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VHD VDI
File conversion

Convert VHD to VDI

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jun 23, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Is it possible to convert VHD to VDI?
Yes - VHD converts to VDI.

Run VBoxManage clonemedium disk in.vhd out.vdi --format VDI from a terminal with VirtualBox installed. All guest data - partition table, filesystem, OS, and files - transfers intact; only the container header changes.

6 programs
Also to VDI: VMDK · VHDX · OVF

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert VHD to VDI?

VHD is Microsoft's virtual disk format, commonly produced by Hyper-V and Azure exports. VDI is Oracle VirtualBox's native format, introduced with VirtualBox 1.0 in 2007. Converting is needed when migrating a VM to VirtualBox, and VDI provides slightly better integration with VirtualBox's snapshot and storage management than an attached VHD.

How to convert VHD to VDI

VirtualBox FREE

Shut down any VM using the disk, then run VBoxManage clonemedium disk in.vhd out.vdi --format VDI; attach the resulting .vdi to the VM via Settings > Storage.

Parallels Workstation APP

Open or import the .vhd in Parallels Workstation, which supports multiple virtual disk formats.

VirtualBox for Mac FREE

Run VBoxManage clonemedium disk in.vhd out.vdi --format VDI in Terminal with VirtualBox installed on macOS.

VirtualBox for Linux FREE

Run VBoxManage clonemedium disk in.vhd out.vdi --format VDI in a terminal with VirtualBox installed on Linux.

Programs that convert VHD

VirtualBox
Parallels Workstation
VirtualBox for Mac
Parallels Desktop for Mac
VirtualBox for Linux
Parallels Workstation for Linux

About these formats

.VHD Virtual Hard Disk

A VHD file is a complete hard disk stored as a single file - partition table, filesystem, and often a full operating system. On Windows you can mount it in Disk Management to read files, or…

Open .VHD details →
.VDI Virtual Disk Image (Oracle VirtualBox)

A VDI file is the native virtual hard disk format of Oracle VirtualBox. It holds a complete guest operating system, not a document or optical disc image. To use it, attach it to a VM in…

Open .VDI details →

Quality & what to watch

  • All guest data carries over intact - the conversion rewrites only the container header; the OS, filesystem, and files inside the guest disk are unchanged.
  • VirtualBox can also attach VHD files directly without converting, but VDI provides better integration with VirtualBox's snapshot system.
  • Dynamic VHDs are converted with the actual used size reflected in the output; fixed VHDs produce a fixed-size VDI.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to reinstall the OS after converting to VDI?
No - the entire guest disk is cloned; the OS and all installed software remain intact.
Can VirtualBox open a VHD directly without converting?
Yes - VirtualBox supports VHD natively, so conversion to VDI is optional and mainly benefits snapshot management.
How do I attach the converted VDI to an existing VM?
In VirtualBox, open the VM's Settings > Storage, remove the old VHD attachment, and add the .vdi file in its place.