Hyper-V lets you run a second operating system inside Windows without restarting your computer

Hyper-V is a feature built into Windows that creates a virtual machine — a separate computer environment that runs inside your actual computer. You can use it to test software, run an older version of Windows, try Linux, or keep work files isolated from personal ones. Turning it on takes about five minutes, but you need Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition. Home edition does not include it.

Once enabled, Hyper-V appears as a new program on your computer. You create a virtual machine by telling it how much memory and storage to give the fake computer, then install an operating system into it the same way you would on a real machine. The virtual machine runs in a window on your screen and uses your actual computer's processor, memory, and hard drive to do its work.

Key Takeaways

  • Hyper-V is only available on Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education — not on Home edition.
  • You turn it on through Windows Features, which takes a few minutes and requires a restart.
  • Your processor must support virtualization, which is standard on modern Intel and AMD chips but may be disabled in BIOS.
  • A virtual machine needs at least 2 GB of memory and 20 GB of storage space to run smoothly, taken from your actual computer's resources.

Check your Windows edition and processor first

Open Settings and go to System, then About. Look for the line that says "Edition" — if it shows Home, Hyper-V is not available and you cannot turn it on. Pro, Enterprise, and Education all support it. If you have Home edition and need virtual machines, you can use VirtualBox instead, which is free and works on any Windows version.

Your processor also needs to support virtualization. Nearly all Intel and AMD processors made in the last ten years do, but the feature is sometimes turned off in BIOS. If you are unsure, restart your computer and enter BIOS (usually by pressing Delete, F2, or F12 during startup — the key appears on your screen for a few seconds). Look for a setting called "Virtualization", "VT-x", "AMD-V", or "SVM" and make sure it is enabled. If you cannot find it or are uncomfortable in BIOS, your processor almost certainly supports it and it is likely already on.

Turn on Hyper-V through Windows Features

Press the Windows key and type "Turn Windows features on or off", then open that program. A window appears with a list of optional features. Scroll down and find "Hyper-V" — it is a folder with a checkbox next to it. Click the checkbox to mark it, then click OK.

Windows will copy files and configure the feature, which takes a few minutes. When it finishes, it will ask you to restart your computer. Save your work, close your programs, and restart. After the restart, Hyper-V is ready to use.

Allocate memory and storage to your virtual machine

Before you create a virtual machine, decide how much of your computer's resources it can use. If your computer has 16 GB of memory, you might give a virtual machine 4 GB, leaving 12 GB for Windows and other programs. If you only have 8 GB total, give the virtual machine 2 GB and keep 6 GB for your actual system. A virtual machine that takes too much memory will make your real computer slow.

Storage works the same way. A virtual machine needs a file on your hard drive to store its operating system and programs. That file grows as you install things, so plan for at least 20 GB per virtual machine if you are just testing, or 50 GB if you plan to use it regularly. If your hard drive is nearly full, create the virtual machine on an external drive or a second hard drive if you have one.

Create your first virtual machine in Hyper-V Manager

Press the Windows key and type "Hyper-V Manager", then open it. On the right side, click "New" and then "Virtual Machine". A wizard appears that walks you through the setup. Give your virtual machine a name, choose how much memory to give it, and select which hard drive to store it on.

When the wizard finishes, your virtual machine appears in the list but is not running yet. Right-click it and select "Connect" to open a window showing the virtual machine's screen. It will be blank because no operating system is installed. To install Windows, Linux, or another operating system, you need an installation file — either a DVD in your drive, an ISO file on your computer, or a downloaded installer. The virtual machine will boot from that file the same way a real computer does during setup.

Disable Hyper-V if you need to use other virtualization software

Hyper-V and other virtual machine programs like VirtualBox or VMware cannot run at the same time on the same computer. If you turn on Hyper-V and then try to use VirtualBox, it will not work. You have to choose one or the other.

If you need to switch, go back to "Turn Windows features on or off", uncheck Hyper-V, and restart your computer. After the restart, Hyper-V is off and you can use other virtualization software. You can turn Hyper-V back on the same way whenever you need it again.

Hyper-V slows down your actual computer while a virtual machine is running

A virtual machine uses real memory, processor time, and hard drive space from your actual computer. If you create a virtual machine with 4 GB of memory, that 4 GB is no longer available for Windows, Chrome, Outlook, or anything else. If your computer has 8 GB total and you run a 4 GB virtual machine, you only have 4 GB left for everything else, which will feel slow.

Close or pause the virtual machine when you are not using it. Right-click the virtual machine in Hyper-V Manager and select "Pause" to freeze it without shutting it down, or "Turn Off" to close it completely. Pausing uses less memory than running but more than turning it off. If your computer feels slow while you are working, check Hyper-V Manager to see if a virtual machine is still running in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run Hyper-V on Windows Home edition?

No. Hyper-V is only available on Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education. If you have Home edition and need to run virtual machines, VirtualBox is a free alternative that works on any Windows version.

Do I need to restart my computer after turning on Hyper-V?

Yes. Windows will ask you to restart after you enable Hyper-V in the Windows Features window. Save your work first, because the restart will close all open programs.

How much memory should I give a virtual machine?

Give it at least 2 GB if you are just testing, or 4 GB if you plan to use it regularly. Never give it more than half your total memory, or your actual computer will become slow. If your computer has 8 GB, give the virtual machine no more than 4 GB.

Can I use Hyper-V and VirtualBox at the same time?

No. You must turn off Hyper-V to use VirtualBox or other virtualization software. Go to "Turn Windows features on or off", uncheck Hyper-V, and restart your computer.

What if my processor does not support virtualization?

Hyper-V will not work. However, nearly all processors made in the last ten years support it. If you are unsure, restart your computer and check BIOS for a "Virtualization" setting. If you cannot find it, your processor likely supports it and it is already enabled.