VirtualBox 7.2.6 on Debian 13/12 (Oracle repo + test builds)
Table of Contents
Oracle VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as home use.
Support inttf:
This guide shows howto install VirtualBox 7.2 (currently 7.2.6) on Debian 13 (Trixie) and Debian 12 (Bookworm) using Oracle’s own apt repo.
1. Install Oracle’s VirtualBox 7.2.6 on Debian 13 / 12 (Oracle repo)⌗
This guide works with UEFI Secure Boot disabled or enabled. If you keep Secure Boot enabled, follow this step-by-step module signing guide:
Debian Secure Boot: Howto sign VirtualBox kernel modules (DKMS + .run installer)
1.1. Change root user⌗
You should perform package management and installation steps as root. Use:
su -
## OR ##
sudo -i
After switching to root, run the following commands without sudo:
1.2. Install required packages⌗
apt update
apt install ca-certificates curl gnupg
1.3. Add Oracle VirtualBox apt repository key⌗
curl -fsSL https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc \
| gpg --dearmor \
| tee /usr/share/keyrings/oracle-virtualbox-2016.gpg > /dev/null
1.4. Add Oracle VirtualBox apt repository⌗
Debian 13 (Trixie)⌗
echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/oracle-virtualbox-2016.gpg] https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian trixie contrib" \
| tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list
Debian 12 (Bookworm)⌗
echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/oracle-virtualbox-2016.gpg] https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian bookworm contrib" \
| tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list
Update package list:
apt update
1.5. Install dependency packages⌗
VirtualBox kernel modules are built using DKMS.
apt install build-essential dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r)
1.5.1 Disable UEFI Secure Boot or Check Howto Sign VirtualBox Kernel Modules⌗
Check is UEFI Secure Boot Enabled or Disabled⌗
mokutil --sb-state
This guide works with UEFI Secure Boot disabled or enabled.
- If you prefer the simple path, disable Secure Boot.
- If you want to keep Secure Boot enabled, you must sign the VirtualBox kernel modules. Follow this step-by-step module signing guide:
Debian Secure Boot: Howto sign VirtualBox kernel modules (DKMS + .run installer)
1.6. Install VirtualBox Latest Version 7.2 (currently 7.2.6)⌗
apt install virtualbox-7.2
Note:
- Package is virtualbox-7.2 (not
virtualbox). - This creates automatically
vboxusersgroup and VirtualBox user must be member of that group.
1.7. Build / rebuild VirtualBox kernel modules⌗
1.7.1 Secure Boot disabled⌗
Normally DKMS builds modules automatically, but if you get module errors, run:
/sbin/vboxconfig
1.7.2 Secure Boot enabled⌗
If you have UEFI Secure Boot enabled with custom module signing keys (from Page 2), use this approach:
## First, rebuild modules without signing ##
/sbin/vboxconfig
## Then manually sign the rebuilt modules ##
KERNELVER=$(uname -r)
SIGNFILE=/usr/src/linux-headers-${KERNELVER}/scripts/sign-file
for m in vboxdrv vboxnetflt vboxnetadp vboxpci; do
modpath=$(modinfo -F filename "$m" 2>/dev/null || echo "")
if [ -n "$modpath" ]; then
echo "Signing $m -> $modpath"
${SIGNFILE} sha256 /root/module-signing/MOK-vbox.priv /root/module-signing/MOK-vbox.der "$modpath"
fi
done
## Rebuild module dependencies ##
depmod -a
1.8. Add VirtualBox User(s) to vboxusers Group⌗
Run as root (replace $USER with your username if needed):
usermod -a -G vboxusers $USER
Logout/login (or reboot) to make group membership active.
1.9. Start VirtualBox⌗
Use launcher from menu or simply run VirtualBox as normal user:
VirtualBox
1.10. (Optional) Install VirtualBox Extension Pack 7.2.6⌗
cd ~/Downloads
wget https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/7.2.6/Oracle_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-7.2.6-172322.vbox-extpack
VBoxManage extpack install --replace Oracle_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-7.2.6-172322.vbox-extpack
2. Install Oracle’s VirtualBox using .run installer (stable / test builds)⌗
This section is useful if you want to test Oracle VirtualBox test builds or development snapshots.
Note: Start this with fully updated system and using latest kernel version. This guide works with UEFI Secure Boot disabled or enabled. If you keep Secure Boot enabled, follow this step-by-step module signing guide:
Debian Secure Boot: Howto sign VirtualBox kernel modules (DKMS + .run installer)
2.1. Change root user⌗
You should perform package management and installation steps as root. Use:
su -
## OR ##
sudo -i
After switching to root, run the following commands without sudo:
2.2. Remove VirtualBox apt installations (optional)⌗
apt remove 'virtualbox*' || true
2.3. Install dependencies⌗
apt update
apt install build-essential dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r) make gcc
2.4. Download VirtualBox Installer(s)⌗
cd ~/Downloads
## Download VirtualBox 7.2.6-172322 latest stable build ##
wget https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/7.2.6/VirtualBox-7.2.6-172322-Linux_amd64.run
## Download VirtualBox 7.1.x-172119 test build ##
wget https://www.virtualbox.org/download/testcase/VirtualBox-7.1.x-172119-Linux_amd64.run
## Download VirtualBox 7.2.x-172125 test build ##
wget https://www.virtualbox.org/download/testcase/VirtualBox-7.2.x-172125-Linux_amd64.run
## Download VirtualBox development snapshot ##
wget https://www.virtualbox.org/download/testcase/VirtualBox-development-172124-Linux_amd64.run
Check current versions from VirtualBox Linux builds and VirtualBox test builds.
2.5. Make Installer File Executable⌗
cd ~/Downloads
chmod +x VirtualBox-7.2.6-172322-Linux_amd64.run
## OR ##
chmod +x VirtualBox-7.1.x-172119-Linux_amd64.run
## OR ##
chmod +x VirtualBox-7.2.x-172125-Linux_amd64.run
## OR ##
chmod +x VirtualBox-development-172124-Linux_amd64.run
2.6. Install VirtualBox (stable or test build)⌗
~/Downloads/VirtualBox-7.2.6-172322-Linux_amd64.run
## OR ##
~/Downloads/VirtualBox-7.1.x-172119-Linux_amd64.run
## OR ##
~/Downloads/VirtualBox-7.2.x-172125-Linux_amd64.run
## OR ##
~/Downloads/VirtualBox-development-172124-Linux_amd64.run
Rebuild kernel modules if needed:
Secure Boot disabled⌗
/sbin/vboxconfig
Secure Boot enabled⌗
If you have UEFI Secure Boot enabled with custom module signing keys (from Page 2):
## First, rebuild modules without signing ##
/sbin/vboxconfig
## Then manually sign the rebuilt modules ##
KERNELVER=$(uname -r)
SIGNFILE=/usr/src/linux-headers-${KERNELVER}/scripts/sign-file
for m in vboxdrv vboxnetflt vboxnetadp vboxpci; do
modpath=$(modinfo -F filename "$m" 2>/dev/null || echo "")
if [ -n "$modpath" ]; then
echo "Signing $m -> $modpath"
${SIGNFILE} sha256 /root/module-signing/MOK-vbox.priv /root/module-signing/MOK-vbox.der "$modpath"
fi
done
## Rebuild module dependencies ##
depmod -a
2.7. Add VirtualBox User(s) to vboxusers Group⌗
Run as root (replace $USER with your username if needed):
usermod -a -G vboxusers $USER
2.8. Start VirtualBox⌗
VirtualBox
3. Troubleshooting⌗
3.1 UEFI Secure Boot⌗
If you have Secure Boot enabled, VirtualBox kernel modules may not load unless you sign them or disable Secure Boot.
To keep Secure Boot enabled and use VirtualBox, follow the module signing guide:
Debian Secure Boot: Howto sign VirtualBox kernel modules (DKMS + .run installer)