Is it safe to delete VirtualBox virtual machines?
Virtual machines created in VirtualBox, one folder per machine with its settings file and virtual disks.
Review first
It's your own data, or hard to recreate. Decide item by item.
~/
- Only when it contains *.vbox
What it is
VirtualBox keeps each virtual machine in its own folder inside VirtualBox VMs in your home folder, with a .vbox settings file, its virtual disks, snapshots and logs. The disks grow as you install software and store files in the machine. Everything you keep in the virtual machine is stored in this folder.
If it's removed
The virtual machine, its snapshots and everything stored in it are removed.
What to do instead
In VirtualBox Manager, Control-click a virtual machine that isn't running, choose Remove, and choose to delete its files.
The free analyzer finds it and explains it, with these steps. The app doesn't remove it for you.
Sources
Last checked on 26 Sep 2026. Every entry is written and checked by hand; the app and the command-line tool use the same words.