Do you want to run virtual machines on your PC for testing software, trying different operating systems, or creating a safe environment for experiments? Hyper-V is one of the best virtualization tools built into Windows — but there’s one problem:
👉 Hyper-V is not officially available in Windows 11 Home.
But don’t worry! In this guide, we’ll show you:
✅ How to enable Hyper-V in Windows 11 Pro / Enterprise (official method)
✅ How to enable Hyper-V in Windows 11 Home (workaround method)
✅ How to check system requirements
✅ How to turn on virtualization in BIOS/UEFI
✅ Troubleshooting if Hyper-V doesn’t show up
We’ll walk through everything step-by-step — super simple and beginner-friendly. 🙌
Let’s get started! 🚀
✅ What Is Hyper-V in Windows 11?
Hyper-V is Microsoft’s built-in virtualization platform that allows you to create and run virtual machines (VMs).
You can install and test other operating systems like:
-
Windows 10 / 7
-
Ubuntu / Kali Linux
-
Android emulators
-
macOS (experimental cases)
-
Server OS versions
Key Features of Hyper-V
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Run multiple OS at once | Perfect for developers & testers |
| System isolation | Safe environment for risky files |
| Snapshot & restore | Test anything — revert anytime |
| Hardware acceleration | Faster than VirtualBox in many cases |
It’s like having multiple computers inside your PC — cool, right? 😎
❓ Why Is Hyper-V Missing in Windows 11 Home?
Because Microsoft restricted Hyper-V to:
✅ Windows 11 Pro
✅ Windows 11 Enterprise
✅ Windows 11 Education
But with a legal workaround, you can unlock Hyper-V on Windows 11 Home 💡
(We’ll show you exactly how below 🔽)
🖥️ System Requirements for Hyper-V
Before enabling Hyper-V, check if your hardware supports virtualization.
✅ Minimum Requirements
-
Windows 11 Home / Pro 64-bit
-
4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended)
-
64-bit CPU with SLAT (Intel VT-x, AMD-V)
-
Virtualization enabled in BIOS/UEFI
How to Confirm Compatibility
1️⃣ Press Windows + R
2️⃣ Type:
3️⃣ Press Enter
Scroll to these results:
You should see:
✅ Virtualization Enabled In Firmware: Yes
✅ VM Monitor Mode Extensions: Yes
✅ Second Level Address Translation (SLAT): Yes
If No ❌ appears — check BIOS settings (next section).
✅ Enable Virtualization in BIOS/UEFI
This step is required for Hyper-V on all versions.
-
Restart your PC
-
Press the BIOS key repeatedly while booting
Common keys:-
F2 (Dell / Asus)
-
F10 (HP)
-
Del (MSI / Gigabyte)
-
-
Go to Advanced / CPU Configuration
-
Enable:
-
Intel: Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
-
AMD: SVM Mode
-
-
Save & Exit (usually F10)
Now Windows is ready for Hyper-V ✅
🟩 Part 1: Enable Hyper-V in Windows 11 Pro (Official Method)
If you have Pro, use this official method:
✅ Method 1 — Enable Hyper-V Using Windows Features
-
Press Windows + R
-
Type:
-
Hit Enter
-
Scroll down and check:
✅ Hyper-V
✅ Hyper-V Management Tools
✅ Hyper-V Platform
-
Click OK
-
Restart PC
Done! ✅
✅ Method 2 — Enable Hyper-V Using PowerShell (Admin)
-
Press Windows + X
-
Select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin)
-
Run this command:
-
Restart when prompted ✅
🟥 Part 2: Enable Hyper-V in Windows 11 Home (Workaround)
Microsoft hides Hyper-V in Home editions — but it’s still built-in!
We simply need to activate it using a small script ✅
⚠️ Important Note
This is a safe and widely-used method. No third-party apps!
✅ Step-by-Step Method for Windows 11 Home
1️⃣ Open Notepad
2️⃣ Copy and paste this entire script:
3️⃣ Save the file as:
4️⃣ Right-click → Run as administrator
5️⃣ Restart your PC ✅
Hyper-V is now installed on Windows 11 Home! 🎉
✅ Verify Hyper-V Installation
Press Windows key, type:
Hyper-V Manager ✅
or run:
If the window opens — success! ✅
🔁 How to Disable Hyper-V (If Needed)
Open Terminal (Admin) and run:
Reboot required.
✅ Create Your First Virtual Machine
Once Hyper-V is enabled:
-
Open Hyper-V Manager
-
Click New → Virtual Machine
-
Follow the setup wizard
-
Choose your OS ISO (Windows/Linux/etc.)
-
Configure RAM, CPU & disk
-
Start the VM ✅
Tip: Use Generation 2 for modern operating systems.
🧩 Troubleshooting — Hyper-V Not Working?
| Error | Fix |
|---|---|
| Hyper-V options missing | Enable BIOS virtualization |
| Systeminfo shows “No” | Update UEFI + enable secure boot |
| VM won’t start | Increase RAM/CPU assignment |
| App virtualization blocked | Turn off other hypervisors (BlueStacks, VirtualBox) |
| Boot error | Run: bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype auto |
You can also reset all virtualization features:
Restart afterward ✅
🆚 Hyper-V vs VirtualBox vs VMware
| Feature | Hyper-V | VirtualBox | VMware Workstation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free ✅ | Free ✅ | Paid ❌ |
| Performance | ✅ Fast with hardware acceleration | Moderate | ✅ Very fast |
| OS Support | Windows-focused | Wide OS support ✅ | Best compatibility ✅ |
| Snapshot feature | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Gaming VMs | ❌ Not ideal | ✅ Better | ✅ Best |
✅ Developers & IT pros → Hyper-V
✅ Casual VM users → VirtualBox
✅ Conclusion — Hyper-V Works Perfectly on Windows 11 Home
You now know every method to activate Hyper-V in any Windows 11 edition:
✔ Official toggle for Pro/Enterprise
✔ Workaround unlock for Windows 11 Home
✔ BIOS virtualization settings
✔ Troubleshooting solutions
Now you can run virtual machines like a pro! 🖥️💡
If you found this guide helpful — go test your first VM! 🚀
❓ FAQs — Hyper-V on Windows 11
1️⃣ Can I enable Hyper-V on Windows 11 Home?
✅ Yes! Use the batch script method we provided.
2️⃣ Does Hyper-V slow down Windows performance?
Only while VMs are running — otherwise no major impact.
3️⃣ Why can’t I find Hyper-V in Windows features?
Because it’s hidden in Home edition — unlock it with our workaround.
4️⃣ Can Hyper-V run Linux VMs?
✅ Yes — Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, Kali & more.
5️⃣ Is Hyper-V better than VirtualBox?
For performance and Windows integration — ✅ Yes.
📌 Summary — Key Takeaways
| Topic | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Hyper-V availability | Not officially in Home, but can be unlocked |
| Requirements | Virtualization must be enabled in BIOS |
| Installation methods | Windows Features, PowerShell, Script |
| Troubleshooting | Use DISM & BCDEDIT commands |
| Best usage | Development, Server testing, Secure VM environment |
✅ Easy ✅ Safe ✅ Effective ✅ Works on all Windows 11 editions
