Ubuntu is a popular Linux distribution that is often used by developers, enthusiasts, and individuals looking to explore the world of open-source software. One way to experience Ubuntu is by running it in a virtual machine using VirtualBox on your Mac. However, by default, the Ubuntu virtual machine may not take up the entire screen, leaving you with a small window that limits your view and productivity. In this blog post, we will explore different methods to make Ubuntu full screen on VirtualBox for Mac users.
Why You Need to Make Ubuntu Full Screen
- Improved Productivity: Having a full screen Ubuntu virtual machine allows you to see more content at once, making it easier to multitask and work on multiple applications side by side.
- Enhanced User Experience: Using Ubuntu in full screen mode provides a more immersive experience, making it feel as if you are using Ubuntu on a dedicated machine rather than in a virtual environment.
- Better Resolution: Full screen mode allows you to take full advantage of your monitor’s resolution, resulting in sharper and clearer text, images, and graphics.
- Easier Navigation: With a full screen Ubuntu virtual machine, navigating between applications, windows, and menus becomes more seamless and intuitive.
Video Tutorial:
Part 1. Adjusting Display Settings in Ubuntu
If you want to make Ubuntu full screen on VirtualBox for Mac, one of the simplest methods is to adjust the display settings within the Ubuntu virtual machine itself.
Before proceeding with the steps, make sure that you have installed VirtualBox and created a virtual machine with Ubuntu as the guest OS.
Method:
1. Start your Ubuntu virtual machine in VirtualBox.
2. Once Ubuntu has booted up, click on the "Devices" menu in the virtual machine’s menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. From the dropdown menu, select "Insert Guest Additions CD Image…" This will mount the VirtualBox Guest Additions CD inside Ubuntu.
4. Open the "Files" application in Ubuntu and navigate to the "CD/DVD Drive" section on the left-hand side.
5. Double-click on the "VBOXADDITIONS" CD icon to open it.
6. Right-click on the "VBoxLinuxAdditions.run" file and select "Open in Terminal." This will open a terminal window.
7. In the terminal window, type the following command and press Enter: sudo ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
8. Enter your Ubuntu user password when prompted.
9. Wait for the installation process to complete.
10. After the installation is finished, restart your Ubuntu virtual machine by clicking on the "Activities" button in the top left corner of the screen, searching for "Restart," and selecting the "Restart" option.
11. Once Ubuntu has restarted, click on the "Devices" menu again and select "Insert Guest Additions CD Image…" to unmount the CD.
Pros:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Simple and straightforward method. | 1. Requires the installation of VirtualBox Guest Additions. |
| 2. Adjusts display settings within Ubuntu, allowing for better screen resolution and scaling. | 2. May require a restart of the Ubuntu virtual machine for changes to take effect. |
| 3. Provides a more immersive and visually appealing experience. | 3. Limited to the capabilities of VirtualBox and the host machine’s hardware. |
Part 2. Using VirtualBox Display Preferences
Another method to make Ubuntu full screen on VirtualBox for Mac is by adjusting the display preferences within VirtualBox itself. This method allows you to customize the screen size to fit your needs.
Before proceeding with the steps, make sure that you have installed VirtualBox and created a virtual machine with Ubuntu as the guest OS.
Method:
1. Start your Ubuntu virtual machine in VirtualBox.
2. Once Ubuntu has booted up, click on the "View" menu in the virtual machine’s menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. From the dropdown menu, select "Virtual Screen 1" and choose a screen size that matches the resolution of your Mac’s display. For example, if your Mac’s display resolution is 1920×1080, select "1920×1080."
4. Once you’ve selected the desired screen size, click on the "View" menu again and make sure that "Auto-resize Guest Display" is checked. This option allows VirtualBox to automatically adjust the Ubuntu virtual machine’s screen size based on the window size.
5. If "Auto-resize Guest Display" is already checked but the Ubuntu virtual machine is not in full screen mode, try manually resizing the VirtualBox window to force the virtual machine to resize as well.
Pros:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Provides granular control over the screen size of the Ubuntu virtual machine. | 1. May require manual resizing of the VirtualBox window to force the virtual machine to resize. |
| 2. Allows for custom screen resolutions to match your Mac’s display. | 2. Limited to the capabilities of VirtualBox and the host machine’s hardware. |
| 3. No additional software installation required. | 3. May require manual adjustment if the VirtualBox window is resized. |
Part 3. Enabling Seamless Mode
Seamless Mode is a feature of VirtualBox that allows you to integrate the Ubuntu virtual machine’s desktop seamlessly with your Mac’s desktop, giving you the illusion of running Ubuntu as a native application on your Mac.
Before proceeding with the steps, make sure that you have installed VirtualBox and created a virtual machine with Ubuntu as the guest OS.
Method:
1. Start your Ubuntu virtual machine in VirtualBox.
2. Once Ubuntu has booted up, click on the "View" menu in the virtual machine’s menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. From the dropdown menu, select "Seamless Mode" to enable it. You will notice that the Ubuntu desktop will now integrate with your Mac’s desktop, allowing you to interact with Ubuntu applications as if they were Mac applications.
4. To exit Seamless Mode, click on the "View" menu again and select "Seamless Mode" to disable it.
Pros:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Provides a seamless integration of the Ubuntu desktop with your Mac’s desktop. | 1. May require manual adjustment of window positions within Seamless Mode for optimal usage. |
| 2. Allows for a more immersive experience by treating Ubuntu applications as native Mac applications. | 2. Limited to the capabilities of VirtualBox and the host machine’s hardware. |
| 3. No need to switch between the Mac and Ubuntu desktops, improving workflow and navigation. | 3. May cause conflicts or issues with certain applications or system features. |
Part 4. Installing VMware Fusion
If the methods mentioned above do not work for you or if you’re looking for an alternative, consider using a different virtualization software like VMware Fusion. VMware Fusion provides advanced features and seamless integration with your Mac’s hardware, making it a powerful tool for running Ubuntu in full screen mode on your Mac.
Method:
1. Download and install VMware Fusion on your Mac.
2. Open VMware Fusion and click on the "File" menu at the top of the screen.
3. Select "New…" to create a new virtual machine.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to select Ubuntu as the guest operating system and configure the virtual machine’s settings.
5. Once the virtual machine is created, start it and Ubuntu should automatically boot up in full screen mode.
Pros:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. VMware Fusion provides advanced features and seamless integration with your Mac’s hardware. | 1. Requires the download and installation of VMware Fusion, which is a paid software. |
| 2. Allows for optimal performance and customization options. | 2. May require learning a new virtualization software if you’re used to VirtualBox. |
| 3. Provides a professional-grade virtualization solution for running Ubuntu in full screen mode on your Mac. | 3. Requires a paid license for VMware Fusion for full functionality. |
What to Do If You Can’t Make Ubuntu Full Screen
If you are unable to make Ubuntu full screen on VirtualBox for Mac using the methods mentioned above, here are three alternative solutions you can try:
1. Use fullscreen mode: Instead of using full screen mode within the virtual machine, use the host operating system’s full screen (e.g., Mac’s native full screen mode) and adjust the VirtualBox window size accordingly. This will give the illusion of Ubuntu running in full screen mode.
2. Try a different virtualization software: If VirtualBox does not meet your needs, consider trying a different virtualization software like Parallels Desktop or QEMU. These alternatives may have different display settings and options that could better suit your requirements.
3. Install Ubuntu directly on your Mac: If you want a truly full screen Ubuntu experience without the limitations of a virtual machine, you can consider installing Ubuntu directly on your Mac as a dual-boot or as the primary operating system. This will require repartitioning your hard drive and installing Ubuntu alongside macOS.
Bonus Tips
Here are three bonus tips to enhance your Ubuntu virtual machine experience on VirtualBox for Mac:
1. Install Guest Additions: Guest Additions is a package that enhances the performance and functionality of the guest operating system within VirtualBox. Installing Guest Additions can improve graphics performance, enable seamless mouse integration, and enable shared folders between the host and guest OS.
2. Allocate more resources to the virtual machine: If you’re experiencing sluggishness or slow performance in your Ubuntu virtual machine, try allocating more system resources (such as RAM and CPU cores) to the virtual machine. This can be done in the VirtualBox settings for the specific virtual machine.
3. Take snapshots: VirtualBox allows you to take snapshots of your virtual machine at specific points in time. This can be useful if you want to experiment with different settings or configurations and easily revert back to a previous state if something goes wrong.
The Bottom Line
Making Ubuntu full screen on VirtualBox for Mac can greatly enhance your virtual machine experience, providing you with more screen real estate, improved productivity, and a better overall user experience. By adjusting display settings within Ubuntu, using VirtualBox Display Preferences, enabling Seamless Mode, or even using alternative virtualization software like VMware Fusion, you can achieve a full screen Ubuntu experience on your Mac. Don’t forget to explore bonus tips and alternative solutions if the default methods do not work for you. Experiment, customize, and enjoy Ubuntu in all its full screen glory!
5 FAQs about Making Ubuntu Full Screen
Q1: Why isn’t Ubuntu automatically in full screen mode in VirtualBox for Mac?
A1: By default, the Ubuntu virtual machine may not be set to full screen mode in VirtualBox. This is because VirtualBox tries to match the guest OS’s screen resolution to the host machine’s screen resolution, which may not always result in a full screen display.
Q2: Can I make Ubuntu full screen without installing any additional software?
A2: Yes, you can make Ubuntu full screen in VirtualBox without installing any additional software by adjusting the display settings within Ubuntu itself or by using VirtualBox Display Preferences. These methods utilize the built-in features of VirtualBox and Ubuntu to optimize screen resolution and scaling.
Q3: Will making Ubuntu full screen affect the performance of my virtual machine?
A3: Making Ubuntu full screen should not significantly affect the performance of your virtual machine. However, the overall performance may depend on the capabilities of your host machine’s hardware and the allocated resources to the virtual machine. Allocating more resources, such as RAM and CPU cores, can help improve performance if needed.
Q4: Can I use multiple monitors with a full screen Ubuntu virtual machine?
A4: Yes, you can use multiple monitors with a full screen Ubuntu virtual machine. VirtualBox allows you to configure the virtual machine to use multiple monitors if your host machine has them. This can be done through the virtual machine’s settings in VirtualBox.
Q5: Can I switch between full screen mode and windowed mode in Ubuntu?
A5: Yes, you can switch between full screen mode and windowed mode in Ubuntu within the virtual machine. In most virtualization software, including VirtualBox, there are keyboard shortcuts or menu options to toggle between full screen and windowed modes. Alternatively, you can manually resize the VirtualBox window to switch between modes.