To enable virtualization in Windows 11, turn it on in your PC’s UEFI (BIOS) firmware: open Settings > System > Recovery, select Restart now next to Advanced startup, then choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart. Switch on the processor virtualization option (Intel VT-x or AMD-V), save, and restart. Back in Windows, turn on Virtual Machine Platform in Turn Windows features on or off.
Applies to: Windows 11 (Home, Pro, and Enterprise). Checked against Microsoft Support on October 6, 2026.
Before you start: check whether virtualization is already on
Hardware virtualization is a processor feature that lets one PC run a second, isolated operating system, such as Linux or a test copy of Windows. Windows 11 has no universal switch for it. The setting lives in the firmware that starts your PC, and Windows features such as Virtual Machine Platform, Hyper-V, and Windows Sandbox are added separately on top of it.
Microsoft notes that many Windows PCs already have virtualization enabled, and that it is already enabled on Surface devices. Check first so you don’t change firmware settings for no reason:
- Task Manager: open Task Manager and select the Performance tab. Intel documents that the processor details there show Virtualization as Enabled or Disabled.
- Command line: open Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt, type systeminfo, and press Enter. Scroll to the Hyper-V Requirements section. If every item says Yes, the hardware side is ready. If you instead see “A hypervisor has been detected. Features required for Hyper-V will not be displayed,” virtualization is already working and a Windows virtualization feature is running.
If virtualization shows as enabled, skip to the Windows features section. Have your PC’s make and model handy before you continue, because firmware menus differ by manufacturer.
Enable virtualization in UEFI from Windows 11 Settings
Warning: Microsoft advises changing only what you need to in the UEFI (or BIOS). Adjusting other settings might prevent you from getting into Windows. Save your open work before you begin, because the PC restarts.
- Open Settings and select System > Recovery. The Recovery options list appears.
- Next to Advanced startup, select Restart now. The PC restarts into the Windows Recovery Environment instead of the desktop.
- Select Troubleshoot, then Advanced options.
- Select UEFI Firmware Settings (some Microsoft instructions call this UEFI Settings), then select Restart. The PC restarts again and opens the manufacturer’s UEFI or BIOS utility.
- Find the processor virtualization option and set it to Enabled. On Intel PCs it is usually named Intel Virtualization Technology, Intel VT, or VT-x. On AMD PCs it is AMD Virtualization or AMD-V. It normally sits in a CPU, Advanced, or Virtualization menu. On Dell computers, for example, Dell lists it under Advanced > Virtualization or Virtualization Support > Virtualization.
- Save the change and exit the firmware utility. The PC restarts into Windows 11 with virtualization turned on.
Microsoft’s Enable Virtualization on Windows page links to model-specific instructions from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. Use the one that matches your PC, since the menu names in this step are set by the manufacturer, not by Windows.
Other ways to reach the firmware settings
Use one of these if you can’t get to the Recovery page in Settings.
Shift + Restart
- On the sign-in screen or the Start menu, select Power.
- Hold Shift while you select Restart.
- Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings.
Press the firmware key during startup
Turn the PC on and press the manufacturer’s key as it starts. Microsoft lists the common keys as Esc, Delete, F1, F2, F10, F11, and F12, and Volume up or Volume down on tablets. Many PCs show the key briefly on the startup screen. Dell, for example, uses F2 when the Dell logo appears. Our guide on how to enter BIOS (UEFI) in Windows 11 covers these routes in more detail.
Turn on the Windows virtualization features
The firmware switch only makes the processor feature available. Most apps that need virtualization, including Windows Subsystem for Linux 2, also need a Windows component.
- Select Start, type Windows features, and select Turn Windows features on or off. A small window with a list of checkboxes opens.
- Find Virtual Machine Platform and select its checkbox.
- Select OK. Windows installs the component and may ask you to restart.
If you prefer a command, Microsoft’s WSL instructions give this one for PowerShell opened as Administrator, followed by a restart: dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart
Which feature you need depends on what you want to run:
| Feature | Use it for | Windows 11 edition |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Machine Platform | WSL 2 and other apps that need a virtualization layer | All desktop editions, including Home |
| Hyper-V | Creating and running full virtual machines | Pro or Enterprise; it can’t be installed on Home |
| Windows Sandbox | A disposable desktop for trying software safely | Requires virtualization enabled in firmware and at least 4 GB of RAM |
For full virtual machines, follow our guide on how to enable Hyper-V in Windows 11. For Linux, see how to install WSL on Windows 11.
Confirm it worked, or undo it
Open Task Manager and check the Performance tab again. Virtualization should now read Enabled. You can also run systeminfo again and review the Hyper-V Requirements section.
To undo the change, return to the firmware utility the same way, set the virtualization option back to Disabled, and save. To remove a Windows component, open Turn Windows features on or off, clear its checkbox, select OK, and restart. Keep in mind that some Windows security features depend on the hypervisor. Microsoft names Memory integrity and Credential Guard, so turning virtualization off also affects those protections.
Troubleshooting
UEFI Firmware Settings is missing
If the option doesn’t appear under Advanced options, use the startup key method instead and check your manufacturer’s support site for the correct key.
There is no virtualization option in the firmware
Intel explains that virtualization can be switched on only when both the processor and the BIOS support it. Look up your processor on the manufacturer’s specification page. If the processor supports it but the menu has no option, contact the PC or motherboard maker. Recent Dell models can hide the setting, and Dell says to press Ctrl + Alt + S in the BIOS to reveal hidden options such as VT-x. On a work or school PC, firmware settings may be managed by your organization, so ask your IT department.
Error 0x80370102 when starting WSL
This error reads “The virtual machine could not be started because a required feature is not installed.” Microsoft’s WSL troubleshooting page says to enable Virtual Machine Platform, make sure virtualization is enabled in the BIOS, and restart. If it continues, open PowerShell as Administrator and run bcdedit /enum | findstr -i hypervisorlaunchtype. If the result shows Off, run bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype Auto and restart. WSL 2 also needs a processor with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), which very old processors lack.
Windows Sandbox says “No hypervisor was found. Please enable hypervisor support.”
Microsoft states that Windows Sandbox supports only the Hyper-V hypervisor, not third-party ones. Confirm virtualization is on in the firmware and that the Windows feature finished installing after a restart.
Another virtual machine app stopped working
Microsoft notes that only one software component can use the processor’s virtualization extensions at a time, so older versions of third-party virtual machine apps can fail while Hyper-V components are active. Update the app to a version that supports Hyper-V. If that is not possible, Microsoft’s workaround is to open Turn Windows features on or off, expand Hyper-V and Hyper-V Platform, and clear Hyper-V Hypervisor.
You are running Windows 11 inside a virtual machine
A virtual machine has no firmware switch of its own. The host has to pass virtualization through, which is called nested virtualization. On a Hyper-V host, Microsoft’s command is Set-VMProcessor -VMName <VMName> -ExposeVirtualizationExtensions $true, run in PowerShell as Administrator on the host.
Frequently asked questions
Is virtualization enabled by default in Windows 11?
Often, yes. Microsoft says many Windows PCs already have it enabled and that it is already enabled on Surface devices. Check Task Manager before you change anything.
Can I enable virtualization without opening the BIOS?
No. If the firmware setting is off, no Windows setting or command can turn it on. Windows can only take you to the firmware menu and then add its own features once the processor option is enabled.
Does Windows 11 Home support virtualization?
Yes. The firmware setting works on every edition, and Virtual Machine Platform and WSL 2 are available on Windows 11 Home. Only the full Hyper-V role is limited to Pro and Enterprise.
How much memory do I need?
Microsoft’s minimum for Hyper-V is 4 GB of RAM, and more is better, because the host and every running virtual machine share it. Windows Sandbox also needs at least 4 GB, with 8 GB recommended.
Do these steps work in Windows 10?
The firmware and Windows features steps are the same. The only difference Microsoft lists is the path to Advanced startup, which is under Update & Security > Recovery in Windows 10 Settings.
Once Task Manager shows virtualization as enabled, install the feature you actually need, such as Hyper-V, WSL, or Windows Sandbox, and review Microsoft’s Hyper-V system requirements if you plan to run full virtual machines.
Related: How to enable AVX support in Windows 11.
Related: How to enter BIOS on a Lenovo with Windows 11.
Related: how to disable HVCI and KMCI in Windows 11.
Related: how to enter BIOS on an MSI.
Related: uninstall WSL in Windows 11.
Related: run macOS apps from a Windows PC.
Related: How to Create a Virtual Machine in Windows 11.
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.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.