Hyper-V is Microsoft’s built-in virtualization platform that allows you to run multiple operating systems on a single machine. This guide provides a clear step-by-step process to download, enable, and configure Hyper-V on your Windows system.
Step 1: Check System Requirements
Before installing Hyper-V, ensure your system meets the following requirements:
- Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education; Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise.
- 64-bit processor with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT).
- Minimum of 4 GB memory.
- Virtualization support enabled in BIOS or UEFI.
To verify requirements, open Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt and type: Systeminfo.exe. Scroll to the Hyper-V requirements section to review the report. If Hyper-V is already enabled, the report will state: “A hypervisor has been detected. Features required for Hyper-V will not be displayed.”
Step 2: Enable Hyper-V
Option A: Using Control Panel
- Press Windows key + R, type
appwiz.cpl, and press Enter. - Select Turn Windows features on or off.
- Check the box next to Hyper-V and click OK.
- Restart your computer.
Option B: Using PowerShell
- Open PowerShell as Administrator.
- Run the command:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V -All. - Restart your computer.
Option C: Using Command Prompt (DISM)
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Run the command:
DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /All /FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V. - Restart your computer.
Step 3: Configure Hyper-V
After installation, open Hyper-V Manager from the Start menu. From here, you can create new virtual machines and configure their settings according to your needs.
With these steps completed, Hyper-V is now installed and ready to use. You can begin setting up virtual machines to test, develop, or run multiple operating systems efficiently.
This guide ensures a smooth installation process, helping you unlock the full potential of Hyper-V for both personal and professional virtualization tasks.