Troubleshooting VirtualBox Full Screen Mode on Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide

VirtualBox is a popular virtual machine software that allows users to run multiple operating systems on their Macs. However, some users have reported issues with the full-screen mode in VirtualBox, where the screen goes black after booting up the guest operating system. In this article, we'll explore possible causes and solutions to resolve this issue.

To begin with, it's essential to ensure that Guest Additions are installed for your Virtual Machine (VM). This is because some issues related to dual monitor setup or incorrect graphics settings can occur without these add-ons. After conducting a thorough investigation into the problem, I've identified several possible causes and solutions that I'll outline in this article.

One of the potential reasons for the black screen issue is an incorrect configuration during the installation process. In my case, I noticed that installing the latest version of VirtualBox resulted in a successful setup followed by a black screen after booting up the machine. To resolve this, I decided to install an older working version of VirtualBox and see if the problem was solved.

Unfortunately, even with the older version, changing or resizing the window didn't resolve the issue. In desperation, I created a new VM using the latest Linux Mint 19.3 and installed it successfully. However, after rebooting the machine, the screen remained black.

It's worth noting that I have two working VirtualBox VMs: Windows and Linux Mint. This suggests that there may be an issue specific to the newer version of VirtualBox or the guest operating system.

To troubleshoot this issue further, you can try the following steps:

1. Ensure that Guest Additions are installed for your VM.

2. Check the installation logs for any errors during the setup process.

3. Try installing an older working version of VirtualBox to see if the problem persists.

4. Create a new VM using a different guest operating system and test if the issue occurs.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the cause of the black screen issue in VirtualBox full-screen mode on your Mac.

Virtualbox full screen mac