Genymotion, "Unable to load VirtualBox engine." on Mavericks. VBox is setup correctly

Question

I keep getting the following error:

enter image description here

I have reinstalled, deleted and tried about EVERYTHING to get Genymotion to work again.

I do not have the device I need, but Genymotion was PERFECT for the job, until Mavericks update I have been fighting to get it to work again.

MacBook Pro, Retina 13-inch, Early 2013. i5, 8gb.

I'm running version 1.3.1 for os x. I do have Virtualbox 4.3 installed with Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-4.3.0-89960.vbox-extpack too.

My Virtualbox starts up normally without ANY errors. I tried Environment variables putting vbox on my $PATH, all sorts of things. Nothing works!

I have no idea what to do anymore, anyone out there had similar problems and fixed it ?

EDIT: LOG:

Oct 28 09:49:36 [Genymotion] [Warning] ****  STARTING GENYMOTION  **** 
Oct 28 09:49:36 [Genymotion] [Warning] Genymotion Version: Genymotion 1.3.1 
Oct 28 09:49:36 [Genymotion] [Debug] Network request to URL:  "/launchpad/last_version/mac/x64/" 
Oct 28 09:49:39 [Genymotion] [Debug] Genymotion server informs that version  "1.3.0"  is available from  "https://ssl-files.genymotion.com/genymotion/genymotion-1.3.0/genymotion-1.3.0.dmg" 
Oct 28 09:49:39 [Genymotion] [Debug] Version: "1" 
Oct 28 09:49:39 [Genymotion] [Error] Genymotion is newer than the database... how is possible? 
Oct 28 09:49:39 [Genymotion] [Debug] Getting currently authenticated user from  local cache 
Oct 28 09:49:39 [Genymotion] [Debug] Loading "vboxmanage" plugin 
Oct 28 09:49:39 [Genymotion] [Debug] Library loaded with success 
Oct 28 09:49:39 [Genymotion] [Debug] Chipset: "GenuineIntel" 
Oct 28 09:49:39 [Genymotion] [Debug] CPUID 0x1 (Intel): ECX= "7fbae3bf" 
Oct 28 09:49:39 [Genymotion] [Debug] VBoxManage path (default value): "VBoxManage" 
Oct 28 09:50:09 [Genymotion] [Debug] Can't run VBoxManage ("list", "hostonlyifs") 
Oct 28 09:50:09 [Genymotion] [Warning] QProcess: Destroyed while process is still running.
Oct 28 09:50:09 [Genymotion] [Error] "Fail to load vboxmanage plugin from /Applications/Genymotion.app/Contents/MacOS/plugins/" 
Oct 28 09:50:09 [Genymotion] [Error] Unable to find VM Engine. Plugin loading aborted.

EDIT 2:

VBoxManage list hostonlyifs

Prints the following:

VBoxManage: error: Failed to create the VirtualBox object!
VBoxManage: error: Code NS_BASE_STREAM_WOULD_BLOCK (0x80470007) - Stream operation would block (extended info not available)
VBoxManage: error: Most likely, the VirtualBox COM server is not running or failed to start.

Could you please share with us your log files (https://cloud.genymotion.com/page/faq/#collapse-logs) ? — madCdan, Oct 28 '13 at 07:40
If you open a "terminal" and just type "VBoxManage list hostonlyifs", what's the output ? — madCdan, Oct 28 '13 at 09:18
Yes, I cleaned all VBox files out. Restarted, reinstalled and tried older versions of VBox too. — Jonathan Natie Klopper, Oct 28 '13 at 14:17
According to me, the bug report should go to VirtualBox, as this is the "VBoxManage list hostonlyifs" which doesn't work, apparently because the vbox COM server doesn't start. — madCdan, Oct 28 '13 at 15:48
Were you running Genymotion as the admin user on your machine? — IgorGanapolsky, Jan 31 '14 at 19:07
Just if anyone is having the same Problem on a Windows Computer. An easy restart of my System just solved the Problem. — Ferdinand Fatal, Aug 28 '15 at 08:32

score 144 · Accepted Answer · edited Dec 26 '19 at 06:37

144

I had the same problem and solved it by running the following command:

sudo /Library/StartupItems/VirtualBox/VirtualBox restart

In later versions, the command is

sudo /Library/Application\ Support/VirtualBox/LaunchDaemons/VirtualBoxStartup.sh restart

Make sure you've unblocked VirtualBox's kernel extensions in System Preferences->Security and Privacy->General (You'll get a popup when you install VirtualBox).

edited Dec 26 '19 at 06:37

whoKnows

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answered Oct 29 '13 at 08:24

Amit On

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where is the /Library/StartupItems/ on mavericks? Can't find anything like that. – Dumoko Oct 31 '13 at 08:29
I have this problem, and upside down buttons on mavericks http://stackoverflow.com/questions/19561669/error-on-loading-genymotion-device-on-os-x-mavericks – Ratata Tata Oct 31 '13 at 12:51
I had the same issue as the OP and this fix worked for me also. – dnszero Nov 02 '13 at 15:56
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This could solve the problem once, but need to run the command every time i restart the computer. Is there an once-and-for-all way? – Chris.Zou Nov 14 '13 at 03:05
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I had to restart VirtualBox and Genymotion after running this for it to work as well. – Ken Nov 16 '13 at 22:47
This was very helpful, but i agree with Chris.Zou. I am running virtual box 4.02 and about to upgrade to a newer version. That might address the issue long term. Not sure yet, but thanks for the tip. – Mr. Concolato Apr 17 '14 at 18:55
Thanks, great solution – lenhhoxung Jun 01 '14 at 17:43
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I experienced this more than one time and I think this may be permanent solution, You can upgrade virtualbox .exe(For windows) or .dmg(For Mac) or .deb(For Linux) file and install newer version of virtual box will solve your problem and If you are already have latest vesion then you can simply re-install it. Download Newer version link: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/server-storage/virtualbox/downloads/index.html – Maulik Nov 14 '14 at 06:41
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I get `sudo: /Library/StartupItems/VirtualBox/VirtualBox: command not found`. – whoKnows Oct 25 '15 at 14:08
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Closest thing I can find on El Capitan with VBox 4.3.20 is `sudo /Library/Application\ Support/VirtualBox/LaunchDaemons/VirtualBoxStartup.sh restart`, which returns among other things the error: `/Library/Application Support/VirtualBox/VBoxDrv.kext failed to load - (libkern/kext) not loadable (reason unspecified); check the system/kernel logs for errors or try kextutil(8).` The system console also shows a plethora of interesting though obtuse error messages. Not entirely sure, but it looks to me like the VBox kext (kernel extension) may be incompatible with newer versions of OSX. – ghoti Feb 19 '16 at 01:50
additionaly you can restart using sudo service virtualbox restart – Azmat Karim Khan Apr 19 '16 at 17:37
I downloaded the "without VirtualBox" option (https://www.genymotion.com/download/), and still I get this error ... – dsdsdsdsd May 04 '16 at 13:19

score 76 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 31 '13 at 10:28

76

Eventually, you might not have anything in your /Library/StartupItems.

Using the following command helps :

sudo /Library/Application\ Support/VirtualBox/LaunchDaemons/VirtualBoxStartup.sh restart

It worked for me on two different Mavericks installs.

edited Oct 31 '13 at 10:28

flawyte

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answered Oct 31 '13 at 10:03

Mul0w

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This worked for me after upgrading to Mavericks. Previously I was able to use Amit's answer. – Joshua W Nov 19 '13 at 16:14
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restarted and had to run this command again....is there some way to make this fix permanent? – phil Aug 06 '14 at 01:08
This doesn't fix it for me – eliasbagley Jan 19 '16 at 07:06

loeschg · Answer 3 · 2015-07-16T20:01:38.873

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Update: Genymotion's 2.5.1 release (https://www.genymotion.com/#!/release-notes/251#251) seems to have fixed this issue. (thanks for the heads up @Roger!)

For those that may be stumbling upon this a bit later, I resolved this by installing VirtualBox 4.3.28 (https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Download_Old_Builds_4_3). The new 5.0.0 and 4.3.30 versions didn't work for me with Genymotion 2.5. None of the above solutions worked :(

It's also worth noting that at the time of writing, Genymotion's FAQ states the following:

However, for performance reasons, we recommend using version 4.3.12

edited Jul 16 '15 at 20:01

answered Jul 14 '15 at 19:05

loeschg

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thanks! small correction - that url is https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Download_Old_Builds_4_3 – Roger Jul 15 '15 at 04:47
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This needs to be pushed to the top of the list! – zwebie Jul 15 '15 at 05:20
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I think the Genymotion 2.5.1 release fixed this actually: https://www.genymotion.com/#!/release-notes/251#251 – Roger Jul 16 '15 at 19:57
Genymotion 1.0.5 released and works well VirtualBox 5.x on OSX https://www.genymotion.com/#!/release-notes/253_p105 – muhasturk Jul 31 '15 at 06:52
2.5.2 works with 4.3.30, but still no 5.0.n support. – Sveinung Kval Bakken Sep 02 '15 at 15:15

score 19 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 01 '13 at 15:41

You need to restart VirtualBox service you can do it with this:

sudo /Library/StartupItems/VirtualBox/VirtualBox restart

If in this path is empty you can use:

sudo /Library/Application\ Support/VirtualBox/LaunchDaemons/VirtualBoxStartup.sh restart

After I use Parallels I always need to do it.

stephen · Answer 5 · 2015-06-18T06:33:59.283

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On Ubuntu GNU/Linux:

sudo /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup

edited Jun 18 '15 at 06:33

answered Feb 26 '15 at 07:40

stephen

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score 12 · Answer 6 · answered Dec 12 '13 at 10:10

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What worked for me in Win 7 is to remove the Host-only Network (in Oracle virtual box preferences menu [CTRL+G] -> Network -> host only networks). Genymotion will recreate it automatically at the next virtual device start.

answered Dec 12 '13 at 10:10

numediaweb

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Be cautioned. When I deleted the file, my machine immediately shutdown. Save your work! Started up fine, and I uninstalled both and reinstalled, and it started working again. – Jahmic Apr 09 '17 at 14:03

score 10 · Answer 7 · answered Oct 28 '13 at 16:12

Ok after a whole productive day down the drain I got it to work.

First I uninstalled all traces of Genymotion and Virtualbox. I then proceeded to install Genymotion and then Virtual Box again, but the previous version (4.2.18)

I ran Genymotion, Downloaded an Image, I got an error message about the network trying to run it. So I ran it Directly inside Virtual Box, It started up 100% with network and everything. I shut it down, went to Image's settings and changed the first adapter to "Host-only".

I opened the Genymotion Launcher again and "Played" my device and it started up with no problems.

Just verified with a newer version 4.3.30 while the newer versions do not seem to work — Stephen Senkomago Musoke, Aug 22 '15 at 10:59

score 8 · Answer 8 · answered Jul 22 '14 at 20:17

For those who are hitting this thread from Mac OSX with the same error message but a potentially different problem:

1) Check that you have opened GenyMotion through /Applications and that you have enabled the internet permissions

2) Install Virtual box from here: https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads. Once you download and install, retry running GenyMotion

3) If those do not work, try Mul0w''s suggestion:

sudo /Library/Application\ Support/VirtualBox/LaunchDaemons/VirtualBoxStartup.sh restart

Thanks a lot! Works like a charm with OSX 10.9.4 – Matz Aug 13 '14 at 21:42 — Matz, Aug 13 '14 at 21:42

score 6 · Answer 9 · answered Oct 01 '15 at 20:58

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It happens when upgrading to el capitan from yosemite. Virtual box needs to be installed again. Reinstalling geny motion does nothing. You will keep all your virtual devices unchanged.

answered Oct 01 '15 at 20:58

nvasilescu

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Updating VirtualBox helped. I got kernel panic with v4.3.12 but as advised by [Genymotion's FAQs](https://www.genymotion.com/#!/support?chapter=compatible-virtualbox-versions#faq), I installed 4.3.26. it works fine now! – Sufian Oct 03 '15 at 20:45
Installing VirtualBox 4.3.26 worked for me. More recent versions didn't work. You can get it from here: https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Download_Old_Builds_4_3 – Apfelsaft May 03 '16 at 20:29

Hamed Kamrava · Answer 10 · 2015-03-27T23:12:26.433

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For Arch Linux try this :

sudo vboxreload

edited Mar 27 '15 at 23:12

answered Nov 08 '14 at 04:09

Hamed Kamrava

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score 3 · Answer 11 · answered Sep 05 '14 at 10:53

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Deleting Host-only network helped me. 1. Open Virtual Box 2. File->Preferences-> Network 3. Select the Host-only network and remove it.

Now try starting the Genymotion.

answered Sep 05 '14 at 10:53

Rita

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score 2 · Answer 12 · answered Nov 08 '13 at 09:50

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Uninstall VirtualBox with uninstaller (it comes with dmg), then install VirtualBox again. This has solved that issue for me.

answered Nov 08 '13 at 09:50

Milos Matic

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I migrated over a slightly older version of VirtualBox when swapping macs and got this error. Reinstalling to the latest version fixed. – jwBurnside Dec 23 '14 at 17:14

score 1 · Answer 13 · answered Sep 11 '15 at 16:04

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Virtual box version 4.3.28 worked with Genymotion 2.5.2 for me. Nothing else seemed to work.

answered Sep 11 '15 at 16:04

user1952143

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score 1 · Answer 14 · answered Jun 19 '16 at 04:17

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i installed Oracle virtualbox (Download link) then everything working fine

answered Jun 19 '16 at 04:17

Bahu

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score 1 · Answer 15 · answered Sep 10 '16 at 21:57

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On Ubuntu 16.04 vboxdrv is not longer in /etc/init.d, therefore you must run this:

/usr/lib/virtualbox/vboxdrv.sh setup

answered Sep 10 '16 at 21:57

lgallard

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score 0 · Answer 16 · answered Nov 26 '15 at 11:17

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I also Struggled with el captain installed. I installed the VirtualBox 4.3.26 version. Other latest versions doesnt worked for me. It works like a charm :)

answered Nov 26 '15 at 11:17

akash

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score 0 · Answer 17 · answered May 25 '16 at 18:30

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In GNU/Linux you can use this command

 /etc/init.d/virtualbox

Options

start
stop
stop_vms
restart
force-reload
status

for example

 /etc/init.d/virtualbox force-reload

Good Luck

answered May 25 '16 at 18:30

David Hackro

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Genymotion, "Unable to load VirtualBox engine." on Mavericks. VBox is setup correctly

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