[*virt-manager*](http://virt-manager.org/) is a Free Software virtualization solution for Linux. *virt-manager* has a more complex interface than *GNOME Boxes* but it also has a more complete set of features.

<p><i>virt-manager</i> is the only virtualization
solution that allows to use a Persistent
Storage. See [[running Tails from a USB
image|virt-manager#usb_image]].</p>

<p>The following instructions have been tested on Debian 12 (Bookworm).</p>

Terminology

Running Tails from an ISO image

To create a new virtual machine, choose <span class="menuchoice"> <span class="guimenu">File</span>&nbsp;▸ <span class="guimenuitem">New Virtual Machine</span></span>.

In *step 4*, unselect **Enable storage for this virtual machine**.

Type a name of your choice for the new virtual machine.

Click **Finish** to start the virtual machine.

<ol>
<li>Click on **QEMU/KVM - Not Connected**.</li>
<li>Choose <span class="menuchoice">
**Edit**&nbsp;▸
**Connection details**</span> to
administer the connection to your local
*QEMU* system.</li>
<li>Click on **Virtual Networks** tab, then
select the **default** virtual network in
the left pane.</li>
<li>Click on the [[!img lib/media-playback-start.png alt="Start Network"
link=no class=symbolic]] icon on the bottom of the left pane to
start the default virtual network.</li>
</ol>

Running Tails from a USB image

Running Tails from a USB image is the only virtualization solution that allows you to use a Persistent Storage in a virtual machine.

Click **Finish** to open the configuration view.

Click **Begin Installation** in the top left corner to start the virtual machine.

After you start on the USB image, you can [[create a Persistent Storage|persistent_storage]] on it.

Running Tails from a USB stick

To run Tails from a USB stick using *virt-manager*, first create a virtual machine running from an ISO image as described [[above|virt-manager#iso]].

From the virtual machine window, choose **Virtual Machine**&nbsp;▸ **Shut Down**&nbsp;▸ **Force Off** to shut down the virtual machine.

Plug in the USB stick from which you want to run Tails.

Choose **View**&nbsp;▸ **Details** to edit the configuration of the virtual machine.