How to Uninstall VirtualBox on Your Mac: A Complete Guide

Experiencing performance issues on your Mac and suspecting VirtualBox might be the culprit? You’re not alone. Many users find that after some time, applications like VirtualBox, while incredibly useful, can sometimes contribute to system slowdowns if not properly managed or when no longer needed. If you’re looking to reclaim system resources and improve your Mac’s performance, completely uninstalling VirtualBox is a great step.

This guide provides you with comprehensive, step-by-step instructions on how to thoroughly uninstall VirtualBox from your macOS. Whether you’re a tech-savvy user or a beginner, we’ll walk you through each method to ensure VirtualBox and all its components are completely removed, freeing up your system and potentially resolving performance issues. Let’s dive in and get your Mac running smoothly again!

Method 1: Using the VirtualBox Uninstaller (Recommended)

The easiest and most straightforward way to uninstall VirtualBox is by using the official uninstaller application that comes bundled with the software. This method is generally recommended as it is designed to remove the main application and its associated files.

1. Locate the VirtualBox Application: Open Finder, navigate to the Applications folder, and find the VirtualBox application icon.

2. Access the Uninstaller: Right-click (or Control-click) on the VirtualBox application icon. In the context menu, select “Show Package Contents”.

3. Navigate to the Uninstaller: Inside the “Contents” folder, open the “MacOS” folder. You should find an application named “VirtualBox_Uninstall.tool”.

4. Run the Uninstaller: Double-click on “VirtualBox_Uninstall.tool”. A Terminal window will open, prompting you to enter your administrator password. Type your password and press Enter (or Return). Note that while typing, you might not see any characters appearing in the Terminal – this is normal for password prompts in Terminal.

5. Follow the Uninstallation Prompts: The uninstaller script will run, removing VirtualBox and its core components. Follow any on-screen prompts in the Terminal window. Once the process is complete, the Terminal window will close automatically.

6. Restart Your Mac: It’s crucial to restart your Mac after running the uninstaller to ensure all changes are properly applied and any remaining processes are terminated.

Method 2: Manual Uninstallation of VirtualBox

If for some reason you can’t find or use the uninstaller tool, or if you want to ensure a more thorough removal, you can manually uninstall VirtualBox. This method involves deleting the application files and removing system extensions and configuration files.

Step 1: Quit VirtualBox and Virtual Machines

Before you begin, make sure VirtualBox and any virtual machines you are running are completely shut down.

1. Quit VirtualBox Application: If VirtualBox is running, quit the application by right-clicking on the VirtualBox icon in the Dock and selecting “Quit”.

2. Force Quit (If Necessary): If VirtualBox is unresponsive, you might need to force quit it. Press Command + Option + Esc to open the “Force Quit Applications” window. Select “VirtualBox” (if it’s listed) and click “Force Quit”.

Step 2: Remove the VirtualBox Application

1. Open Finder and Navigate to Applications: Go to your Applications folder in Finder.

2. Move VirtualBox to Trash: Locate the VirtualBox application and drag it to the Trash icon in your Dock. Alternatively, you can right-click on the VirtualBox icon and select “Move to Trash”.

Step 3: Delete VirtualBox System Files

VirtualBox installs several system extensions and configuration files that need to be manually removed. Use Finder to navigate to the following directories and delete the listed files and folders (if they exist):

1. Kernel Extensions:

   • Open Finder, click on “Go” in the menu bar, and select “Go to Folder…” (or press Shift + Command + G).
   • Enter /Library/Application Support/Oracle/VirtualBox and click “Go”. If the “VirtualBox” folder exists, move it to the Trash.
   • Open “Go to Folder…” again and enter /Library/Extensions.
   • Look for kernel extensions starting with org.virtualbox.kext (e.g., org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv.kext, org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB.kext, org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt.kext, org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp.kext). Move these .kext files to the Trash.

2. User Library Preferences:

   • Open Finder, click on “Go”, and select “Go to Folder…”.
   • Enter ~/Library/Preferences and click “Go”.
   • Look for files starting with org.virtualbox. (e.g., org.virtualbox.appliance.plist, org.virtualbox.VirtualBox.plist). Move these .plist files to the Trash.

3. Application Support (User Library):

   • Open “Go to Folder…” again and enter ~/Library/Application Support.
   • If a folder named “VirtualBox” exists, move it to the Trash.

Step 4: Empty the Trash and Restart

1. Empty Trash: Right-click on the Trash icon in your Dock and select “Empty Trash” to permanently delete all the files you moved to the Trash.

2. Restart Your Mac: Restart your Mac to finalize the uninstallation process.

Verifying Complete Uninstallation

After following either method, you can verify that VirtualBox has been successfully uninstalled.

1. Check Applications Folder: Ensure the VirtualBox application is no longer present in your Applications folder.

2. Check System Extensions (Advanced):

   • Open Terminal (found in /Applications/Utilities).
   • Type the command kextstat | grep -i virtualbox and press Enter.
   • If no output is displayed, it means VirtualBox kernel extensions are no longer loaded. If you still see output related to VirtualBox, you may need to revisit the manual uninstallation steps to ensure you’ve removed all .kext files.

Conclusion

Completely uninstalling VirtualBox can help resolve performance issues and free up valuable system resources on your Mac. By following either the recommended uninstaller method or the manual removal steps, you can ensure a clean and thorough uninstallation. Remember to restart your Mac after uninstallation to finalize the process. If you continue to experience performance problems, consider exploring other potential causes or seeking further system optimization advice.