Many people reported that they can’t update Windows 10 because VirtualBox needs to be uninstalled. How to uninstall VirtualBox? Now, this post of MiniTool summarizes several effective ways for VirtualBox uninstalling.
VirtualBox is one of the most popular solutions used to manage and run virtual machines. It can run a guest operating system in a virtualized environment and some people like to try a new OS in it. Sometimes, however, this program can trigger various errors and issues such as “VirtualBox not 64-bit”, “VirtualBox E_FAIL (0x80004005)”, and the one discussed here.
Can’t Update Windows 10 Because VirtualBox Needs to Be Uninstalled
Many users complain that they can’t update Windows 10 because VirtualBox needs to be uninstalled. Sometimes the error even occurs when you haven’t the VirtualBox installed, like the user report from the superuser.com forum:
I would like to uninstall Virtualbox from my Windows10 computer, but I cannot find it in the Programs and Features list. I was looking for an uninstaller exe in the install directory and on the internet, but I haven’t found anything. How is it possible to remove it, and all of its drivers?https://superuser.com/questions/1227993/how-to-uninstall-virtualbox-on-windows10
Why does Windows 10 ask you to uninstall VirtualBox, but you can’t find it? After investigating extensive user reports, we find the main reason is that other emulation apps like “VMware, BlueStacks, Oracle, etc.” are installed on your systems.
How to Uninstall VirtualBox on Windows 10
If you cannot update Windows 10 because VirtualBox needs to be uninstalled, then you need to do the VirtualBox uninstallation. How to uninstall VirtualBox? Here you can try the following 5 methods.
# 1. VirtualBox Uninstall via Control Panel
If you do have the VirtualBox installed on Windows 10, then you can try uninstalling it via Control Panel. To do so, follow the detailed steps below:
Step 1. Type control in the search box and select the Control Panel app from the context menu.
Step 2. Change the View by type to Category, and then click on Uninstall a program under the Programs section.
Step 3. Navigate to VirtualBox from the list of install programs, and then right-click it and select Uninstall. Click on Yes to confirm the VirtualBox uninstallation and follow the on-screen prompts to complete it.
Step 4. Press the Win + E keys to open the File Explorer, and then go to the View tab and tick the checkbox next to Hidden items to show all hidden files and folders.
Sep 5. Type %localappdata% in the search bar and hit Enter. Then find all folders and files related to VirtualBox and delete them.
Step 6. Again type %userprofile% in the search box and delete all VirtualBox files. Then locate the C:/Program Files/Oracle/VirtualBox directory and delete the folder.
Once uninstalled, you can check if the “VirtualBox needs to be uninstalled to update Windows 10” error gets solved.
# 2. Uninstall the LinuxLive Software
Some users reported that the “cannot update Windows 10 because of VirtualBox need to be uninstalled” error can be triggered by the LinuxLive USB creator. If you also make a Linux USB via this software, you may encounter this problem when updating Windows 10. Here you can uninstall this software like VirtualBox uninstalling we explain above.
# 3. Delete and Uninstall All VirtualBox Related Programs and Files
As mentioned above, the main reason you can’t update Windows 10 because VirtualBox needs to be uninstalled is related to other emulation apps. If you don’t have the VirtualBox or LinuxLive USB creator installed, you can try opening your C drive and searching for the apps like VMware, BlueStacks, and Oracle, then removing them from your system.
# 4. Use the Office VirtualBox Uninstaller
In addition, you can uninstall VirtualBox via its official uninstaller. Here’s how to use the VirtualBox uninstaller.
Step 1. Click here to download VirtualBox uninstaller from its official website.
Step 2. Once downloaded, double-click the .exe file to run it.
Step 3. Then you will be prompted whether you want to install, repair, or remove the software during the installation process. Select remove and proceed with the on-screen instructions.
Once finished, reboot your computer and see if the error gets fixed.
# 5. Delete the Remnants of VirtualBox via Registry Editor
Sometimes the “VirtualBox needs to be uninstalled to update Windows 10” error can occur due to the remnants of the software. Here’s how to delete VirtualBox remnants completely via Registry Editor.
Step 1. Make sure you disconnect your system from the internet and turn off OneDrive, Google Drive, and other system-invasive tools.
Step 2. Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box, and then type regedit in it and hit Enter.
Step 3. Click on Yes when a User Account Control window pops up.
Step 4. In the Registry Editor window, press the Win + F keys to open the Find what box, then type VirtualBox in it and hit Enter.
Step 5. Once scanned, delete all folders, keys, and values related to the VirtualBox software. Then do the same procedure to delete other emulation apps installed on your system by using the name of the software.