Create A Shared Folder Between Ubuntu 20.04 LTS And Windows 10 With VirtualBox Guest Additions

Blogger's Note: I spent hours yesterday and today installing Ubuntu 20.04 LTS on Oracle VM VirtualBox for Windows 10. May is the month I post pictures. Today's blog is an exception because I share how I solve the problem creating a shared folder between Ubuntu and Windows 10. Unfortunately, many solutions posted online didn't work for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.

I successfully created a shared folder to copy files to and from Ubuntu 20.04 and Windows 10. The procedures and screenshots are below. The reader must install Ubuntu 20.04 LTS first; however, the first screenshot labeled A is a settings adjustment. I believe the settings adjustment can be done before or after Ubuntu 20.04 is installed.

A. Access the settings for Ubuntu 20.04 in VirtualBox. Go to General-->Advanced. Select Bidirectional for Shared Clipboard and Drag'n'Drop dropdown boxes.


1. Ubuntu 20.04 is installed. Click bottom left or click on the nine dots to access the programs. Find the terminal or search for terminal in the search box.


2. Type sudo apt install build-essential dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r). Type your password.


3. Type Y.


4. Type exit.


5. Click Devices-->Insert Guest Additions CD image… from the VirtualBox menu.


6. Click Run.


7. Type your password.


8. Press Return.


9. Press Power Off to exit.


10. Access the settings for Ubuntu 20.04 in VirtualBox. Click Shared Folders at the bottom of the left column. Click the Add Share button or the folder icon with the green plus sign. Enter the Folder Path and Folder Name for the shared folder. Click Auto-mount. My folder name is UbuntuShare2004 located in my C drive. Press OK.


11. Start Ubuntu 20.04. Open Folders. Click on the shared folder. My shared folder name is sf_UbuntuShare2004. If you get the This location could not be displayed window, then continue reading.


12. Open a terminal. Type sudo adduser *username* vboxsf. Enter your password.


13. Type id *username*. Make sure there is a 998(vboxsf).


14. Type sudo apt-get update.


15. Type sudo apt-get install virtualbox-guest-dkms.


16. Type sudo apt-get install virtualbox-guest-utils.


17. Power off to exit. Create a test file on the share folder at Windows 10. I created a test file named Created Test File On My Windows.txt.

18. Start Ubuntu 20.04. Open Folders. Click on the shared folder. My shared folder name is sf_ UbuntuShare2004. Created Test File On My Windows.txt file appears on Ubuntu 20.04.


Source credit: How to Access Folders on Your Host Machine
from an Ubuntu Virtual Machine in VirtualBox and How to create Virtualbox shared folder between Windows host and Ubuntu18.04 guest machine