How to Get Hyper-V on Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Installation Guide

By / September 10, 2025

Ever wanted to run virtual machines directly on your Windows 11 PC? That’s where Hyper-V comes in. It’s Microsoft’s built-in virtualization technology that lets you run multiple operating systems side by side without needing third-party tools like VMware or VirtualBox.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through what Hyper-V is, the requirements, and how to install and enable it on Windows 11 step by step.

What Is Hyper-V in Windows 11?

Hyper-V is Microsoft’s native virtualization platform. Think of it as a sandbox where you can install and test other operating systems—like Linux, older versions of Windows, or even specialized software—without touching your main system.

It’s perfect for:

  • Developers testing apps on multiple OS environments

  • IT professionals running servers in virtual machines

  • Tech enthusiasts experimenting with Linux or Windows Insider builds

System Requirements for Hyper-V on Windows 11

Before installing, make sure your PC meets these requirements:

  • Edition: Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education (Hyper-V is not available on Home by default)

  • 64-bit Processor with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT)

  • CPU Virtualization Support (Intel VT-x or AMD-V)

  • At least 4 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended)

  • Windows 11 64-bit OS

👉 If you’re on Windows 11 Home, you’ll need a workaround to enable Hyper-V.

Step 1: Check If Your PC Supports Hyper-V

  1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter.

  2. In the Command Prompt, type:

    systeminfo

  3. Scroll down to Hyper-V Requirements. If all entries say Yes, your system supports Hyper-V.

Step 2: Enable Virtualization in BIOS/UEFI

Hyper-V won’t work unless virtualization is enabled in BIOS.

  1. Restart your PC.

  2. Enter BIOS/UEFI (usually by pressing DEL, ESC, F2, or F10 during boot).

  3. Go to Advanced, CPU Configuration, or Virtualization Settings.

  4. Enable Intel VT-x (for Intel CPUs) or AMD-V (for AMD CPUs).

  5. Save and exit.

Step 3: Enable Hyper-V Using Windows Features

  1. Press Windows + S and type Windows Features.

  2. Click Turn Windows features on or off.

  3. In the list, check:

    • Hyper-V Management Tools

    • Hyper-V Platform

  4. Click OK and wait for installation.

  5. Restart your computer.

Step 4: Install Hyper-V via PowerShell (Alternative Method)

If you prefer command line:

  1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.

  2. Run:

    dism.exe /Online /Enable-Feature:Microsoft-Hyper-V /All

  3. Wait for completion and restart your PC.

Step 5: Verify Hyper-V Installation

After rebooting:

  1. Press Windows + S and type Hyper-V Manager.

  2. Open it.

  3. If the console launches successfully, Hyper-V is installed.

Step 6: Create Your First Virtual Machine

Now that Hyper-V is ready:

  1. Open Hyper-V Manager.

  2. Right-click your PC name → New → Virtual Machine.

  3. Follow the wizard to:

    • Name your VM

    • Allocate RAM

    • Create a virtual hard disk

    • Install an operating system (via ISO or network)

Congratulations—you just created your first VM!

Step 7: Hyper-V on Windows 11 Home (Workaround)

By default, Windows 11 Home doesn’t include Hyper-V. But you can enable it manually:

  1. Open Notepad.

  2. Paste this script:

    pushd "%~dp0"
    dir /b %SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\*Hyper-V*.mum >hv.txt
    for /f %%i in ('findstr /i . hv.txt 2^>nul') do dism /online /norestart /add-package:"%SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\%%i"
    del hv.txt
    Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Hyper-V -All /LimitAccess /ALL

  3. Save as hyperv.bat.

  4. Right-click → Run as Administrator.

  5. Restart your PC.

Now Hyper-V should appear even on Windows 11 Home!

Step 8: Troubleshooting Hyper-V Issues

  • Hyper-V not showing up? → Ensure your CPU supports SLAT and virtualization is enabled.

  • VMs running slow? → Allocate more RAM or enable dynamic memory.

  • Conflicts with VMware/VirtualBox? → Disable Hyper-V when using other virtualization software.

Advantages of Using Hyper-V

  • Built directly into Windows 11

  • No need for third-party tools

  • Reliable and stable for testing OS

  • Free for Pro, Enterprise, and Education users

Conclusion

Getting Hyper-V on Windows 11 is simple once you know the steps. Whether you enable it via Windows Features or PowerShell, this powerful virtualization tool opens the door to endless testing and experimentation.

If you’re on Windows 11 Pro/Enterprise/Education, the setup is straightforward. And if you’re on Windows 11 Home, the workaround helps you unlock Hyper-V too.

With Hyper-V enabled, you can run multiple operating systems, test software safely, and supercharge your productivity.

FAQs

Q1: Is Hyper-V available on Windows 11 Home?
No, but you can enable it using a manual script workaround.

Q2: Does Hyper-V slow down my PC?
Not during normal use, but running multiple VMs will consume CPU and RAM.

Q3: Can I run Linux on Hyper-V?
Yes, Hyper-V supports popular Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian.

Q4: What’s the difference between Hyper-V and VirtualBox?
Hyper-V is built into Windows and more stable, while VirtualBox is cross-platform and more flexible.

Q5: Do I need TPM or Secure Boot for Hyper-V?
Not necessarily, but they may be required for running certain Windows 11 virtual machines.

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