How configure VirtualBox shortcuts to switch between virtual computer and host with single key combination on windows 10
Does one of these works for you:
Host key
+m
, minimize virtualbox os window,- Click
Host key
once and release to let the vm lose focus, thenAlt
+Tab
, switch to a window of residing os,
Tips:
- The
Host key
is used to transfer focus to residing os, on windows or linux it'sright Ctrl
by default. - If the vm already lose focus, then you don't need to press the
Host key
first, otherwise you need to press once & release, to transfer focus back to residing os. - If you switch back to the vm again via
Alt
+Tab
, then vm will get focus again, then to get back to residing os, you need to pressHost key
again.
The virtualbox Auto Capture Keyboard
option
(from File -> Preference -> Input
).
Behavior:
- If checked, then you need
Host key
to return focus to residing os, just as described above. - If unchecked, then vm is just treated as a simple window in host. You can use
Alt
+Tab
to switch to a window from host anytime, without press theHost key
first. But, you also can't switch within windows inside the vm, viaAlt
+Tab
any more.
Which to use:
There is a trade off, it depends on what you use the vm for to decide whether check it or not.
In my case:
- When I am using Windows vm on a Linux host.
In the Windows vm browser with proxy is the only thing I need most of the time, and most of the time I am on Linux host.
So I uncheck it, so that never need to clickHost key
to get back to Linux host. - When I am using Linux vm on a Windows host.
Actually most of the time I am working on the linux vm, and sometimes need to go to the Windows host.
So I check it, so that I can switch between windows of Linux vm viaAlt
+Tab
, and when I need to go back to Windows host, I clickHost key
first or use mouse.