Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Start your Ubuntu VM and uninstall the current Guest Additions. You can do this by running the following command in the terminal:
sudo apt-get remove virtualbox-guest-utilsThis command removes the virtualbox-guest-utils package, which includes the Guest Additions.
- Power off your VM.
- Download an older version of Guest Additions, such as version 6.1.2, from the Oracle website.
- Start your VM and mount the Guest Additions CD image.
- Open the terminal and navigate to the root of the CD image by running:
cd /media/cdrom- Run the install script with the following command:
sudo ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.runThis command runs the VBoxLinuxAdditions.run script, which installs the Guest Additions.
- If your VM Graphics Controller is set to VBoxSVGA, power off the VM and select VMSVGA as the Graphics Controller in the Display settings. Enable 3D Acceleration and confirm the changes.
- Restart the VM and automatic screen resizing should work now.
Upgrading VirtualBox
If the previous solutions don’t work, consider upgrading VirtualBox. Using an outdated version of VirtualBox can sometimes cause screen resizing issues. Here’s how to upgrade:
- Open your host machine’s terminal or command prompt.
- Run the following command to add the Oracle VirtualBox repository to your system:
sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian $(lsb_release -cs) contrib"- Update your system’s package list with:
sudo apt-get update- Finally, upgrade VirtualBox with:
sudo apt-get install virtualbox-6.1This command installs VirtualBox version 6.1, which is the latest stable version at the time of writing.
Remember to always back up your VM before making any changes. Also, ensure you have the latest updates and patches installed. If you’re still experiencing issues after trying these solutions, consider seeking help from the VirtualBox forums.
We hope this guide was helpful. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy virtualizing!
VirtualBox is a virtualization software that allows you to run multiple operating systems on a single host machine.
To install VirtualBox, you can visit the official VirtualBox website and download the installer for your operating system. Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Yes, you can run Ubuntu 20.04 on VirtualBox. VirtualBox supports a wide range of operating systems, including various versions of Ubuntu.
Guest Additions are a set of drivers and utilities that enhance the performance and usability of the guest operating system running inside a VirtualBox VM. It provides features like automatic screen resizing, shared folders, and seamless mouse integration.
To install Guest Additions, start your VirtualBox VM and go to the "Devices" menu. Select "Insert Guest Additions CD image" option. This will mount the Guest Additions CD image inside your VM. From there, you can navigate to the mounted CD image and run the install script to install Guest Additions.
You can check the version of VirtualBox by opening VirtualBox and going to the "Help" menu. From there, select "About VirtualBox" and a dialog box will appear displaying the version information.
Yes, upgrading VirtualBox should not affect your VMs. However, it is always recommended to back up your VMs before performing any major updates or upgrades.
If you need further assistance or have specific questions about VirtualBox, you can visit the official VirtualBox website or join the VirtualBox forums where you can find a community of users and experts who can help you with your queries.
