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I'm using VirtualBox Version 5.2.6 r120293 (Qt5.6.1).

Guest OS: Windows 7 Ultimate (32-bit)
Host OS: CentOS 7

I tried enabling bidirectional clipboard by going to Settings -> General -> Advanced and selecting Bidirectional form the dropdown menu for shared clipboard.

enter image description here

Then I restarted the machine. But it wasn't working.

I have already tried removing and adding the VM to the machine list. But the problem persists.

Any help would be appreciated.

Bilesh Ganguly
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    Have you installed the Guest Additions on the Windows 7 guest? – n8te Feb 08 '18 at 07:21
  • @n8te I don't think so. Can you guide me to it? – Bilesh Ganguly Feb 08 '18 at 07:24
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    The guest additions are required to be able to use the bidirectional clipboard so that should be the cause of your issue if you don't remember installing it. See [here](https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch04.html). – n8te Feb 08 '18 at 07:27
  • Possible duplicate of [VirtualBox 4.3.12, Windows 7 as guest and host OS: host -> guest clipboard not working](https://superuser.com/questions/835157/virtualbox-4-3-12-windows-7-as-guest-and-host-os-host-guest-clipboard-not-w) – n8te Feb 08 '18 at 07:28
  • @n8te Guest additions weren't installed. So, I installed that and the bidirectional clipboard started working. Thank you for the help. – Bilesh Ganguly Feb 08 '18 at 09:15
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    Unfortunately, I can't write an answer. But I've had the same issue with Guest Additions 6.1.4. The extension is buggy, so there is no (easy) solution, but as a workaround, just downgrade to the last version. In my case, it just worked after I've downloaded GA 6.1.2. Now I can work as I'm used to and wait for the bug to be fixed. – dajood Mar 15 '20 at 15:08
  • This is a known issue with VirtualBox Guest Additions. Downgrade or get trunk release. Here you have test builds for 5.2: https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Testbuilds See: https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/19336 – Adam Apr 04 '20 at 10:45
  • Unfortunately I cannot write an answer (just made an account), but I resolved this issue on my system (windows 10 host, linux vm, using 6.1.12). The extension_pack was actually installed and setup on my system (maybe newer version do it automatically), however the GUEST Addtions was not, and needed to be added. In the same site/area you download the extension_pack, you can also download guestadditions.iso. Installation is easy, mount it on the optical drive (I did it from settings), open terminal: cd /media/(yourusername)/VBox_GAs_6.1.12, and then type: sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run – samman Jul 17 '20 at 01:38
  • anyone with 6.1.14? done all things. both answers also comment. none of em works. help – greendino Mar 07 '21 at 19:16
  • Does this answer your question? [Why doesn't clipboard sharing work with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS inside VirtualBox 5.1.26?](https://superuser.com/questions/1318231/why-doesnt-clipboard-sharing-work-with-ubuntu-18-04-lts-inside-virtualbox-5-1-2) – Slate Aug 09 '21 at 13:48
  • This always fails after some time and I need to restart the OS to make it work again... it is a long existing bug. – Black Dec 21 '22 at 08:35

3 Answers3

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You need to add extension pack for you virtualbox

  1. Open https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox and open your Virtualbox version
  2. Download Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack.vbox-extpack.
  3. Open Virtualbox VM Manager
  4. In File->Preferences, Select Extension
  5. Now add extension by browsing to download location

Done.

Ravi Bhardwaj
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    It didn't work for me ! – Othman Benchekroun Aug 22 '19 at 13:49
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    none of the "solutions" provided here work for me . I have the Share clopboard bidireccional active, + guest additions CD installed + the Extension pack installed, still no clipboard exchange between a linux box (guest) an the Windows 10 (host) – Victor Barrantes Feb 22 '20 at 05:52
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    did not work for me either Windows 10 host, Debian 10 amd 64 client – koraxkorakos Mar 04 '20 at 17:12
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    Seems broken in 6.1.4... can't get it to work with Kali Linux rolling. Additions installed version 6.1.4 from APT repo. Something broke in the last few months. – Sean Aitken Mar 13 '20 at 05:09
  • Although I have windows 10 for me work this answer https://superuser.com/questions/1318231/why-doesnt-clipboard-sharing-work-with-ubuntu-18-04-lts-inside-virtualbox-5-1-2 – olmerg Mar 19 '20 at 12:27
  • No its not broken! just download the proper version of VBoxGuestAdditions.iso from https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox and install on your vm. – Amin Nadimi Mar 30 '20 at 11:39
  • @AminNadimi same here. i have 6.1.4e136177 installed (which is the exact same number as my vbox). it worked before. it doesn't work any more. is there another version you can confirm working? or any other proven way to make it work again? – devman Mar 30 '20 at 17:12
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    @devman I have virtual box version 6.1.4 but installed [this version of iso file](https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/6.1.0_RC1/VBoxGuestAdditions_6.1.0_RC1.iso), install it in your vm maybe this works for you either. After installation restart virtual box and also keep in mind that it will not share files in clip board! it only shares text as much as i saw. – Amin Nadimi Mar 31 '20 at 10:09
  • This is a known issue with VirtualBox Guest Additions. Downgrade or get trunk release. Here you have test builds for 5.2: virtualbox.org/wiki/Testbuilds See: virtualbox.org/ticket/19336 – Adam Apr 04 '20 at 10:49
  • Yes, it was broken in 6.1.4. Today I installed 6.1.6 and also the guest additions and clipboard is working (after reboot) – diynevala Apr 20 '20 at 13:11
  • it works on VBox 6.1 – Park JongBum Sep 15 '20 at 02:08
  • It did not work for me until I also installed the VBox guest additions then restarted the VM – Chad Sep 16 '20 at 15:04
  • NOTE: After doing this and installing guest additions, you'll need to restart the VM – Jonathan E. Landrum Sep 30 '20 at 16:22
  • @AminNadimi it's not working even after restarting. otherwise no complaint on this answer – greendino Mar 07 '21 at 19:18
  • I needed to install `VBoxGuestAdditions_6.1.30.iso` on Guest OS found here : https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/6.1.30/ – Maxence Sep 14 '22 at 16:40
  • Why on earth you would need to add an extension to make work options that appear in the UI of the normal version infuriates me. While I've no doubt this is a fix, surely this was not by design? – Andrew S Oct 05 '22 at 22:45
  • Of course didn't work for me either. VirtualBox is such a trainwreck, it's almost unreal. I give up. I'm typing out ssh keys, passwords and URLs from now on, much quicker than doing a three hour detour everytime I want to do something that works elsewhere out of the box – DanDan Nov 23 '22 at 14:12
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This answer assumes:

  1. VBox extension pack is installed and current.
  2. VBox guest additions are installed and current.

There is a suggestion in the comments to downgrade the guest additions in order to get the shared clipboard working. Although that may work, I solved this by taking the opposite approach. Unfortunately, if you're dealing with a new version of Virtualbox, full guest support may not quite be available. You can actually download and install guest additions that are newer than the bundled or released version.

Head to VirtualBox test builds, and in the top table, you will find the latest version of the guest additions. Compare your revision with the version listed, if it's newer simply download and install it.

If all else fails, uninstall the guest additions and reinstall them.

Windows Guest: Control Panel
Linux Guest: sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run uninstall

The guest additions are specifically what provide shared clipboard support. Take a look at the virtualbox documentation to learn what other functionality they provide.

Community
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EternalHour
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    I had the extension pack, but was missing the guest additions. Adding that resolved this issue for me. – Adam Howell Jun 04 '20 at 16:12
  • I too started having the issue with Lubuntu 18.04 guest on a Ubuntu 20.04 host (both are 64-bit) with bundled Virtual Box 6.1.10. Just installed 6.1.14 along with Extension Pack and Guest Additions (the same versions 6.1.14), then the issue gone. Thanks a lot for the tips. – Amil Waduwawara Sep 15 '20 at 05:48
  • Had the same issue with OpenSUSE Leap 15.2 after upgrading the virtualbox package. Had to re-install guest additions. – badbishop Sep 23 '20 at 12:09
  • great, thanks. 6.14 guestExt wasn`t working for me, but 6.17 testbuild did – torno Oct 26 '20 at 11:36
  • @torno i had the same 6.14. it says i need to reinstall everything. really? – greendino Mar 07 '21 at 19:20
  • @AbdullahSaid can`t remember reinstalling everything. just used 6.17 guestExt instead – torno Mar 10 '21 at 11:02
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I realized that VM doesn't recognize the clipboard data from some specific applications (like in my case Foxit PDF reader).

To workaround,

  1. I copy the data from the application to a default location like notepad or even in the start menu search bar.
  2. Then again I copy the text from that notepad/start-menu where I pasted it.
  3. Then when I go into my VM and pasting it works.

Image showing the second copy of data at start-menu that works for me

Ajayvignesh
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