How to convert a virtual machine between VirtualBox and VMware step by step

Virtualization is a fundamental pillar for working in laboratory, development, testing, and even production environments. However, one of the common headaches arises when faced with platform switching: How to move a virtual machine from VirtualBox to VMware or vice versa without losing data, without having to reinstall everything from scratch and, of course, without headaches? Here is the most complete, natural and accessible guide on the subject, compiling all the Tricks, real recommendations and solutions based on experience and evidence present in the best content that dominates Google for this topic.

If you're one of those people who's spent hours getting your virtual machine ready, with its operating system perfectly configured and all your applications ready, you won't want to start from scratch just because you've decided to change virtualization software. Fortunately, there are reliable methods—and some not so reliable ones—that allow you to move your virtual machines. Virtual machines From VirtualBox to VMware and vice versa, and even to other systems like Hyper-V, without any drama. Let's take a closer look!

VirtualBox vs. VMware: Basic Differences and Compatibility

VirtualBox and VMware have been the most popular options for virtualization in home, business, and academic environments for years.While VirtualBox stands out for being free and highly versatile, VMware offers robust and professional solutions such as Workstation, Player, and its server line (vSphere, ESXi, etc.). However, their disk formats and virtual machines are different:

• VirtualBox mainly uses VDI files (Virtual Disk Image) to store the virtual hard disks of the machines.
• VMware uses VMDK (Virtual Machine Disk) is the standard virtual disk format. Each hypervisor also uses configuration files with different extensions (.vmx, .vbox, etc.).

The key to interoperability lies in the standardized OVF (Open Virtualization Format) format and its packaged variant OVA.Both formats encapsulate all the information needed to move a virtual machine between different programs.

Migrate a virtual machine from VirtualBox to VMware

Is your favorite virtual machine in VirtualBox, but now you need to use it in VMware? Before you jump in, it's good to know that Compatibility is never 100% complete, although it remains quite reliable in most cases, especially with systems Windows y Linux standard.

Steps to export from VirtualBox

1. Make sure the virtual machine is completely powered off (not in saved or suspended mode). If the VM is suspended, resume and shut down it normally.
2. Access the VirtualBox File menu and look for the option Export virtualized service o Export to OVF/OVA depending on the version you have installed.
3. Select the virtual machine you want to export from the list and click “Next”.
4. In the next window, choose the export format: it is recommended OVF 1.0 to avoid potential incompatibilities. You can also opt for OVA (it's simply the OVF packaged into a single file, which can make management easier if you need to move the VM between multiple devices).
5. Enter the name and folder where you want to save the OVF or OVA file..
6. Review the export summary and click on ExportThe process may take a few minutes depending on the size of the virtual disk and the speed of your computer.

When the export is complete, you will have the OVF file (and usually one or more VMDK disk images, plus possible configuration files) in the selected folder.

Import the VM into VMware

1. Open VMware Workstation, Player, or whatever product you use.
2. From the menu, select File > Open (Open virtual machine). Find the OVF or OVA file you exported from VirtualBox.
3. Choose where to save the imported virtual machine and its name in the VMware system.
4. Press on Import to start the process. If you see any errors related to the OVF specification, don't be alarmed; it often happens that the VirtualBox export isn't 100% compatible with what VMware expects. If it gives you the option to Retry/Retry, press that button to continue the process ignoring incompatibility warnings.
5. Once the process is complete, the virtual machine will be available in your VMware list. Simply select it and press "Start" to boot the system.

Recommendations after import

• Once you boot the imported machine into VMware, install VMware Tools for best performance, mouse integration, automatic resolution adjustment, and other improvements.
• In some OS, it may be advisable to first uninstall the Guest Additions from VirtualBox and then install VMware Tools.
• If you have problems with virtual devices (CD/DVD, SATA/IDE, etc.), check the configuration of hardware in VMware and removes unnecessary devices that may have been imported incorrectly.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

• Import Error – OVF specification compliance: Ignore the error and retry the import; in most cases the machine works correctly.
• Problems of Boot (especially on Windows)If you were using UEFI or Secure Boot, the system may not boot. Configure the VM to match your original installation settings.
• Drivers and driversIf you notice that your system is running slowly or not recognizing some devices, install or update VMware Tools.
• Operating system incompatibility: Exporting a VM from MacOS, for example, is not feasible between VirtualBox and VMware in most cases, due to limitations of both systems.

Whenever possible, before converting, make sure that the VM does not contain software or drivers that are highly specific to the original hypervisor.

Step by Step: Migrate from VMware to VirtualBox

If your original environment is on VMware (Workstation, Player, Fusion…) and you want to bring the VM to VirtualBox, there are two main paths:

1. Using VMware's OVF export feature directly (if your version supports it).
2. Using the OVFTOOL (VMware official, free) to convert the VM configuration file to OVF.

Option 1: Export to OVF from VMware

1. Make sure the virtual machine is completely powered off (not in suspension).
2. From the menu, choose File > Export to OVF.
3. Select the name, path, and format for the export (make sure to choose OVF).
4. Wait for the process to complete. You'll see a folder containing the OVF file and the virtual disks.
5. Open VirtualBox and select File > Import Virtualized Service.
6. Browse to the generated OVF file, click “Next” and adjust the import options according to your preferences (path, name, storage, Etc.).
7. Press on Import. Upon completion, your machine will appear in VirtualBox ready for use.

Option 2: Convert using OVFTOOL

1. Download and install OVFTOOL from VMware if you don't already have it on your system. It is usually included in VMware Workstation packages, in the path
   C:/Program Files/VMware/VMware Workstation/OVFTool
2. Open a console (DCM) in that folder and run the following command (adjusting the names and paths to your case):
   ovftool "C:/ruta/del/archivo.vmx" "C:/ruta/destino/maquina.ovf"
3. When finished, you will have the OVF file that you can import from VirtualBox, following the procedure above.

Notes and recommendations after import

• It is advisable to install the VirtualBox Guest Additions to maximize performance and compatibility.
• If your virtual machine had VMware Tools installed, uninstall them before installing Guest Additions on the restored VM.
• Check your network, display, and storage settings; each hypervisor handles devices differently, and you may need to change the network adapter type or graphics driver for proper operation.

Common mistakes and limitations

• Older versions of VMware may export OVF files with parameters incompatible with VirtualBox. In this case, try updating VMware or manually editing the OVF file (only recommended if you know what you're doing).
• Highly customized machines or those with very specific virtual hardware may require manual adjustments after import.
• Certain operating systems, such as macOS, have many limitations when migrating between platforms.

From VirtualBox or VMware to Hyper-V and vice versa

Although the main focus is on converting between VirtualBox and VMware, at some point you may need to port a VM to Hyper-V (Microsoft's hypervisor) or from there to another system.

From VirtualBox to Hyper-V

1. Use the command vboxmanage.exe clonehd to convert the VirtualBox VDI disk to VHD format, which is the format used by Hyper-V. Example:
   vboxmanage.exe clonehd "ruta/al/vdi.vdi" "ruta/al/vhd.vhd" --format VHD
2. When finished, create a new VM in Hyper-V and select use an existing disk, pointing to the newly created VHD file.

From VMware to Hyper-V

1. Convert VMDK disk to VHD using tools like StarWind V2V Converter o VMware Converter.
2. Import the VHD disk into Hyper-V and create a VM from scratch, mapping the converted disk.

From Hyper-V to VirtualBox or VMware

1. Export Hyper-V virtual disk in VHD format.
2. In VirtualBox you can directly import the VHD as a hard drive for a new virtual machine.
3. For VMware, first convert to VMDK using appropriate tools and create the VM from the existing disk.

Additional tools for complex migrations: VMware Converter and other utilities

Beyond the native export/import functions of VMware and VirtualBox, there are utilities specifically designed to perform P2V (physical to virtual) and V2V (between different virtualization systems) migrations.

VMware vCenter Converter Standalone

VMware Converter has been the standard for migrating physical servers or virtual machines between platforms for years.Its possibilities are very broad:

• Allows you to convert powered-on (hot migration) or powered-off (cold migration) physical machines to VMware VMs.
• Facilitates the conversion of VMs hosted on VMware Workstation, Player, or Fusion to ESXi and vCenter environments, or vice versa.
• Supports disk conversion and virtual hardware reconfiguration to fit the new hypervisor.

General operation

1. Install VMware Converter Standalone on a Windows machine (or whatever source you plan to convert).
2. Run the conversion wizard and choose the source: it can be a local physical machine, an existing VMware VM, a Hyper-V VM, etc.
3. Specify the destination (ESXi server, VMware Workstation, etc.) and configure the desired parameters (resources, disk size, network, etc.)
4. Click Finish and wait for the process to complete. The system will perform the necessary steps, install VMware Tools on the migrated VM, and leave everything ready for its initial startup.

Advantages and limitations

• Facilitates migration from physical to virtual environments (P2V), as well as between different virtual platforms (V2V).
• Supports migration of Windows and Linux VMs, using both BIOS such as UEFI, and disks MBR or GPT.
• Allows you to customize the final configuration of the VM, networks, resources and services.
• Not all operating systems are supported on all versions; please check compatibility before starting the migration.
• Depending on the type of migration (hot or cold), it may be necessary to temporarily stop sensitive services or programs at the source.

Summary table of procedures and limitations between hypervisors

Related article:

How to take a snapshot in VirtualBox: Complete guide and step-by-step tips

In short, switching a virtual machine from VirtualBox to VMware—and vice versa—is perfectly feasible and within the reach of any user, even without extensive technical knowledge. Standard export formats such as OVF/OVA and supporting tools (OVFTOOL, VMware Converter, VBoxManage, StarWind, among others) have greatly simplified this process in recent years. However, it's worth taking the time, reading error messages carefully, and adjusting the settings so that the virtual machine migrates without losing performance and with all devices working correctly. With these best practices, you'll minimize problems and have your entire virtual environment ready to continue working wherever you need it.

Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.