VirtualBox 7.2 brings enhanced ARM support, refined UI & Linux 6.16/6.17 kernel support

Oracle has released VirtualBox 7.2, delivering significant updates for virtualization users across platforms. The user interface has been refined, moving global and virtual machine tools out of hamburger menus and into more convenient locations like the global tools’ taskbar and VM tools tabs. This change streamlines workflows and makes essential tools more accessible.

On the Linux side, VirtualBox 7.2 introduces hardware-accelerated video decoding in virtual machines when 3D acceleration is enabled. This upgrade benefits users running media-heavy applications, providing smoother playback and lower CPU usage. Initial support for Linux kernel versions 6.16 and the upcoming 6.17 also ensures that VirtualBox stays compatible with evolving distributions.

ARM support expands in this release, as Windows on ARM virtual machines can now run on Windows, Linux, and macOS ARM hosts. These VMs can utilize shared folders and benefit from a new Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) graphics driver with 2D and 3D modes. Meanwhile, users on Apple Silicon Macs gain experimental 3D acceleration via DXMT, while 3D acceleration support on Intel-based macOS hosts has been discontinued.

Additionally, NVMe storage controller emulation is now included in the open source base package, and the update delivers a variety of user interface improvements and bug fixes.