$Date: 2025-08-11 19:18:47 +0200 (Mon, 11 Aug 2025) $

VBoxManage guestcontrol

VBoxManage-guestcontrol 1
VBoxManage-guestcontrol control a virtual machine from the host system &product-name;
`VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname run --arg0=argument 0 --domain=domainname --dos2unix --exe=filename --ignore-orphaned-processes --no-wait-stderr --wait-stderr --no-wait-stdout --wait-stdout --passwordfile=password-file --password=password --profile --putenv=var-name=[value] --quiet --timeout=msec --unix2dos --unquoted-args --username=username --cwd=directory --verbose --argument `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname start --arg0=argument 0 --domain=domainname --exe=filename --ignore-orphaned-processes --passwordfile=password-file --password=password --profile --putenv=var-name=[value] --quiet --timeout=msec --unquoted-args --username=username --cwd=directory --verbose --argument `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname copyfrom --dereference --domain=domainname --passwordfile=password-file --password=password --quiet --no-replace --recursive --target-directory=host-destination-dir --update --username=username --verbose guest-source0 guest-source1 [...] host-destination `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname copyto --dereference --domain=domainname --passwordfile=password-file --password=password --quiet --no-replace --recursive --target-directory=guest-destination-dir --update --username=username --verbose host-source0 host-source1 [...] `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname mkdir --domain=domainname --mode=mode --parents --passwordfile=password-file --password=password --quiet --username=username --verbose guest-directory `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname rmdir --domain=domainname --passwordfile=password-file --password=password --quiet --recursive --username=username --verbose guest-directory `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname rm --domain=domainname --force --passwordfile=password-file --password=password --quiet --username=username --verbose guest-directory `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname mv --domain=domainname --passwordfile=password-file --password=password --quiet --username=username --verbose source destination-directory `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname mktemp --directory --domain=domainname --mode=mode --passwordfile=password-file --password=password --quiet --secure --tmpdir=directory-name --username=username --verbose template-name `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname mount --passwordfile=password-file --password=password --username=username --verbose `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname fsinfo --domain=domainname --passwordfile=password-file --password=password --human-readable --quiet --total --username=username --verbose path `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname stat --domain=domainname --passwordfile=password-file --password=password --quiet --username=username --verbose filename `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname list all files processes sessions --quiet --verbose `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname closeprocess --session-id=ID --session-name=name-or-pattern --quiet --verbose PID `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname closesession --all --session-id=ID --session-name=name-or-pattern --quiet --verbose `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname updatega --quiet --verbose --source=guest-additions.ISO --wait-start --argument `VBoxManage guestcontrol` uuid vmname watch --quiet --verbose

## Description

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol` command enables you to control a guest (VM) from the host system. See .

### Common Options and Operands

The following options can be used by any of the `VBoxManage guestcontrol` subcommands:

`uuid | vmname`

  Specifies the Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) or name of the VM.

`--quiet`

  Specifies that the command produce quieter output.

  The short form of this option is `-q`.

`--verbose`

  Specifies that the command produce more detailed output.

  The short form of this option is `-v`.

Some of the `VBoxManage guestcontrol` subcommands require that you provide guest credentials for authentication. The subcommands are: `copyfrom`, `copyto`, `fsinfo`, `mkdir`, `mktemp`, `mount`, `mv`, `rmdir`, `rm`, `run`, `start`, and `stat`.

While you cannot perform anonymous executions, a user account password is optional and depends on the guest's OS security policy. If a user account does not have an associated password, specify an empty password. On OSes such as Windows, you might need to adjust the security policy to permit user accounts with an empty password. In addition, global domain rules might apply and therefore cannot be changed.

The following options are used for authentication on the guest VM:

`--domain=domainname`

  Specifies the user domain for Windows guest VMs.

`--password=password`

  Specifies the password for the specified user. If you do not specify a password on the command line or if the password is empty, the specified user needs to have an empty password.

`--passwordfile=filename`

  Specifies the absolute path to a file on the host system that contains the password for the specified user. If the password file is empty or if you do not specify a password on the command line, the specified user needs to have an empty password.

`--username=username`

  Specifies an existing user in the guest OS that runs the process. If unspecified, the name of the user on the host invoking the `VBoxManage` command will be used as the username for the guest OS login.

### Guest Process Restrictions

By default, you can run up to 255 guest processes simultaneously. If attempting to start a new guest process would exceed this limit and there are inactive guest processes then the the oldest inactive guest process is discarded to run the new process. You cannot retrieve the output from a discarded guest process. If all 255 guest processes are active and running, attempting to start a new guest process fails.

### Running Graphical Applications Inside a Guest

If using the `VBoxManage guestcontrol run` or `VBoxManage guestcontrol start` commands to execute a graphical application then the guest will need to be running a graphical windowing environment typically as the same user executing the GUI application. For example on Windows guests the user running the GUI application in the guest needs to be currently logged in with a running desktop session. Similarly on UNIX and UNIX-like guests a graphical windowing system such as X11 or Wayland needs to be running and the user executing the GUI application needs authorization to be able to connect to the display server.

### Run a Command in the guest

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname run` command enables you to execute a program in the guest VM. Standard input, standard output, and standard error are redirected from the VM to the host system until the program completes.

`--exe=path-to-executable`

  Specifies the absolute path of the executable program to run in the guest VM. For example: `C:\Windows\System32\calc.exe`.

`--arg0=alternate-executable-name`

  Specifies an alternate name (i.e. arg0 or argv[0]) for the executable being run in the guest.

`--cwd=path-to-directory`

  Specifies the absolute path of a directory in which to start the program. Optional. The directory must exist and be accessible to the guest user. For example: `C:\Users\production\work_area`.

  The short form of this option is `-C`.

`--timeout=msec`

  Specifies the maximum amount of time, in milliseconds, that the program can run. While the program runs, `VBoxManage` receives its output.

  If you do not specify a timeout value, `VBoxManage` waits indefinitely for the process to end, or for an error to occur.

`--putenv=NAME=[value]`

  Sets, modifies, and unsets environment variables in the guest VM environment.

  When you create a guest process, it runs with the default standard guest OS environment. Use this option to modify environment variables in that default environment.

  Use the `--putenv=NAME=[value]` option to set or modify the environment variable specified by NAME.

  Use the `--putenv=NAME=` option to unset the environment variable specified by NAME.

  Ensure that any environment variable name or value that includes spaces is enclosed by quotes.

  Specify a `--putenv` option for each environment variable that you want to modify.

  The short form of this option is `-E`.

`--unquoted-args`

  Disables the escaped double quoting of arguments that you pass to the program. For example, `\"fred\"`.

`--ignore-orphaned-processes`

  Ignores orphaned processes. Not yet implemented.

`--profile`

  Uses a shell profile to specify the environment to use. Not yet implemented.

`--no-wait-stdout`

  Does not wait for the guest process to end or receive its exit code and any failure explanation.

`--wait-stdout`

  Waits for the guest process to end to receive its exit code and any failure explanation. The `VBoxManage` command receives the standard output of the guest process while the process runs.

`--no-wait-stderr`

  Does not wait for the guest process to end to receive its exit code, error messages, and flags.

`--wait-stderr`

  Waits for the guest process to end to receive its exit code, error messages, and flags. The `VBoxManage` command receives the standard error of the guest process while the process runs.

`--dos2unix`

  Transform DOS or Windows guest output to UNIX or Linux output. This transformation changes CR + LF line endings to LF. Not yet implemented.

`--unix2dos`

  Transform UNIX or Linux guest output to DOS or Windows output. This transformation changes LF line endings to CR + LF.

`-- [argument...]`

  Specifies one or more arguments to pass to the program being run in the guest.

  Ensure that any command argument that includes spaces is enclosed by quotes.

### Start a Command on the guest

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname start` command enables you to execute a guest program and returns after the command has been successfully started. The invoked command doesn't wait until all data from stdout or stderr has been read before returning.

### Copy a file from the guest to the host.

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname copyfrom` command enables you to copy a file from the guest VM to the host system.

`--dereference`

  Enables following of symbolic links on the guest file system.

`--no-replace`

  Only copies a file if it does not exist on the host yet.

  The short form of this option is `-n`.

`--recursive`

  Recursively copies files and directories from the specified guest directory to the host.

  The short form of this option is `-R`.

`--target-directory=host-dst-dir`

  Specifies the absolute path of the destination directory on the host system. For example, `C:\Temp`.

`--update`

  Only copies a file if the guest file is newer than on the host.

  The short form of this option is `-u`.

`guest-source0 [guest-source1 [...]]`

  Specifies the absolute path of one or more files to copy from the guest VM. For example, `C:\Windows\System32\calc.exe`. You can use wildcards to specify multiple files. For example, `C:\Windows\System*\*.dll`.

### Copy a file from the host to the guest.

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname copyto` command enables you to copy a file from the host system to the guest VM.

`--dereference`

  Enables following of symbolic links on the host system.

`--no-replace`

  Only copies a file if it does not exist on the guest yet.

  The short form of this option is `-n`.

`--recursive`

  Recursively copies files and directories from the specified host directory to the guest.

  The short form of this option is `-R`.

`--target-directory=guest-dst-dir`

  Specifies the absolute path of the destination directory on the guest. For example, `/home/myuser/fromhost`.

`--update`

  Only copies a file if the host file is newer than on the guest.

  The short form of this option is `-u`.

`host-source0 [host-source1 [...]]`

  Specifies the absolute path of a file to copy from the host system. For example, `C:\Windows\System32\calc.exe`. You can use wildcards to specify multiple files. For example, `C:\Windows\System*\*.dll`.

### Show guest filesystem information.

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname fsinfo` command enables you to show filesystem information of the guest VM.

An alternate form of this subcommand is `df`.

`--human-readable`

  Shows the disk sizes in a human readable form.

`--total`

  Produces a grand total of all disk sizes.

`guest-path [guest-path...]`

  Specifies an absolute path to show guest filesystem information for.

### Create a directory on the guest.

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname mkdir` command enables you to create one or more directories on the guest VM.

Alternate forms of this subcommand are `md`, `createdir`, and `createdirectory`.

`--parents`

  Creates any of the missing parent directories of the specified directory.

  For example, if you attempt to create the `D:\Foo\Bar` directory and the `D:\Foo` directory does not exist, using the `--parents` creates the missing `D:\Foo` directory. However, if you attempt to create the `D:\Foo\Bar` and do not specify the `--parents` option, the command fails.

`--mode=mode`

  Specifies the permission mode to use for the specified directory. If you specify the `--parents` option, the mode is used for the associated parent directories, as well. mode is a four-digit octal mode such as `0755`.

`guest-dir [guest-dir...]`

  Specifies an absolute path of one or more directories to create on the guest VM. For example, `D:\Foo\Bar`.

  If all of the associated parent directories do not exist on the guest VM, you must specify the `--parents` option.

  You must have sufficient rights on the guest VM to create the specified directory and its parent directories.

### Remove a directory from the guest.

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname rmdir` command enables you to delete the specified directory from the guest VM.

Alternate forms of this subcommand are `removedir` and `removedirectory`.

`--recursive`

  Recursively removes directories from the specified from the guest VM.

  The short form of this option is `-R`.

`guest-dir [guest-dir...]`

  Specifies an absolute path of one or more directories to remove from the guest VM. You can use wildcards to specify the directory names. For example, `D:\Foo\*Bar`.

  You must have sufficient rights on the guest VM to remove the specified directory and its parent directories.

### Remove a file from the guest.

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname rm` command enables you to delete the specified files from the guest VM.

The alternate form of this subcommand is `removefile`.

`--force`

  Forces the operation and overrides any confirmation requests.

  The short form of this option is `-f`.

`guest-file [guest-file...]`

  Specifies an absolute path of one or more files to remove from the guest VM. You can use wildcards to specify the file names. For example, `D:\Foo\Bar\text*.txt`.

  You must have sufficient rights on the guest VM to remove the specified file.

### Rename a file or Directory on the guest

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname mv` command enables you to rename files and directories on the guest VM.

Alternate forms of this subcommand are `move`, `ren`, and `rename`.

`guest-source [guest-source...]`

  Specifies an absolute path of a file or a single directory to move or rename on the guest VM. You can use wildcards to specify the file names.

  You must have sufficient rights on the guest VM to access the specified file or directory.

dest

  Specifies the absolute path of the renamed file or directory, or the destination directory to which to move the files. If you move only one file, dest can be a file or a directory, otherwise dest must be a directory.

  You must have sufficient rights on the guest VM to access the destination file or directory.

### Create a Temporary File or Directory on the guest

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname mktemp` command enables you to create a temporary file or temporary directory on the guest VM. You can use this command to assist with the subsequent copying of files from the host system to the guest VM. By default, this command creates the file or directory in the guest VM's platform-specific `temp` directory.

Alternate forms of this subcommand are `createtemp` and `createtemporary`.

`--directory`

  Creates a temporary directory that is specified by the template operand.

`--secure`

  Enforces secure file and directory creation by setting the permission mode to `0755`. Any operation that cannot be performed securely fails.

`--mode=mode`

  Specifies the permission mode to use for the specified directory. mode is a four-digit octal mode such as `0755`.

`--tmpdir=directory`

  Specifies the absolute path of the directory on the guest VM in which to create the specified file or directory. If unspecified, directory is the platform-specific `temp` directory.

template

  Specifies a template file name for the temporary file, without a directory path. The template file name must contain at least one sequence of three consecutive X characters, or must end in X.

### Shows mount points on the guest

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname mount` command enables you to the current mount points on the guest VM. For Windows guests this shows the mapped drives.

### Show a file or File System Status on the guest

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname stat` command enables you to show the status of files or file systems on the guest VM.

`file [file ...]`

  Specifies an absolute path of a file or file system on the guest VM. For example, `/home/foo/a.out`.

  You must have sufficient rights on the guest VM to access the specified files or file systems.

### List the Configuration and Status Information for a Guest Virtual Machine

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname list` command enables you to list guest control configuration and status information. For example, the output shows open guest sessions, guest processes, and files.

`all`|`sessions`|`processes`|`files`

  Indicates the type of information to show. `all` shows all available data, `sessions` shows guest sessions, `processes` shows processes, and `files` shows files.

### Terminate a Process in a guest Session

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname closeprocess` command enables you to terminate a guest process that runs in a guest session. Specify the process by using a process identifier (PID) and the session by using the session ID or name.

`--session-id=ID`

  Specifies the ID of the guest session.

`--session-name=name|pattern`

  Specifies the name of the guest session. Use a pattern that contains wildcards to specify multiple sessions.

`PID [PID ...]`

  Specifies the list of PIDs of guest processes to terminate.

### Close a guest Session

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname closesession` command enables you to close a guest session. Specify the guest session either by session ID or by name.

`--session-id=ID`

  Specifies the ID of the guest session.

`--session-name=name|pattern`

  Specifies the name of the guest session. Use a pattern that contains wildcards to specify multiple sessions.

`--all`

  Closes all guest sessions.

### Update the Guest Additions Software on the guest

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname updatega` command enables you to update the Guest Additions software installed in the specified guest VM.

Alternate forms of this subcommand are `updateadditions` and `updateguestadditions`.

`--source=new-iso-path`

  Specifies the absolute path of the Guest Additions update `.ISO` file on the guest VM.

`--reboot`

  Automatically reboots the guest after a successful Guest Additions update.

`--timeout=ms`

  Sets the timeout (in ms) to wait for the overall Guest Additions update to complete. By default no timeout is being used.

`--verify`

  Verifies whether the Guest Additions were updated successfully after a successful installation. A guest reboot is mandatory.

`--wait-ready`

  Waits for the current Guest Additions being ready to handle the Guest Additions update.

`--wait-start`

  Starts the `VBoxManage` update process on the guest VM and then waits for the Guest Additions update to begin before terminating the `VBoxManage` process.

  By default, the `VBoxManage` command waits for the Guest Additions update to complete before it terminates. Use this option when a running `VBoxManage` process affects the interaction between the installer and the guest OS.

`-- argument [argument ...]`

  Specifies optional command-line arguments to pass to the Guest Additions updater. You might use the `--` option to pass the appropriate updater arguments to retrofit features that are not yet installed.

  Ensure that any command argument that includes spaces is enclosed by quotes.

### Wait for a guest run level

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname waitrunlevel` command enables you to wait for a guest run level being reached.

`--timeout=ms`

  Sets the timeout (in ms) to wait for reaching the run level. By default no timeout is being used.

`system|userland|desktop`

  Specifies the run level to wait for.

### Show Current Guest Control Activity

The `VBoxManage guestcontrol vmname watch` command enables you to show current guest control activity.

## Examples

The following `VBoxManage guestcontrol run` command executes the `ls -l /usr` command on the `My OL VM` Oracle Linux VM as the `user1` user.

    $ VBoxManage --nologo guestcontrol "My OL VM" run --exe "/bin/ls" \
    --username user1 --passwordfile pw.txt --wait-stdout -- -l /usr

The `--exe` option specifies the absolute path of the command to run in the guest VM, `/bin/ls`. Use the `--` option to pass any arguments that follow it to the `ls` command.

Use the `--username` option to specify the user name, `user1` and use the `--passwordfile` option to specify the name of a file that includes the password for the `user1` user, `pw.txt`.

The `--wait-stdout` option waits for the `ls` guest process to complete before providing the exit code and the command output. The `--nologo` option suppresses the output of the logo information.

The following `VBoxManage guestcontrol run` command executes the `ipconfig` command on the `My Win VM` Windows VM as the `user1` user. Standard input, standard output, and standard error are redirected from the VM to the host system until the program completes.

    $ VBoxManage --nologo guestcontrol "My Win VM" run \
    --exe "c:\\windows\\system32\\ipconfig.exe" \
    --username user1 --passwordfile pw.txt --wait-stdout

The `--exe` specifies the absolute path of command to run in the guest VM, `c:\windows\system32\ipconfig.exe`. The double backslashes shown in this example are required only on UNIX host systems.

Use the `--username` option to specify the user name, `user1` and use the `--passwordfile` option to specify the name of a file that includes the password for the `user1` user, `pw.txt`.

The `--wait-stdout` option waits for the `ls` guest process to complete before providing the exit code and the command output. The `--nologo` option to suppress the output of the logo information.

The following `VBoxManage guestcontrol start` command executes the `ls -l /usr` command on the `My OL VM` Oracle Linux VM until the program completes.

    $ VBoxManage --nologo guestcontrol "My Win VM" start \
    --exe "c:\\windows\\system32\\ipconfig.exe" \
    --username user1 --passwordfile pw.txt

The following `VBoxManage guestcontrol run` command executes a `/usr/bin/busybox -l /usr` command on the `My OL VM` Oracle Linux VM as the `user1` user, explicitly using `ls` as argument 0.

    $ VBoxManage --nologo guestcontrol "My OL VM" run --exe "/usr/bin/busybox" \
    --username user1 --passwordfile pw.txt --wait-stdout --arg0 ls -- -l /usr

The `--exe` option specifies the absolute path of the command to run in the guest VM, `/usr/bin/busybox`. Use the `--` option to pass any arguments that follow it to the `busybox` command.

Use the `--username` option to specify the user name, `user1` and use the `--passwordfile` option to specify the name of a file that includes the password for the `user1` user, `pw.txt`.

The `--wait-stdout` option waits for the `ls` guest process to complete before providing the exit code and the command output. The `--nologo` option suppresses the output of the logo information.

The `--arg0` option explicitly specifies the argument 0 to use for the command to execute.

The default value of argument 0 (i.e. arg0 or argv[0]) is the value from the `--exe` option unless the `--arg0` option has been supplied.