Help · Mac apps

How to uninstall VirtualBox on a Mac.

By Grant and Brad, who make Pangalin's apps · Updated 10 October 2026

Oracle's manual says to uninstall VirtualBox with the uninstall tool on the same disk image you installed it from. That removes the app, but not your virtual machines or settings: those you keep or delete yourself.

Uninstall VirtualBox

Shut down any running virtual machines and quit VirtualBox.
Open the VirtualBox .dmg installer for your version. If you no longer have it, download the same version from virtualbox.org.
Double-click the uninstall icon on the disk image. It opens in Terminal and asks you to confirm; type yes and enter your password.

This is Oracle's own uninstall tool, from Oracle's disk image. Only run uninstall scripts that come from the software's developer.

Your virtual machines and settings

The uninstaller doesn't touch these, and they can be large:

Virtual machines: ~/VirtualBox VMs
VirtualBox settings: ~/Library/VirtualBox

Move them to the Trash only if you no longer need the virtual machines. Copy any you want to keep to an external drive first. See moving big folders to an external drive.

Afterwards

Check System Settings › General › Login Items & Extensions for anything still named VirtualBox; see login items. An app that's still in your Trash can stay listed there until you empty the Trash or restart; that's normal macOS behaviour.
Empty the Trash when you're sure. Emptying the Trash is permanent.

Based on Oracle's VirtualBox manual, checked October 2026. Menu names can change between versions.

Then check for anything VirtualBox left behind.

Once the app is gone, Pangalin Uninstaller's free Leftovers scan lists files left behind by apps that are no longer installed, by name and size. Apple's files are never included. It also shows where each one is and moves the ones you choose to the Trash in one go, with Undo.

Download free for Mac See the guide

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