How to Enable or Disable Windows Hypervisor Platform in Windows 11

What is Windows Hypervisor Platform?

The Windows Hypervisor Platform lets you run virtual machines—essentially, computers within your computer—on Windows 11.

Why would you use this? Turning on this feature makes your computer’s hardware work more efficiently to run virtual machines.

Turn On Windows Hypervisor Platform Using the Settings App

You can turn on the Windows Hypervisor Platform using the Windows 11 Settings app. Navigate to System, then Advanced, and locate Virtual Workspaces.

1. Open ⚙️ the Settings app. Click the ⊞ Start button and select Settings. Or press Windows key + I on your keyboard.
2. Click System on the left side.
3. Click Advanced on the right side to see more options.
4. Click on Virtual Workspaces to open it.
5. Find the switch labeled Windows Hypervisor Platform and turn it On.
6. Close ⚙️ the Settings app when you’re done.

Settings

Turn On Windows Hypervisor Platform Using Control Panel

To turn on the Windows Hypervisor Platform using the Control Panel, search for ‘Turn Windows features on or off’ and open it from the search results.

1. ⊞ Click Start, type “Turn Windows features on or off”, and click the matching result.
2. In the Windows Features window that opens, scroll down and find Windows Hypervisor Platform.
3. Check the box next to it to turn it on.
4. Click OK to save.
5. Your PC might ask you to restart. Go ahead and restart to apply the changes.

Turn On Windows Hypervisor Platform Using Command Prompt

The Windows Hypervisor Platform can be enabled through the Command Prompt. Run it as an administrator, then type DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:”HypervisorPlatform” and press Enter.

For those who prefer using commands, this method is an option:

1. ⊞ Click Start, type Command Prompt, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator.
2. Copy and paste this command, then press Enter to turn on Hypervisor Platform:

DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:"HypervisorPlatform"

To turn it off, use the following command instead:

DISM /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"HypervisorPlatform"

Turn On Windows Hypervisor Platform Using PowerShell

To turn on the Windows Hypervisor Platform using PowerShell, open PowerShell as an administrator and then type Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName “HypervisorPlatform” and press Enter.

PowerShell is another tool for running commands. Here’s how to use it:

1. ⊞ Click Start, type PowerShell, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator.
2. To turn on Hypervisor Platform, type this command and press Enter:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "HypervisorPlatform"

To turn it off, use the following command:

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "HypervisorPlatform"

How to Create Virtual Machines Using Hyper-V Manager

After enabling the Windows Hypervisor Platform, you can create virtual machines using Hyper-V Manager. Search for and open the app, then select Action > New > Virtual Machine from the menu.

1. ⊞ Click Start and search for Hyper-V Manager.
2. Open the app. In the menu, click Action > New > Virtual Machine.
3. Follow the instructions in the wizard to set up your new virtual machine.

Being able to disable or enable the Windows Hypervisor Platform allows users to run other operating systems within Windows 11. This feature, essential for running virtual machines, uses virtualization technology to create isolated environments for different software. For example, a user might run a Linux distribution directly on their Windows 11 computer without needing a separate physical machine.

Summary

• Windows Hypervisor Platform helps you run virtual machines on Windows 11.
• You can turn it on or off through Settings, 🎛️ Control Panel, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.
• After enabling it, you can create and manage virtual machines using Hyper-V Manager.
• This is useful if you want to try out other operating systems or test software safely.
• For more tips on Windows 11, check out Geek Rewind.