With virtual machines, it is possible to run Tails inside a *host* operating system (Linux, Windows, or macOS). A virtual machine emulates a real computer and its operating system, called a *guest*, which appears in a window on the *host* operating system.

With virtual machines, it is possible to run Tails inside a *host* operating system. A virtual machine emulates a real computer and its operating system, called a *guest*, which appears in a window on the *host* operating system.

This is how Tails looks when run in a virtual machine on a Debian: host.

This is how Tails looks when run in a virtual machine on a Debian host.

<p>Running Tails inside a virtual machine has various security
implications. Depending on the host operating system and your security
needs, running Tails in a virtual machine might be dangerous.</p>

<p>Running Tails inside a virtual machine has various security
implications. Depending on the host operating system and your security
needs, running Tails in a virtual machine might be dangerous.</p>

If the host operating system is compromised with a software
keylogger or other malware, then it can break the security featuresbuilt into
of Tails.

If the host operating system is compromised with a software
keylogger or other malware, then it can break the security built into
Tails.

<p>Only run Tails in a virtual machine if both the host operating
system and the virtualization software are trustworthy.</p>

<p>Only run Tails in a virtual machine if both the host operating
system and the virtualization software are trustworthy.</p>

<div class="cautionattack">

<div class="attack">

<p>Only run Tails in a virtual machine if leaving traces on the hard disk
is not a concern for you.</p>

<p>Only run Tails in a virtual machine if leaving traces on the hard disk
is not a concern for you.</p>

<p>The Tails virtual machine does not modify the behaviour of the host
operating system and the network traffic of the host is not anonymized. The MAC
address of the computer is not modified by the [[MAC address
anonymization|first_steps/welcome_screen/mac_spoofing]] feature of Tails
when run in a virtual machine.</p>

<p>The Tails virtual machine does not modify the behavior of the host
operating system and the network traffic of the host is not anonymized. The MAC
address of the computer is not modified by the [[MAC address
anonymization|first_steps/welcome_screen/mac_spoofing]] feature of Tails
when run in a virtual machine.</p>

To run Tails inside a virtual machine, you need to have virtualization software installed on the host operating system. Different virtualization software exists for Linux, Windows, and macOS. Unfortunately, we only know of virtualization solutions for Linux that work well with Tails.

To run Tails inside a virtual machine, you need to have virtualization software installed on the host operating system. Different virtualization software exists for Linux, Windows, and macOS. Unfortunately, we only know of virtualization solutions for Linux that work well with Tails.

**<em>*GNOME Boxes</em>*** is only available on Linux. It has a simpler user interface than *virt-manager* but does not allow to use of a Persistent Storage.

***GNOME Boxes*** is only available on Linux. It has a simpler user interface than *virt-manager* but does not allow to use a Persistent Storage.

**<em>*virt-manager</em>** is*** is only available on Linux. It has a more complex user interface andthan *GNOME Boxes* but allows to use of a Persistent Storage, either by:

***virt-manager*** is only available on Linux. It has a more complex user interface than *GNOME Boxes* but allows to use a Persistent Storage, either by: