Whonix for Windows, macOS, Linux inside VirtualBox
Getting started with Whonix in 4 simple steps.
GUI
- Whonix with Xfce graphical user interface (GUI).
- This version of Whonix is designed to run inside VirtualBox.
- Beginner-friendly and easy to use.
- It is the right choice for most users.
Please follow these steps to install Whonix Xfce for VirtualBox.
1 Download Whonix Xfce
Whonix Xfce is available for Windows, MacOS and Linux.
Optional: Digital signature verification.
Version: 17.2.3.7
- Digital signatures are a tool enhancing download security. They are commonly used across the internet and nothing special to worry about.
- Optional, not required: Digital signatures are optional and not mandatory for using Whonix, but an extra security measure for advanced users. If you've never used them before, it might be overwhelming to look into them at this stage. Just ignore them for now.
- Learn more: Curious? If you are interested in becoming more familiar with advanced computer security concepts, you can learn more about digital signatures here digital software signatures.
How to verify the Whonix Images : Whonix virtual machine images are signed by Whonix developer Patrick Schleizer using OpenPGP and signify.
Do you already know how to perform digital software verification using an OpenPGP and/or signify key?
YES Then acquire the Whonix Signing Key and the Whonix signatures straight away and proceed.
NO Then consider the following instructions:
2 Install VirtualBox
Download and install VirtualBox for your operating system.
Windows
Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package
If you see the following error message:
Figure: Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package Error
Oracle VM VirtualBox needs Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable package installed first. Please install and restart the installation of Oracle VM VirtualBox.
Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package must be installed. [1]
Optional: Digital signature verification.
VirtualBox for Windows is not signed with OpenPGP / gpg. It is signed with authenticode.
After downloading the VirtualBox installer exe and starting it, the user should verify that sure that Verified publisher:
is Oracle Corporation
.
Figure: Windows signature signature verification window for VirtualBox
Advanced users might wish to learn more about Authenticode (Windows Digital Software Signatures) to perform a deeper verification.
macOS
Optional: Digital signature verification.
VirtualBox for macOS is not signed with OpenPGP / gpg. It is notarized for macOS's gatekeeper.
See also Apple's official documentation Safely open apps on your Mac.
Ubuntu
For Ubuntu host operating systems Choose an option from the following table. Choose either Option (A) OR Option (B).
A Automated VirtualBox Installation : Ubuntu users could alternatively use the Whonix Linux Installer for VirtualBox. In this case, this wiki page can be completely ignored. No other steps from this wiki page need to be applied because the automated installer will handle everything.
B Manual VirtualBox Installation : Follow the instructions below.
Tested on October 2022 using Ubuntu version 22.04
. Older versions are not recommended.
Command Line (All Users)
1 On the host : Open a terminal.
2 Update the package lists.
sudo apt update
3 Install VirtualBox and Linux kernel headers.
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt linux-headers-generic
4 Add your current user to group vboxusers
. [2]
sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers
5 Done.
The procedure of installing the VirtualBox host software is complete.
Software Center (only if not using SecureBoot)
Ubuntu Software Center can be used to install VirtualBox. The process is similar to installation of most other applications.
This only works for users with computers that do not have "SecureBoot" enabled. If the user's computer is using "SecureBoot" the user need to either disable "SecureBoot" in the BIOS or use the command line based instructions. [3]
1 Open the start menu.
2 Click on the Ubuntu Software Center icon.
Figure: Ubuntu Software Center icon
3 Click on the magnifying glass to search. → Type virtualbox
. → Press enter. → In the search results, click on VirtualBox.
Figure: Ubuntu Software Center - Search For VirtualBox
4 Click on Install and wait.
Figure: Ubuntu Software Center Search Result
5 Installation of VirtualBox has been completed.
When the installation has completed, the install icon changes to the uninstall icon. Do not click the uninstall button.
Figure: Ubuntu Software Center - VirtualBox has been installed
6 Click on Show Applications. → Click on Virtual Box start the VirtualBox graphical user interface (GUI).
Figure: Ubuntu Software Center #4
7 Done.
The procedure of installing and starting VirtualBox is complete.
Debian
For Debian host operating systems Choose an option from the following table. Choose either Option (A) OR Option (B).
A Automated VirtualBox Installation : Debian users could alternatively use the Whonix Linux Installer for VirtualBox. In this case, this wiki page can be completely ignored. No other steps from this wiki page need to be applied because the automated installer will handle everything.
B Manual VirtualBox Installation : Follow the instructions below.
Select your Debian release below to get the matching instructions.
Debian bookworm (stable) or bullseye (oldstable)
To acquire the Recommended VirtualBox version tested with Whonix, package virtualbox-qt
should be installed from Debian fasttrack
repository according to the following instructions. [4]
1 On the host : Open a terminal.
2 Update the package lists.
sudo apt update
3 Install the Debian fasttrack
signing key.
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends fasttrack-archive-keyring
4 Add the Debian fasttrack
repository.
echo 'deb https://fasttrack.debian.net/debian/ bookworm-fasttrack main contrib non-free' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/fasttrack.list
5 Add Debian the backports
repository. [5]
echo 'deb https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-backports main contrib non-free' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/backports.list
6 Update the package lists again. [6]
sudo apt update
7 Install VirtualBox and Linux kernel headers.
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt linux-headers-$(dpkg --print-architecture)
8 Add your current user to group vboxusers
. [2]
sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers
9 Done.
The procedure of installing the VirtualBox host software is complete.
Debian Testing
VirtualBox can be installed by adding the Debian unstable (sid
) repository and APT pinning. The details of this are unspecific to Whonix and undocumented.
Debian Unstable
VirtualBox can be installed by adding the Debian unstable (sid
) repository.
sudo apt update
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt linux-headers-$(dpkg --print-architecture)
sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers
The details of this are unspecific to Whonix and undocumented.
Other Debian Releases
Kicksecure
Kicksecure™ host operating systems Choose an option from the following table. Choose either Option (A) OR Option (B).
A Automated VirtualBox Installation : Kicksecure™ users could alternatively use the Whonix Linux Installer for VirtualBox. In this case, this wiki page can be completely ignored. No other steps from this wiki page need to be applied because the automated installer will handle everything.
B Manual VirtualBox Installation : Follow the instructions below.
Instructions for Kicksecure™ are simpler than instructions for Debian. [7]
1 On the host: Open a terminal.
2 Update package lists.
sudo apt update
3 Install VirtualBox and Linux kernel headers.
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt
4 Add your current user to group vboxusers
. [2]
sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers
5 Done.
The procedure of installing the VirtualBox host software is complete.
Linux
Hosts using a non-Debian operating system:
- Install VirtualBox as per the normal mechanism for your Linux distribution. No special instructions for Whonix are required. The installation of a recent VirtualBox host software is unspecific to Whonix. Consult the documentation of your Linux distribution.
- Whonix has has been tested with, expects VirtualBox version
latest
. - For example the outdated VirtualBox version
5.2.18
is incompatible.
3 Import Whonix into VirtualBox
For Whonix VirtualBox import instructions, please press the learn more button on the right.
Follow these steps to import Whonix into VirtualBox. Click images to enlarge
-
1 Start VirtualBox
-
2 Click on File then choose Import Appliance...
-
3 Navigate and select Whonix image and press next
-
4 Do NOT change anything! Just click on Import
-
5 Then press Agree
-
6 Wait until Whonix
.ova
has been imported -
7 Now start Whonix-Gateway and Whonix-Workstation
Miscellaneous
There are also Video Tutorials.
If you still need help, please check the Support page.
For command line import instructions, see footnote. [9]
4 Start Whonix
Starting Whonix is simple:
- Start VirtualBox.
- Double-click the Whonix-Gateway™ and Whonix-Workstation™.
CLI
- Whonix with command line interface (CLI).
- This version of Whonix is designed to run inside VirtualBox.
- Whonix with CLI is a version suited for advanced users -- those who want Whonix without a graphical user interface (GUI). Everyone else should install the user-friendly Whonix VirtualBox with GUI Xfce.
Please follow these steps to install Whonix CLI for VirtualBox.
1 Download Whonix CLI
Whonix CLI is available for Windows, MacOS and Linux.
Optional: Digital signature verification.
Version: 17.2.3.7
- Digital signatures are a tool enhancing download security. They are commonly used across the internet and nothing special to worry about.
- Optional, not required: Digital signatures are optional and not mandatory for using Whonix, but an extra security measure for advanced users. If you've never used them before, it might be overwhelming to look into them at this stage. Just ignore them for now.
- Learn more: Curious? If you are interested in becoming more familiar with advanced computer security concepts, you can learn more about digital signatures here digital software signatures.
How to verify the Whonix Images : Whonix virtual machine images are signed by Whonix developer Patrick Schleizer using OpenPGP and signify.
Do you already know how to perform digital software verification using an OpenPGP and/or signify key?
YES Then acquire the Whonix Signing Key and the Whonix signatures straight away and proceed.
NO Then consider the following instructions:
2 Install VirtualBox
Download and install VirtualBox for your operating system.
Windows
Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package
If you see the following error message:
Figure: Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package Error
Oracle VM VirtualBox needs Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable package installed first. Please install and restart the installation of Oracle VM VirtualBox.
Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package must be installed. [10]
Optional: Digital signature verification.
VirtualBox for Windows is not signed with OpenPGP / gpg. It is signed with authenticode.
After downloading the VirtualBox installer exe and starting it, the user should verify that sure that Verified publisher:
is Oracle Corporation
.
Figure: Windows signature signature verification window for VirtualBox
Advanced users might wish to learn more about Authenticode (Windows Digital Software Signatures) to perform a deeper verification.
macOS
Optional: Digital signature verification.
VirtualBox for macOS is not signed with OpenPGP / gpg. It is notarized for macOS's gatekeeper.
See also Apple's official documentation Safely open apps on your Mac.
Ubuntu
For Ubuntu host operating systems Choose an option from the following table. Choose either Option (A) OR Option (B).
A Automated VirtualBox Installation : Ubuntu users could alternatively use the Whonix Linux Installer for VirtualBox. In this case, this wiki page can be completely ignored. No other steps from this wiki page need to be applied because the automated installer will handle everything.
B Manual VirtualBox Installation : Follow the instructions below.
Tested on October 2022 using Ubuntu version 22.04
. Older versions are not recommended.
Command Line (All Users)
1 On the host : Open a terminal.
2 Update the package lists.
sudo apt update
3 Install VirtualBox and Linux kernel headers.
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt linux-headers-generic
4 Add your current user to group vboxusers
. [2]
sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers
5 Done.
The procedure of installing the VirtualBox host software is complete.
Software Center (only if not using SecureBoot)
Ubuntu Software Center can be used to install VirtualBox. The process is similar to installation of most other applications.
This only works for users with computers that do not have "SecureBoot" enabled. If the user's computer is using "SecureBoot" the user need to either disable "SecureBoot" in the BIOS or use the command line based instructions. [11]
1 Open the start menu.
2 Click on the Ubuntu Software Center icon.
Figure: Ubuntu Software Center icon
3 Click on the magnifying glass to search. → Type virtualbox
. → Press enter. → In the search results, click on VirtualBox.
Figure: Ubuntu Software Center - Search For VirtualBox
4 Click on Install and wait.
Figure: Ubuntu Software Center Search Result
5 Installation of VirtualBox has been completed.
When the installation has completed, the install icon changes to the uninstall icon. Do not click the uninstall button.
Figure: Ubuntu Software Center - VirtualBox has been installed
6 Click on Show Applications. → Click on Virtual Box start the VirtualBox graphical user interface (GUI).
Figure: Ubuntu Software Center #4
7 Done.
The procedure of installing and starting VirtualBox is complete.
Debian
For Debian host operating systems Choose an option from the following table. Choose either Option (A) OR Option (B).
A Automated VirtualBox Installation : Debian users could alternatively use the Whonix Linux Installer for VirtualBox. In this case, this wiki page can be completely ignored. No other steps from this wiki page need to be applied because the automated installer will handle everything.
B Manual VirtualBox Installation : Follow the instructions below.
Select your Debian release below to get the matching instructions.
Debian bookworm (stable) or bullseye (oldstable)
To acquire the Recommended VirtualBox version tested with Whonix, package virtualbox-qt
should be installed from Debian fasttrack
repository according to the following instructions. [12]
1 On the host : Open a terminal.
2 Update the package lists.
sudo apt update
3 Install the Debian fasttrack
signing key.
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends fasttrack-archive-keyring
4 Add the Debian fasttrack
repository.
echo 'deb https://fasttrack.debian.net/debian/ bookworm-fasttrack main contrib non-free' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/fasttrack.list
5 Add Debian the backports
repository. [13]
echo 'deb https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-backports main contrib non-free' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/backports.list
6 Update the package lists again. [14]
sudo apt update
7 Install VirtualBox and Linux kernel headers.
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt linux-headers-$(dpkg --print-architecture)
8 Add your current user to group vboxusers
. [2]
sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers
9 Done.
The procedure of installing the VirtualBox host software is complete.
Debian Testing
VirtualBox can be installed by adding the Debian unstable (sid
) repository and APT pinning. The details of this are unspecific to Whonix and undocumented.
Debian Unstable
VirtualBox can be installed by adding the Debian unstable (sid
) repository.
sudo apt update
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt linux-headers-$(dpkg --print-architecture)
sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers
The details of this are unspecific to Whonix and undocumented.
Other Debian Releases
Kicksecure
Kicksecure™ host operating systems Choose an option from the following table. Choose either Option (A) OR Option (B).
A Automated VirtualBox Installation : Kicksecure™ users could alternatively use the Whonix Linux Installer for VirtualBox. In this case, this wiki page can be completely ignored. No other steps from this wiki page need to be applied because the automated installer will handle everything.
B Manual VirtualBox Installation : Follow the instructions below.
Instructions for Kicksecure™ are simpler than instructions for Debian. [15]
1 On the host: Open a terminal.
2 Update package lists.
sudo apt update
3 Install VirtualBox and Linux kernel headers.
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt
4 Add your current user to group vboxusers
. [2]
sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers
5 Done.
The procedure of installing the VirtualBox host software is complete.
Linux
Hosts using a non-Debian operating system:
- Install VirtualBox as per the normal mechanism for your Linux distribution. No special instructions for Whonix are required. The installation of a recent VirtualBox host software is unspecific to Whonix. Consult the documentation of your Linux distribution.
- Whonix has has been tested with, expects VirtualBox version
latest
. - For example the outdated VirtualBox version
5.2.18
is incompatible.
3 Import Whonix into VirtualBox
For Whonix VirtualBox import instructions, please press the learn more button on the right.
Follow these steps to import Whonix into VirtualBox. Click images to enlarge
-
1 Start VirtualBox
-
2 Click on File then choose Import Appliance...
-
3 Navigate and select Whonix image and press next
-
4 Do NOT change anything! Just click on Import
-
5 Then press Agree
-
6 Wait until Whonix
.ova
has been imported -
7 Now start Whonix-Gateway and Whonix-Workstation
Miscellaneous
There are also Video Tutorials.
If you still need help, please check the Support page.
For command line import instructions, see footnote. [17]
4 Start Whonix
Starting Whonix is simple:
- Start VirtualBox.
- Double-click the Whonix-Gateway™ and Whonix-Workstation™.
First Time User / Questions and Answers
First Time User / Questions and Answers[edit]
- Can I combine Whonix-Gateway™ CLI with Whonix-Workstation™ Xfce? Yes, you can! Learn more.
- Why use VirtualBox over KVM?
- Why use VirtualBox over Qubes?
- FAQ
See Also
See Also[edit]
- Documentation
- Follow Whonix Developments
- In case of issues, see VirtualBox Troubleshooting.
For additional VirtualBox guides and information, please press on expand on the right.
- Known Issues
- VirtualBox Troubleshooting
- VirtualBox Guest Additions
- VirtualBox Clipboard Sharing
- VirtualBox Shared Folder
- VirtualBox Hardening
- Installing Newer Versions of VirtualBox
Help Wanted
- Work on the VirtualBox development task list.
Footnotes
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑
This link has been found on the
microsoft.com
website: Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable latest supported downloads - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5
Optional: See: https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch02.html#install-linux-vboxusers
Also spams
~/.config/VirtualBox/VBoxSVC.log
log if not done. - ↑
This is unspecific to Whonix. This is because during package installation of a package that requires kernel modules when "SecureBoot" is enabled, Ubuntu's
dkms
is prompting the user for a password to encrypt the key which will be used to enroll the kernel module signing key. This is Ubuntu usability issue. It is unknown if any bug report / feature request for this exists. Please contribute, research, report this issue on Ubuntu's issue tracker. - ↑
This is
non-ideal
but required since VirtualBox in unavailable in official Debian
bookworm
repository and difficult to install due to VirtualBox Installation Challenges. Alternatively you could install VirtualBox from the Oracle (virtualbox.org) Repository, but this comes with different risks. VirtualBox might be updated by VirtualBox developers before being tested with Whonix which could then lead to issues. (Described in footnote Recommended Version.) - ↑
This is required because the Debian
fasttrack
repository depends on the Debian thebackports
repository. - ↑
This is to acquire the Debian
fasttrack
repository package sources. - ↑
This is because by Kicksecure™ default:
- The Debian
fasttrack
repository is already enabled. - The Debian
backports
repository is already enabled. - Kernel headers package "
linux-headers-$(dpkg --print-architecture)
is already installed.- Debian feature request: please provide linux-image-generic / linux-headers-generic
- The Debian
- ↑ https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/17055#comment:3
- ↑
On the Linux platform.
1. Read License Agreement: vboxmanage import Whonix-Xfce-17.2.3.7.ova --vsys 0 --eula show --vsys 1 --eula show 2. Import Whonix-Gateway and Whonix-Workstation. vboxmanage import Whonix-Xfce-17.2.3.7.ova --vsys 0 --eula accept --vsys 1 --eula accept 3. Done. - ↑
This link has been found on the
microsoft.com
website: Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable latest supported downloads - ↑
This is unspecific to Whonix. This is because during package installation of a package that requires kernel modules when "SecureBoot" is enabled, Ubuntu's
dkms
is prompting the user for a password to encrypt the key which will be used to enroll the kernel module signing key. This is Ubuntu usability issue. It is unknown if any bug report / feature request for this exists. Please contribute, research, report this issue on Ubuntu's issue tracker. - ↑
This is
non-ideal
but required since VirtualBox in unavailable in official Debian
bookworm
repository and difficult to install due to VirtualBox Installation Challenges. Alternatively you could install VirtualBox from the Oracle (virtualbox.org) Repository, but this comes with different risks. VirtualBox might be updated by VirtualBox developers before being tested with Whonix which could then lead to issues. (Described in footnote Recommended Version.) - ↑
This is required because the Debian
fasttrack
repository depends on the Debian thebackports
repository. - ↑
This is to acquire the Debian
fasttrack
repository package sources. - ↑
This is because by Kicksecure™ default:
- The Debian
fasttrack
repository is already enabled. - The Debian
backports
repository is already enabled. - Kernel headers package "
linux-headers-$(dpkg --print-architecture)
is already installed.- Debian feature request: please provide linux-image-generic / linux-headers-generic
- The Debian
- ↑ https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/17055#comment:3
- ↑
On the Linux platform.
1. Read License Agreement: vboxmanage import Whonix-Xfce-17.2.3.7.ova --vsys 0 --eula show --vsys 1 --eula show 2. Import Whonix-Gateway and Whonix-Workstation. vboxmanage import Whonix-Xfce-17.2.3.7.ova --vsys 0 --eula accept --vsys 1 --eula accept 3. Done. - ↑ Rationale for Change from Default Password changeme to Empty Default Password
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