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 internal virtualization solution for Windows 11. It allows you to create virtual machines and run them on virtual hardware. That said, if you want to use Hyper-V on your computer, you'll need to enable it first.
In this article, we show you the three ways to enable Hyper-V in Windows 11 and create virtual machines without third-party tools.
What are the use cases for Hyper-V
Hyper-V is a native virtualization tool that allows you to run multiple operating systems on your virtual machines.
With Hyper-V, you don't have to rely on third-party hypervisor solutions like VirtualBox and VMware WorkStation. Limit your guest OS choice to Windows, Linux and FreeBSD.
Some use cases of Hyper-V virtual machines include:
- Run and test the software for an older version of the Windows or non-Windows operating system
- Test software on multiple operating systems using multiple virtual machines on a single host system.
Prerequisites for enabling Hyper-V on Windows 11
Hyper-V is available as an optional feature in Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education. To check your Windows edition, go to Settings> System> About . So, check out the section of Windows specific to find your Windows edition.
If you have the Home edition, here's how to install Hyper-V on Windows 11 Home. All you need to do is run a bat script to install Hyper-V on incompatible systems.
Depending on the number of virtual machines and the types of applications you intend to run, you may need more resources to run the virtual machines smoothly.
Also, hardware virtualization must be enabled in the BIOS. It is an essential feature for running virtual machines on your Windows system but often disabled by default.
How to enable hardware virtualization in the BIOS
On compatible systems, you can enable hardware virtualization in the BIOS. The following steps are for an HP computer. If you are using a custom PC or laptop from another manufacturer, please refer to the user manual for detailed instructions.
To enable hardware virtualization in the BIOS:
- Turn off your PC if it's on.
- Press the button power on to turn on the system and start pressing the button Esc to view the boot menu.
- In boot menu , to press F10 to access the configuration of the BIOS
- Turn off your PC if it's on.
- Press the button power on to turn on the system and start pressing the button Esc to view the boot menu.
- In boot menu , to press F10 to access the configuration of the BIOS
- Awards Submit and then select Qualified from the options.
- to press F10 to save the changes and exit the BIOS .
- The PC will restart and apply the changes. This may take some time, so please wait until your system is fully rebooted.
After rebooting, you can enable Hyper-V on Windows 11. Here's how to do it.
Enable Hyper-V in Windows 11 via Control Panel
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.
- Awards Win + R to open Run .
- To type control and click OK to open the Control Panel.
- In the Control Panel, go to Programs> Programs and Features.
- In the left pane, click Turn Windows features on or off.
- In the dialog box Windows features , select Hyper-V. If you expand Hyper-V, you will see tools for management Hyper-V and Hyper-V platforms.
- Make sure both options are selected and click OK . As these are optional features, Windows will start installing and enabling them on your PC. This process may take some time to complete.
- Once completed, click Restart now to restart and apply the changes.
After reboot, search for Hyper-V and click Hyper-V Manager to create virtual machines in Windows 11.
Add Hyper-V to Windows 11 using Command Prompt
Command Prompt offers a quick and efficient way to perform repetitive tasks. You can use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) command line tool to access and install optional Windows features through the command prompt.
Follow these steps to enable Hyper-V on Windows 11 using Command Prompt:
- Press the button Win and type cmd . Then, right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter to run:
DISM / Online / Enable-Feature / All / FeatureName: Microsoft-Hyper-V
- The Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool will start enabling the Hyper-V feature and show the progress on the command prompt.
- Once the operation is completed successfully, you will need to restart your PC. Then, press Y on the keyboard to confirm the action.
After your PC restarts, you can open and use Hyper-V Manager to create virtual machines.
Enable Hyper-V using PowerShell
If you prefer Windows PowerShell at the 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:
- Press the button Win and type powershell . Then, right-click on PowerShell and select Run as administrator.
- In the PowerShell window, type the following shell command and press Enter:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V -All
- PowerShell will run the cmdlet and start the Hyper-V enable process. If successful, you will be asked to restart your PC.
- Type Y to confirm and your PC will restart to apply the changes and enable a new feature.
Conclusions
Hyper-V is a Type 1 hypervisor, which means it runs directly on a computer's hardware. It comes pre-installed, can be used free of charge with no restrictions, and offers linear performance on a consumer-grade system.
That said, dedicated virtual machines like VMWare WorkStation Pro are available on multiple platforms, can be used on older systems, and are better suited for enterprise solutions. Check out our comparison of the three popular hypervisors to find the one that works for you.
