Ubuntu fullscreen mode in Virtual Box

2025-04-02 This post is about coding

For the past few days, I have trying to use Ubuntu in Virtual Box in full screen mode. After lot of attempts, this is the solution that worked:

• Install Ubuntu (or any Ubuntu based distro) in Virtual Box.
• In settings, enable 3D acceleration and set Video Memory to highest (128M).
• After installing Ubuntu, from Virtual Box Menu Bar go to devices and select Insert Guest Additions CD image. It will be loaded as Optical Disk in the VM.
• Then run sudo ./autorun.sh. After the installation of these tools, restart the VM.

It seems (based on internet research), in Virtual Box 1.7.6, full screen cannot be attained until 3D acceleration is enabled.