Start using a Hyper-V virtual machine today with this guide for Windows 11.
Using a virtual machine, we can make risky changes in no-go areas of the operating system and test new apps independently of the operating system installed on our device. It's a godsend for developers who want to try multiple operating systems simultaneously and test potentially hazardous software.
Are you interested in running a virtual machine on your Windows 11 computer? We will show you how to do it in this article. Let's get started.
The virtual machine operates within your systems like a mini laptop or PC. You can use it to test new software, run potentially harmful applications, or set up your testing environment by installing multiple operating systems simultaneously. Since they operate independently of the system they're running on, any changes you make to them won't affect your primary operating system.
There are two advantages to using virtual machines.
First, a virtual machine allows you to safely run any software you are reluctant to run on your main computer or make any risky changes you wish to carry out. Every change and program you install is encapsulated within the virtual machine and doesn't "leak out" onto your main PC.
Also, you won't have to worry about losing important data or corrupting your computer if things go south in your virtual machine. In just a few clicks, you can delete and recreate a new virtual machine with no damage done to your primary system.
Although there are different methods available for installing virtual machines in Windows 11, we will stick with the easiest one, which does not require third-party apps or tools. We will create a virtual machine using Hyper-V Manager, Windows' built-in virtual machine client.
The first thing we need to do is install Hyper-V on Windows 11 before we proceed to install or create the virtual machine using it.
For Windows 11 Pro, Education, or Enterprise editions, follow the steps below to enable Hyper-V:
Upon following the above steps, Windows 11 will present you with a window called Windows Features, where you can turn on/off optional features. Expand the Hyper-V feature, check all the boxes, and hit OK.
Once the process is complete, hit the Restart now button to complete the installation.
The Hyper-V may not be available in the optional features if you use the Windows 11 Home edition. If you can't find it there, check out our guide to installing Hyper-V on Windows 11 Home.
Having installed Hyper-V in Windows 11 Home or enabled in other editions, proceed to the next step to set up a virtual machine.
Follow the below steps to create a virtual machine in Hyper-V Manager:
The 32-bit version of Windows requires 16GB of disk space, while the 64-bit version requires 32GB. So you need to allocate disk space according to the OS you intend to install on your virtual machine.
After the installation, your virtual machine will be ready to use via Hyper-V Manager. Follow the below steps to use your virtual machine:
That's it. Now that you've created a new computer on the same laptop, you can test anything you like without affecting your primary operating system. Hyper-V Manager allows you to create multiple virtual machines, run different operating systems, and create as many virtual machines as you wish simultaneously.
You should now have a clearer understanding of how to create a virtual machine in Windows 11. Once created, you will have a separate computer in your laptop that lets you freely test the apps you hesitate to run on your primary operating system. We recommend using Hyper-V Manager to create virtual machines as it's free to use; otherwise, you can use other third-party tools.
In addition, Windows offers users a built-in virtual desktop environment called Windows Sandbox. Whatever you do inside this environment will not negatively impact your machine. Therefore, if the only purpose of creating a virtual machine is to test new suspicious programs, you can achieve this with the sandbox instead.
Shan Abdul is a Staff Writer at MUO. Having used Windows for over a decade, he’s accumulated plenty of experience with the OS. He’s been writing on a variety of Windows topics for over three years, incorporating his expertise to teach readers how to get the most out of their Windows devices and resolve issues with the operating system.
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