If you like using virtual machines, then it’s a good idea to learn how to use Hyper-V on Windows 11.
Hyper-V is Microsoft's in-house virtualization solution for Windows 11. It lets you create virtual machines and run them on virtual hardware. That said, if you want to use Hyper-V on your computer, you will need to enable it first.
In this article, we show you the three ways how to enable Hyper-V in Windows 11 and create virtual machines without third-party tools.
Hyper-V is a native virtualization tool that allows you to run multiple operating systems on their own virtual machines.
With Hyper-V, you don’t have to rely on third-party hypervisor solutions such as VirtualBox and VMware WorkStation. It limits yours guest OS choice to Windows, Linux, and FreeBSD.
Some Hyper-V virtual machine use cases include:
Related: Practical Reasons to Start Using a Virtual Machine
Hyper-V is available as an optional feature on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education. To check your edition of Windows, go to Settings > System > About. Then, check the Windows specifications section to find your Windows edition.
If you have the Home edition, here’s how to install Hyper-V on Windows 11 Home. All you have to do is run a bat script to install Hyper-V on non-compatible systems.
Depending on how many virtual machines and types of applications you intend to run, you may need more resources to run the virtual machines smoothly.
In addition, you need to enable Hardware Virtualization in BIOS. It is an essential feature to run virtual machines on your Windows system but often disabled by default.
On compatible systems, you can enable Hardware Virtualization in BIOS. The below steps are for an HP computer. If you are using a custom-made PC or laptop from another manufacturer, refer to the user manual for detailed instruction. If not, refer to our general guide to enter the BIOS on Windows.
To enable Hardware Virtualization in BIOS:
After restart, you can enable Hyper-V on Windows 11. Here’s how to do it.
You can enable Hyper-V using the Windows Features dialog. You can access Windows Features to add or remove optional features in Windows 11 from the Control Panel. Here’s how to do it.
After the restart, search for Hyper-V and click on Hyper-V Manager to create virtual machines in Windows 11.
Command Prompt offers a fast and efficient way to perform repetitive tasks. You can use the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) command-line tool to access and install optional Windows features via Command Prompt.
Follow these steps to enable Hyper-V on Windows 11 using Command Prompt:
After your PC restarts, you can open and use the Hyper-V Manager to create virtual machines.
If you prefer Windows PowerShell over Command Prompt, you can also enable Hyper-V using the shell application.
However, unlike Command Prompt, PowerShell uses the enable-WindowsOptional features cmdlet to enable optional features in a Windows image.
To enable Hyper-V with PowerShell:
Hyper-V is a type 1 hypervisor, which means it runs directly on a computer’s hardware. It comes pre-installed, free to use without restriction, and offers linear performance on a consumer-grade system.
That said, dedicated virtual machines such as the VMWare WorkStation Pro is available on multiple platforms, can be used on older systems, and is more suitable for enterprise solutions. Check out our comparison comparing the three popular hypervisors to find the one that works for you.
VirtualBox, VMware, and Hyper-V dominate the market. Which virtual machine software is the best?
Tashreef is a developer and works as a technical writer at MakeUseOf. With a bachelor’s degree in Computer Applications, he has over 5 years of experience and covers Microsoft Windows and everything around it. When not looking for a missing semicolon or churning out text, you can find him trying FPS titles or looking for new animated shows and movies.
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