Hyper-V is Microsoft’s built-in virtualization platform for supported editions of Windows. On Windows 10, the PC needs compatible 64-bit hardware with virtualization enabled in firmware, and the Windows edition must include Hyper-V.
Turn on Hyper-V
- Open Start and search for Turn Windows features on or off.
- Open the Windows Features dialog.
- Check Hyper-V and its available subcomponents.
- Click OK and allow Windows to install the feature.
- Restart the computer when prompted.
If Hyper-V is unavailable, check the Windows edition and confirm that hardware virtualization is enabled in UEFI or BIOS. Task Manager’s CPU performance page can show whether virtualization is enabled.
After installation
Open Hyper-V Manager to create and manage virtual machines. Virtual machines still require properly licensed operating systems and enough memory, storage, and processor resources to run well.
For a new virtualization setup, also account for the fact that Microsoft ended standard free Windows 10 support in October 2025. If the hardware supports Windows 11, consider the supported operating system when planning a new virtualization setup.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
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