How to Run iTunes Under VirtualBox

Manage devices, play music and download content within VirtualBox.

VirtualBox is a virtual machine program that runs guest operating systems inside the host operating system running on the computer. You can use VirtualBox to install a Windows guest operating system inside a virtual machine and run iTunes inside it. Linux users can use VirtualBox to run iTunes without restarting into Windows or users of other operating systems could use VirtualBox to create a sandboxed, protected environment for iTunes. VirtualBox includes support for USB devices, allowing you to connect iPods, iPhones and iPads to your computer and manage them in iTunes inside the virtual machine.

Things You'll Need

• Windows installation disc

Instructions

1. Download and install the VirtualBox package for your operating system from the VirtualBox website at VirtualBox.org

2. Start VirtualBox by selecting the “VirtualBox” shortcut in the System or System Tools applications menu on Linux, or the “VirtualBox” shortcut in the VirtualBox Start menu folder on Windows.

3. Click the “New” button on the VirtualBox Manager window’s toolbar to create a virtual machine.

4. Complete the Create New Virtual Machine wizard that appears to create a new virtual machine for iTunes. Specify the version of Windows you’re installing on the virtual machine on the OS Type screen and complete the wizard using the default settings.

5. Insert a Windows installation disc into your computer’s disc drive. Apple iTunes supports Windows XP and later versions of Windows.

6. Double-click the name of the virtual machine you created in the VirtualBox Manager window to start the virtual machine.

7. Install the version of Windows you inserted into your computer by completing the installer that appears in the virtual machine window.

8. Click the “Devices” menu at the top of the virtual machine window after installing Windows inside it and select “Install Guest Additions.” Complete the installer that appears in the virtual machine to install the Guest Additions and enable support for iPods, iPhones and iPads in iTunes.

9. Open the iTunes website at Apple.com/iTunes in a Web browser inside your virtual machine, download the iTunes installer and install iTunes inside the virtual machine.

10. Start iTunes inside the virtual machine by double-clicking the “iTunes” icon on the virtual machine’s desktop.

11. Connect an iPod, iPhone or iPad to your computer using the included USB cable, click the “Devices” menu at the top of the virtual machine window, point to “USB Devices” and click your connected device in the menu to disconnect it from your host operating system and connect it to your virtual machine.

References

• VirtualBox: Chapter 1. First Steps
• VirtualBox: Chapter 4. Guest Additions

Resources

• VirtualBox: Download VirtualBox
• Apple: iTunes