Mac – How to switch between virtual machines that are in fullscreen mode

keyboard shortcutsmultiple-monitorsvirtual machinevirtualbox

I recently switched from VMware Workstation to VirtualBox. VMware allowed me to switch between virtual machines in fullscreen mode by pressing a button in the toolbar. Since I'm often using two or more virtual machines at once which all use both of my monitors (all in fullscreen mode) this feature is very important for me.

I can't find anything similar in VirtualBox. There is no button or menu entry in the toolbar. There is no shortcut (at least I can't find one). I hate it that I now always have to first minimize all virtual machine monitors one-by-one and then maximize the ones from the other virtual machines one-by-one, remembering to maximize the one on the main window last otherwise my host taskbar gets hidden.

Please tell me that I'm missing something! I need a shortcut/button to switch between VMs that switches both fullscreen windows at the same time.

VirtualBox 4.3.0. Guest additions are updated. Windows 7 x64 SP1 on host and most guests (sometimes a Linux guest).

Best Answer

When inside a VM, you can achieve your goal by:

  • hitting the Host key (Win: right Ctrl by default, OSX: Command; you only need a single key press)
  • Then using Alt Tab

tested on VirtualBox v. 4.3.8 (one monitor only)

The Host key, once pressed, makes the guest loose focus in favor of the Host. Then you can use Alt Tab the usual way.

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