Add custom Virtual Machine icons to VirtualBox

I'd like to use custom icons to better distinguish machines running the same OS from each other, in VirtualBox. is this possible? If so, what file(s) do I need to add/edit?

Examples:

I've got two Windows 7 VMs. One I use as a sandbox for testing various things, and the other I use for when I need to connect to work (ideally, my personal system - the host machine - never directly connects). I'd like to have perhaps a beaker for the sandbox, and a suitcase for the work machine.

I've got two Ubuntu VMs. One is BackTrack Linux, the other is a build I'm using to learn more about the OS. I wouldn't mind keeping the regular icon for the latter, but I'd like to use one of BackTrack's icons or images for the former.

I'm running VirtualBox 4.1.6 on Windows 7 x64.

Iszi

Posted 2011-11-12T18:37:38.550

Reputation: 11 686

As far as distinguishing between machines and changing the icon, you can use the answer from @koshua. Change the Name, Type, and Version settings under Settings->General->Basic to something different. I have confirmed that it does work to change the icon and I have found no problems. Also, a moderator at the VirtualBox forums confirms that there are no issues changing this setting after initial setup. > by mpack » 25. Apr 2011, 05:31

The drop down list shows OS categories, not an exhaustive list of

individual OS editi

– talyric – 2013-05-30T21:28:52.587

Answers

You can easily change the VM icon in the VirtualBox CLI by doing this command:

VBoxManage modifyvm  "VM Name" --iconfile D:\icon.png

SaurikSI

Posted 2011-11-12T18:37:38.550

Reputation: 101

This seems useful, but you may want to format the command for easier readability. – Anaksunaman – 2018-05-22T01:46:47.743

This works great on VirtualBox 5.2.16 (MacOS 10.13). – Mycah – 2018-07-23T21:15:20.737

Works with VirtualBox 6.0.6. For those who want to go back to the original icon (file "os_...") => https://www.virtualbox.org/browser/vbox/trunk/src/VBox/Frontends/VirtualBox/images

– Pollitzer – 2019-04-20T14:51:48.057

EDIT

Original answer was written in 2012 and (luckily) it is outdated.

Please check this answer as suggested in comments.

original answer

I wanted to do the same thing, but it's not possible.

Here is a Ticket of 2 years ago. It is stated that probably this feature will not ever be implemented.

The solution could be build the OSE version yourself and replace icons with yours in order to be able to use them as standard icons.

black

Posted 2011-11-12T18:37:38.550

Reputation: 201

Seems like this answer is outdated, the VBoxManage in @SaurikSI answer works https://superuser.com/a/1324802/648598

– Mycah – 2018-07-23T21:21:14.023

You also have the option to start the machine via a desktop link, and then customizing the icon via right-click -> Properties. When you start the VM using this link, the custom icon will also appear in the task bar.

This is very useful if you are running several VM's at the same time, and you want to distinguish them in the task bar.

Juan

Posted 2011-11-12T18:37:38.550

Reputation: 11

Welcome to Super User! This is really a comment and not an answer to the original question. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post - you can always comment on your own posts, and once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post.

– DavidPostill – 2015-06-25T13:08:03.760

You can change OS type in description in Settings->General->Basic. It's just a descriptive parameter and doesnt influence VM work from what I have seen.

I was looking for a solution too, but it seems that's the only way to change it. Btw Solaris icons are really nice :)

koshua

Posted 2011-11-12T18:37:38.550

Reputation: 1