You can export your virtual machines to another computer. Here's how.

In the past, moving a virtual machine (VM) from one computer to another was a tricky process. Several XML control files controlled the virtual machines and moving the VMs required editing these files and ensuring you were moving every file associated with them.

Understandably, things didn’t always go smoothly. VMs refusing to boot up, VirtualBox failing to identify VMs, and media conflicts were rather common.

Thankfully, newer versions of VirtualBox have made it much easier to move VMs from one computer to another. So, here's how you export a VirtualBox virtual machine to another computer.

Moving your virtual machine is a simple process in itself, but you have to take some precautions before doing so.

First, check if you are running the newest version of VirtualBox. Navigate to File > Check for Updates. If there any updates available, install them.

Next, turn off all active VMs and close VirtualBox. Shutting down all the VirtualBox processes before exporting a VM minimizes the chances of conflicts later on.

Finally, open VirtualBox, and you are ready to export.

Related: Practical Reasons to Start Using a Virtual Machine

There are two simple methods that you can use to export a VirtualBox virtual machine. The first method is to use the built-in Export function to generate an exportable VDI file. The other method is to copy and paste the entire VM folder you want to move.

Once again, before you start exporting, power down all VMs and close VirtualBox.

After about 5 minutes, start VirtualBox and click on Tools. Then, select Export located in the right panel.

Next, click on the VM you want to export from the list and click on Next. This will open the Appliance settings panel.

In the Appliance settings panel, you can configure the export. You can change the resulting file format, choose a file name for the export, and define whether you want to retain the MAC addresses and other network configurations.

However, if you don’t know whether you should tinker with an option, stick to the defaults.

The last step of the export process is to add the virtual machine details.

Remember, the actual export process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending upon your VM’s virtual storage disk size. So, be patient, don’t close VirtualBox, and don’t turn off your computer.

This is perhaps the simplest method of exporting a VirtualBox VM. All you have to do is navigate to the VM folder, copy it, and paste it into a directory you want to export the VM.

The default VirtualBox virtual machine path is C:\Users\your user name\VirtualBox VMs. Open the folder, right-click on the VM you want to export, and choose Copy. Then, navigate to the removable drive (or different directory), right-click, and select Paste.

After connecting the USB flash drive or another removable drive, copy and paste the virtual machine.

Related: How to Transfer Files Between a Virtual Machine Guest and Host PC

Now that you have exported your VM to another computer, it is time for you to import it inside VirtualBox. The Import process only works if you have exported a VDI file using the process detailed above.

If you didn't use the Export option and copy/pasted the VM folder, the process will be a little different.

Select File from the top toolbar and select Virtual Media Manager. Then click on Add and navigate to and select the VM folder.

Finally, hit Apply, and your VM will be added to VirtualBox. You can now use the VM just like you would use any other VM that you created from scratch.

The newest releases of VirtualBox make it easier to export and move VMs from one machine to another. So, if you are still running an older version of VirtualBox, update it as soon as possible.

Another thing to keep in mind: don’t interrupt the exporting process midway by closing the program or shutting down your computer. Doing so will likely introduce errors and conflicts when you’ll try to import the VM.

Fawad is a Computer Science graduate with a passion for all things PC and video games. He has been tinkering with Windows since the XP days and likes to share the things he has learned through writing.

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