Each major release of Windows comes with several different versions or SKUs, each with various features. Windows 11 is no different, offering versions such as Home, Pro, and so on… One of the major features typically reserved for Windows Pro versions is Hyper-V, but with a little tinkering, you can actually get it on Home versions. In today’s article, we will guide you on how to install Hyper-V on Windows 11 Home.
How to enable hardware virtualization in Windows 11
Hyper-V is a bare-metal hypervisor and requires Hardware Virtualization to be enabled in the BIOS to function. Most modern systems support Hardware Virtualization, and you can enable it in the BIOS.
The steps below are for HP laptops. Refer to the user manual or documentation on the manufacturer’s website for other systems.
To enable hardware virtualization in the BIOS:
- Turn off your PC if it is currently powered on.
- Press the power button to turn on the computer and then immediately start pressing the F10 key to enter BIOS. The BIOS setup key varies depending on the manufacturer. Therefore, try using F10, F2, F12, F1, or DEL and see which one works for you.
- Once in the BIOS Setup utility, open the Configuration tab.
- Use the down arrow key to highlight Virtualization Technology.
- Press Enter and select Enabled. Press Enter again to confirm the selection.
- Next, press F10 to save changes and exit BIOS.
- Your PC will restart once Hardware Virtualization is enabled. Now, you can proceed to install Hyper-V on your system.
How to install Hyper-V on Windows 11 Home
The next step is to create and run a batch script to install the necessary files to enable Hyper-V in Windows 11 Home.
Before proceeding with the next steps, please create a restore point. This will help you restore your computer to its current state if any issues occur during the process.
To enable Hyper-V in Windows 11 Home:
1. Open a new Notepad file. To do this, press Win + R, type notepad, and click OK.
2. In the Notepad file, copy and paste the following script:
pushd "%~dp0"
dir /b %SystemRoot%servicingPackages*Hyper-V*.mum >hyper-v.txt
for /f %%i in ('findstr /i . hyper-v.txt 2^>nul') do dism /online /norestart /add-package:"%SystemRoot%servicingPackages%%i"
del hyper-v.txt
Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Hyper-V -All /LimitAccess /ALL
pause3. Press Ctrl + S to open the Save dialog.
4. In the file name field, type hyperv.bat. The .bat extension at the end of the filename is crucial for executing the script.
5. Next, click the Save as type drop-down menu and select All Files.
6. Click the Save button to save the file.
7. Next, right-click the hyperv.bat file and select Run as administrator. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control.
8. The script will begin executing in CMD to install Hyper-V. This may take a while, so please wait until the process is complete.
9. Once finished, you will see the message Operation completed successfully.
10. Type Y to confirm and restart your PC. Alternatively, type N to exit CMD.
Note that you will need to restart your PC to apply the changes. After restarting, you should be able to use Hyper-V in Windows 11 Home. Type Hyper-V in the Windows search bar and click Hyper-V Manager to create a new virtual machine.
If it is still unavailable, you can enable Hyper-V via the Windows Features dialog, Command Prompt, or Windows PowerShell.
Here is how you can quickly add Hyper-V to Windows 11 using Command Prompt:
1. Press the Win key and type cmd. Then, right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
<code>DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /All /FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V3. The above command uses the Deployment Imaging Service and Management (DISM) tool to enable Microsoft Hyper-V and its required dependencies on your Windows computer. When the message Operation completed successfully appears, it means you have successfully enabled Hyper-V.
Good luck with your installation!
