Tiny screen on Linux Mint VirtualBox guest

[Polygraph8853]

I recently set up a Linux Mint guest on VirtualBox and noticed the screen was tiny. After a quick search I read that this can be fixed by installing VirtualBox Guest Additions. So I did some reading on the Linux Mint forum and replicated what others have done to install Guest Additions. I inserted the Guest Additions CD image and did the following:

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cd /media/morb/VBox_GAs_6.1.36
sudo sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run

I saw a message saying something along the lines of "changes will take effect after restart" so I shut off the VM and turned it back on only to see that I still have a small screen. I'm not sure if I installed Guest Additions incorrectly or if there's something else I might have to do. Does anyone have any suggestions? (Below are the versions of the software used)

• Host: Windows 10 Pro version 21H2

• Hypervisor: VirtualBox 6.1.36

• Guest: Linux Mint 21 Xfce

[Cosmo.]

How to check the guest additions installation:

Press in the VM Host-N, go to the 2nd tab (runtime) and read the 3rd line from bottom.

[Polygraph8853]

How to check the guest additions installation:

Press in the VM Host-N, go to the 2nd tab (runtime) and read the 3rd line from bottom.

It says the following:

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Guest Additions    6.1.36 r152435

[Cosmo.]

Now you know, that the VM is running with the current guest additions.

[Polygraph8853]

Now you know, that the VM is running with the current guest additions.

Right but I still have a tiny screen and I'm not sure how to fix that.

[Cosmo.]

Open the display settings of the guest and change the resolution.

[Polygraph8853]

Open the display settings of the guest and change the resolution.

Hmmm. I'm able to change the resolution but it doesn't quite fit my screen nicely like how Manjaro could. For example when I select 1080p it is far too long, thus requiring me to scroll down to see the rest of the screen. Is there any way I could determine which resolution would fit best for my screen? Or would I just have to stick to a smaller screen size?

UPDATE: Nevermind, I found the solution. I put my VM in full screen using Host + F and noticed that it set a custom resolution for me. It seems to go back to the tiny resolution during boot and sign in, but once signed in it goes back to the custom resolution set.

[Reddog1]

Don't forget to edit your title and add 'Solved'. VB has a learning curve to it, but once you've done it the next VM's are easy. Welcome to the world of virtual machines.

[hglee]

I recently set up a Linux Mint guest on VirtualBox and noticed the screen was tiny.

I always get a tiny Guest screen too. My solution is to use xrandr in the Startup Applications list in Guest.


My Host screen size is 1980x1200. For the Guest I want 1440x900.


So, in the Guest, I put the following in Startup Applications for the Command:

/usr/bin/xrandr --output Virtual1 --mode 1440x900

It is necessary for me to put a Delay: of at least 3 seconds, or it won't work.


Now, each time I run the VM, the Guest automatically sets its display to 1440x900 on its own.