How to Uninstall VirtualBox on Ubuntu

Step 1: Backup Your Virtual Machines

Before uninstalling VirtualBox, ensure that you’ve backed up any important virtual machines. This will allow you to restore them later if needed.

• Open VirtualBox.
• Select the VM you want to backup.
• Right-click on it and choose ‘Export Appliance’.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to save the VM.

Step 2: Remove VirtualBox

To remove VirtualBox from your Ubuntu system, follow these steps:

• Open the Terminal.
• Enter the following command to remove VirtualBox:

sudo apt-get purge virtualbox*

Step 3: Remove Additional VirtualBox Packages

Sometimes, VirtualBox may have additional packages installed. To ensure a complete removal, execute the following command:

sudo apt-get autoremove

Step 4: Remove VirtualBox User Data

If you want to remove all VirtualBox-related user data, including VMs, execute the following command:

rm -r ~/.config/VirtualBox/

Step 5: Update the System

After uninstalling VirtualBox, it’s a good practice to update the system repositories. Execute the following command:

sudo apt-get update

Summary:

• sudo apt-get purge virtualbox* – Removes VirtualBox and its related packages.
• sudo apt-get autoremove – Removes any unnecessary packages.
• rm -r ~/.config/VirtualBox/ – Deletes VirtualBox user data.
• sudo apt-get update – Updates system repositories.

Happy coding!