Oracle Virtualbox

How to Add a DVD or CD-ROM Drive in Oracle VirtualBox

Learn how to add a virtual optical drive in Oracle VirtualBox, attach a physical CD/DVD or ISO image, verify the guest detects it, and troubleshoot boot and media issues.

A virtual optical drive is a software-defined CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive attached to a virtual machine (VM). It lets the guest operating system read optical media in much the same way that a physical computer reads a disc.

Common uses include installing a guest operating system, booting recovery media, installing VirtualBox Guest Additions, and opening software distributed as an ISO image. A VM can have one or more optical drives when its virtual hardware configuration and storage controllers support them.

Choose an Optical Media Source

VirtualBox can connect the virtual optical drive to either a physical optical drive on the host computer or an ISO image file.

An ISO image is a file containing an exact representation of an optical disc's filesystem and contents. It can be selected from VirtualBox's registered media list or located by browsing the host filesystem.

Source — What It Connects — Typical Use — Requirements

Host physical CD/DVD drive — A physical optical drive attached to the host — Reading a disc inserted into the host computer — The host must have an accessible drive and inserted disc.

ISO image file — A disk-image file presented as optical media — Operating-system installation, recovery, software installation, or repeatable testing — The ISO must be available on the host and readable by VirtualBox.

Prerequisites

  • Identify the target VM in Oracle VM VirtualBox Manager.
  • Power off the VM completely before changing its virtual hardware. A running or saved VM may prevent storage changes.
  • Keep the physical disc inserted and accessible, or retain access to the ISO file you want to attach.
  • Know where the ISO is stored on the host if you plan to browse for it.

If you still need to create a VM, see how to create a virtual machine. For background, review what a virtual machine is.

Open the VM Storage Configuration

  1. Open Oracle VM VirtualBox Manager.
  2. Select the desired powered-off VM.
  3. Open the VM's Settings window.
  4. Select Storage. This section lists storage controllers and the virtual disks and optical devices attached to them.
VirtualBox Manager > select virtual machine > Settings > Storage

A storage controller is virtual hardware that connects storage devices to the VM. Depending on the configuration, an optical device may be attached to an IDE or SATA controller. Select a compatible controller before adding the drive.

Add the Virtual Optical Drive

  1. In the Storage section, select the controller under which the optical drive should appear.
  2. Use the controller's Add Optical Drive or Add CD/DVD Device control. The exact icon or wording can vary between VirtualBox versions.
  3. Confirm that an empty optical drive entry appears beneath the selected controller.

The empty entry is the virtual CD-ROM/DVD-ROM device. It is now part of the VM's virtual hardware, but it has no media until you attach a physical drive or ISO image.

Attach the device to a controller that the VM supports. If the desired control is unavailable, select another compatible controller or add a suitable controller if the VM configuration permits it.

Attach a Physical CD or DVD

  1. Insert the required CD or DVD into the host computer's physical optical drive.
  2. Select the virtual optical drive entry in the Storage settings.
  3. Open the optical media selector.
  4. Choose the host optical drive containing the disc.
  5. Confirm the selection and save the VM settings.

The guest should then see the contents of the physical disc through its virtual optical drive. The host operating system must be able to access the drive and read the disc. If the host has no usable optical drive, use an ISO image instead.

Attach an ISO Image

  1. Select the virtual optical drive entry under the storage controller.
  2. Open the optical media selector.
  3. Select an ISO already listed in VirtualBox's media list, or choose the option to browse the local filesystem.
  4. Locate and select the ISO file.
  5. Confirm the selection. The ISO should be shown as attached to the optical drive.
  6. Confirm the Storage settings to save the configuration.
Select optical drive entry > optical media selector > choose registered ISO or browse for an ISO file

Leaving the ISO attached means VirtualBox can mount it when the VM starts. This is useful for installation media that must be available at startup. Detach or eject it after installation when you no longer want the guest to use it.

Verify and Start the VM

  1. Use the confirmation control in the Settings dialog to apply the Storage changes.
  2. Start the VM.
  3. Inside the guest operating system, check whether an optical drive appears.
  4. Open the drive or file manager and verify that the attached disc or ISO contents are readable.

If the optical media must start the VM, check the VM's boot order. Boot order is the sequence of devices checked during startup. Place the optical drive before the virtual hard disk when you want the VM to boot from installation or recovery media. Restore the normal order after the operation if necessary.

For an operating-system installation, the complete process is: create or select a powered-off VM, add an optical drive if one is not present, attach a bootable operating-system ISO, make the optical drive available early in the boot order, and start the VM to begin the installer. See installing a guest operating system for the broader installation workflow.

Manage Media After Adding the Drive

Adding the drive and attaching media are separate actions. You can keep the virtual optical drive while changing or removing the media connected to it.

  • Insert or mount media: Use the VM's Storage settings or the running VM's device menu to select an ISO or host optical drive.
  • Eject media: Disconnect the currently mounted ISO or physical disc while keeping the virtual optical drive available.
  • Replace media: Eject the current media, then select another ISO or host drive.
  • Remove the drive: Remove the virtual optical drive entry from the storage controller. This removes the virtual device itself, not merely the media.

To detach an ISO that is no longer needed, select the optical drive while the VM is powered off, choose the empty-drive or eject option, and save the Storage settings. When the VM is running, the same operation may be available from its device menu.

Task — Where to Perform It — Result

Add optical drive — VM Settings > Storage, with a controller selected — Creates an empty virtual CD/DVD device.

Mount ISO — Select the optical drive and use the media selector — Presents an ISO as a disc to the guest.

Select host drive — Select the optical drive and choose a physical host drive — Presents an inserted host disc to the guest.

Eject media — Storage settings or the running VM device menu — Removes the current media but keeps the virtual drive.

Remove optical drive — VM Settings > Storage — Removes the virtual optical device from the VM.

Practical Examples

Install an Operating System from an ISO

  1. Create or select a powered-off VM.
  2. Open Settings > Storage and add an optical drive under a compatible controller if needed.
  3. Attach the operating-system ISO.
  4. Check the boot order so the optical drive is available before the virtual hard disk.
  5. Start the VM and follow the guest operating-system installer.
  6. After installation, eject or detach the ISO so the VM boots from its virtual hard disk.

Use a Physical CD or DVD

  1. Insert the disc into the host computer's optical drive.
  2. Add or select the VM's virtual optical drive.
  3. Choose the host physical drive as the media source.
  4. Start the guest and open the detected optical drive from the guest operating system.

Mount Guest Additions Media

  1. Start the guest operating system.
  2. Use the running VM's VirtualBox device menu to mount the Guest Additions optical media.
  3. Open the optical disc inside the guest.
  4. Run the installer intended for the guest operating system.
  5. Eject the media after installation.

Learn more about VirtualBox Guest Additions and their installation media.

Replace Installation Media with Recovery Media

  1. Shut down the VM, or change media safely through the running VM's device menu when supported.
  2. Eject the installation ISO from the optical drive.
  3. Attach the recovery ISO.
  4. Prioritize the optical drive in the boot order if the recovery environment must start first.
  5. Start the VM and use the recovery tools.

Troubleshooting

The Add or Modify Optical Drive Option Is Unavailable

  • Fully power off the VM rather than leaving it running, paused, or in a state that prevents hardware changes.
  • Verify that the selected storage controller supports the desired attachment.
  • Select another compatible controller or add one if the VM configuration allows it.

The Guest Does Not See the ISO or Disc

  • Confirm that media is attached to the virtual optical drive in Storage settings.
  • For physical media, verify that the correct host drive was selected and that the disc is inserted.
  • Check that the host operating system can read the disc or ISO.
  • Restart the guest or rescan devices when the guest operating system supports that operation.

The VM Does Not Boot from Installation or Recovery Media

  • Confirm that the ISO is bootable; not every ISO contains startup software.
  • Ensure the ISO remains attached before starting the VM.
  • Adjust the VM boot order so the optical drive is checked before another bootable device.
  • Verify that the virtual optical drive is present under Storage.

The Host Physical Drive Cannot Be Used

  • Confirm that the host has an accessible optical drive and that the disc is inserted.
  • Check whether the host operating system or another application is using or restricting the drive.
  • Review host permissions and platform limitations affecting direct physical-drive access.
  • Use an ISO image as an alternative when direct access is unavailable.

Key Points

  • A virtual optical drive is a virtual CD/DVD device attached to a VM.
  • The media source can be a host physical optical drive or an ISO image file.
  • Make storage hardware changes while the VM is powered off.
  • Select a compatible IDE or SATA storage controller before adding the device.
  • Mounting media is different from adding or removing the virtual optical drive.
  • Check the guest device list and boot order when media is not detected or will not boot.

For related storage configuration, see VirtualBox storage controllers, disk image files, or how to add a floppy drive.