February 4, 2023

How to Safely Uninstall VirtualBox From a Mac

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If you want to uninstall VirtualBox from your Mac, this guide will help you out.

It is not surprising that most people choose Oracle VirtualBox when they think about virtualization on Mac. This free virtualization app is a great starting point if you want to create virtual machines that smoothly run on your MacBook, iMac, or Mac mini.

But as you move forward, you may need advanced options like VMWare or Parallels Desktop. It also means you no longer need VirtualBox and VMs taking up storage space. So, it’s time to safely remove the app and VM data from your Mac.

Here is a quick guide to help you do it.

How to Uninstall VirtualBox on macOS

You can use two methods to uninstall VirtualBox from your Mac: official and manual.

1. Uninstall VirtualBox using the VirtualBox Uninstaller Tool

It is the official method to remove Oracle VirtualBox and associated files from your Mac. This method uses the VirtualBox Uninstaller Tool included in the installation package you used to install VirtualBox on your Mac in the first place.

1. Open the VirtualBox installer DMG file. If you have deleted the DMG file, download it again from the VirtualBox Downloads page.
2. Double-click the DMG file to open it.
3. After your Mac mounts the DMG file, double-click VirtualBox_Uninstaller.tool.
4. You may have to provide your Mac’s password before the Terminal window opens.
5. As you can see on the Terminal window, the Uninstaller utility will remove the VirtualBox app and associated files from multiple directories.
6. Type Yes on the Terminal window and press Enter.
7. You may have to provide the administrator password if asked.
8. In a few seconds, the Uninstaller Tool will complete the removal process and show you a ‘Process completed’ message.

It means the tool has successfully uninstalled VirtualBox from your Mac. More importantly, you do not have to worry about residual files. In most cases, this method works like a charm; but if it does not, you can check out the manual method.

2. Uninstall VirtualBox on Mac Using the Manual Method

You can try this method if the automated Uninstaller Tool does not work as expected. However, as you can guess, this method requires more time to remove library files and residual files. To remove the VirtualBox app from the Application Folder:

1. First, make sure that you have quit the VirtualBox app.
2. Open the Applications folder on your Mac and locate the VirtualBox app.
3. Right-click the app and select Move to Bin.
4. Go to Bin and remove the app from there:

To remove Library/Residual files:

1. Open Finder and navigate to Macintosh HD > Library.
2. Find the following folders/files and delete them:

~/Library/VirtualBox

~/Library/Preferences/org.VirtualBox.app.VirtualBox.plist

~/Library/Saved Application State/org.VirtualBox.app.VirtualBox.SavedState

~/Library/LaunchAgents/org.virtualbox.vboxwebsrv.plist

~/Library/Saved Application State/org.VirtualBox.app.VirtualBox.SavedState

Now, you can remove these files from your Bin.

Yay! You have successfully removed everything related to VirtualBox from your Mac. You can also use one of the Mac cleaner apps to do this job for you.

We recommend using a dedicated third-party app if you feel anxious about dealing with system files. But rest assured, removing the files/folders we have listed above does not cause any system-level issues.

Next Steps with Virtual Machines

Now that you have removed every trace of VirtualBox from your Mac, you can try other virtualization tools for Mac. But it is vital to figure out which virtual machine software works best for your needs. You may also have to consider the pros and cons of running a virtual machine on your Mac.

Reference: https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-uninstall-virtualbox-mac/

Ref: makeuseof

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