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Create a Windows 11 Virtual Machine with Hyper-V: What to Know

Check your Windows edition and hardware, enable Hyper-V, then create a VM in Hyper-V Manager. Learn the Generation 2 and security settings required for a Windows 11 guest.
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You can create a virtual machine (VM) with Hyper-V on a Windows 11 PC if the host runs Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise and its processor and firmware meet Hyper-V requirements. First check compatibility, enable the Windows feature, then use Hyper-V Manager to create the VM. For a Windows 11 guest, choose Generation 2 and configure Secure Boot, virtual TPM, at least 4 GB of memory, two virtual processors, and at least 64 GB of storage.

Check that your Windows 11 PC can run Hyper-V

Confirm your Windows edition

Microsoft says the Hyper-V role cannot be installed on Windows 11 Home. Its installation guidance covers Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise; the Windows 11 requirements page describes Client Hyper-V as available in Pro editions and greater. See Microsoft’s Hyper-V installation guide and Windows 11 requirements.

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Check processor, firmware, and memory requirements

Hyper-V requires a 64-bit processor with second-level address translation (SLAT), VM Monitor Mode extensions, hardware-assisted virtualization enabled in BIOS or UEFI (Intel VT or AMD-V), and hardware-enforced Data Execution Prevention (Intel XD or AMD NX). Microsoft lists at least 4 GB of host RAM as a requirement; the host and its VMs may need more depending on what is running.

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Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and run Systeminfo.exe. In the output, find the Hyper-V Requirements section. Microsoft says all entries should show Yes for the role to run. Check the Hyper-V hardware requirements if a requirement is not met.

Check access and available space

Creating a VM requires membership in the local Administrators or Hyper-V Administrators group. Make sure the host has enough free memory and disk space for both the operating system and the workload you plan to run in the VM. Microsoft’s VM creation guide covers these prerequisites.

Enable the Hyper-V Windows feature

Hyper-V is an optional Windows feature. Microsoft documents enabling it through Control Panel, PowerShell, or DISM. The PowerShell command below installs the feature and its required components; open PowerShell as an administrator:

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Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V -All

Restart Windows if prompted, then open Hyper-V Manager. Installing the management console alone does not enable the Hyper-V feature. Windows 11 Home cannot install the Hyper-V role. See Microsoft’s installation instructions.

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Create a VM in Hyper-V Manager

Before starting, have an operating-system installation ISO ready if you want to install the guest immediately. You can also use an existing virtual disk or create the VM first and install an operating system later. A virtual switch is optional during creation and can be added later.

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  1. Open the wizard. In Hyper-V Manager, select the host, then choose New > Virtual Machine.
  2. Name the VM. Enter a name and choose where to store its configuration if you do not want to use the default location.
  3. Choose a generation. Microsoft recommends Generation 2 unless you have a specific reason to use Generation 1. A Windows 11 guest requires Generation 2.
  4. Set startup memory. Allocate memory appropriate for the guest and the host’s available resources. You can enable Dynamic Memory if it suits the workload.
  5. Choose networking. Select a virtual switch if the VM needs network access. Hyper-V supports external, internal, and private switch types; choose based on how the VM needs to connect. You can defer this and configure networking later.
  6. Configure the virtual disk. Create a virtual hard disk, attach an existing VHD or VHDX, or defer disk attachment.
  7. Select installation media. Choose to install an operating system later, boot from an ISO, use network deployment, or select another supported installation source.
  8. Review and finish. Check the summary and complete the wizard. Start the VM and follow the guest operating system’s installer if you supplied installation media.

The wizard’s memory and disk options are not one-size-fits-all recommendations. Choose resources based on the guest operating system, its workload, and what the host can spare. For a Windows 11 guest, use the minimums in the next section as a starting point.

Configure the VM for a Windows 11 guest

Microsoft’s Windows 11 VM requirements call for a Generation 2 VM with at least 64 GB of storage, 4 GB of memory, two or more virtual processors, Secure Boot, and virtual TPM. The host processor must also meet the applicable Windows 11 processor requirements. These are guest requirements, not a guarantee that every workload will run comfortably at the minimum settings. See Microsoft’s Windows 11 requirements.

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Set the generation when creating the VM. To configure the security requirements, open the VM’s settings in Hyper-V Manager and configure Secure Boot and a virtual TPM before installing or starting Windows 11. The VM must use Generation 2 for these Windows 11 requirements.

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Choose Hyper-V Manager or PowerShell

Hyper-V Manager’s wizard is the straightforward option when creating one VM interactively. PowerShell is useful for repeatable or scripted setup. Microsoft documents both approaches, including the New-VM cmdlet and a way to list available switches:

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Get-VMSwitch * | Format-Table Name

Hyper-V also supports choosing a VM configuration version when compatibility with an older Hyper-V host matters. Microsoft documents using -Version for that purpose. A single example command does not configure every Windows 11 guest requirement, so make sure the VM’s generation, memory, processors, storage, Secure Boot, and virtual TPM are set appropriately. See Microsoft’s VM creation guide.

Quick Recap

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Troubleshoot common setup problems

  • Hyper-V will not install: Confirm that the host is not running Windows 11 Home, then check the edition and feature installation guidance.
  • Systeminfo reports a failed requirement: Check whether virtualization is enabled in BIOS or UEFI and whether the processor supports the required features. All entries in the Hyper-V Requirements section should show Yes.
  • The VM cannot start or install: Check that the host has enough available memory and disk space, and verify that the installation ISO or virtual disk is accessible.
  • The guest has no network connection: Check whether a virtual switch is assigned to the VM. You can configure or change this after VM creation.
  • Windows 11 setup does not accept the VM configuration: Verify that the VM is Generation 2 and meets the memory, processor, storage, Secure Boot, and virtual TPM requirements.

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