Step 1 — Check your computer. You should have about 25 GB of free disk space and preferably 8 GB or more of physical memory. Close heavy programs during installation.
Step 2 — Download VirtualBox. Visit virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads. Choose the package for your current host system: Windows hosts or macOS hosts. Open the downloaded installer, keep the default features, and approve the publisher “Oracle Corporation”. A brief network interruption during installation can be normal.
Step 3 — Download Ubuntu. Visit ubuntu.com/download/desktop. Choose the current Ubuntu Desktop LTS release. LTS means long-term support. Save the large .iso file and wait for the download to finish.
Step 4 — Create the VM. Open VirtualBox and select New. Name it Ubuntu Learning. Select the downloaded ISO image. If “Unattended Installation” appears, choose to skip it so you can see each Ubuntu installer screen. Set memory to 4096 MB if your host has at least 8 GB; otherwise use 2048 MB. Choose 2 virtual processors when available. Create a 25 GB dynamically allocated virtual disk.
Step 5 — Start installation. Select the VM and choose Start. On the Ubuntu welcome screen choose your language, then Install Ubuntu. Choose your keyboard layout and test a few characters. Select the normal interactive installation and the default selection of apps.
Step 6 — Choose the virtual disk. Select Erase disk and install Ubuntu. This wording is frightening, but inside a correctly created VM it refers to the new virtual disk file—not your host’s physical disk. Confirm that the installer is running inside the VirtualBox window before proceeding.
Step 7 — Create your account. Enter a display name, a short lowercase computer name, a username, and a password you can remember without reusing an important real account password. Choose to require the password when logging in. Select your time zone, review the summary, and choose Install.
Step 8 — Restart. Wait until installation finishes. Choose Restart Now. If asked to remove installation media, press Enter; VirtualBox normally disconnects the ISO automatically. Log in with the password you created. A successful result is the Ubuntu desktop with a top bar, dock, and no installer window.