Virtual machines on Windows 11: Hyper-V, VirtualBox, VMware and Windows Sandbox

To run a virtual machine on Windows 11, turn on CPU virtualization in UEFI, then use Hyper-V on Pro or Enterprise, or install VirtualBox or VMware Workstation on any edition.

This guide compares the four built-in and free options, lists the requirements for a Windows 11 guest, and fixes the errors that stop a VM from starting.

How do I create a virtual machine in Windows 11?

The quickest route to install a virtual machine in Windows 11 Pro uses Hyper-V, because it ships with Windows and needs no download. On Windows 11 Home, use VirtualBox or VMware Workstation instead, and follow the same flow to run a virtual machine with either app.

1. Make sure virtualization (Intel VT or AMD-V) is turned on in UEFI.
2. Select Start, type Windows features, and open Turn Windows features on or off.
3. Tick Hyper-V, select OK, and restart when prompted.
4. Open Hyper-V Manager, then select New > Virtual Machine in the Actions pane.
5. Pick Generation 2, assign memory, choose a virtual switch, and create a virtual hard disk.
6. Under Installation Options, point to a Windows or Linux .iso file and select Finish.
7. Right-click the VM, select Connect…, then Action > Start.

Hyper-V vs VirtualBox vs VMware Workstation vs Windows Sandbox

All four use hardware virtualization, but they differ in edition support, cost and what survives a restart. If you only need Linux command-line tools, WSL 2 on Windows 11 is lighter than a full VM.

Option	Windows editions	Cost and source	Keeps changes?	Works with Hyper-V on?	Best for
Hyper-V	Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise (not Home)	Built into Windows; there is no Hyper-V download	Yes	It is Hyper-V	Windows and Linux test machines on Pro
Oracle VirtualBox	Windows 11 host; Oracle lists no edition limit	Free, GPL v3 base package; separate Extension Pack	Yes, plus snapshots	May not start VMs or may run slower in emulated mode	Home users, old operating systems
VMware Workstation Pro	Windows host	Free from Broadcom since November 11, 2024; no Broadcom support for free users	Yes, plus snapshots	Yes, through Host VBS Mode on Windows 10 build 19041.264 or newer, with some limits	Home users who also need Hyper-V-based security
Windows Sandbox	Pro, Enterprise, Education (not Home)	Built into Windows	No, everything is deleted on close	Uses the Microsoft hypervisor itself	Opening an untrusted file or app once

What is a virtual machine?

A virtual machine is a complete computer emulated in software: its own firmware, CPU cores, memory, disk file and network card, running as a window on your PC.

Term	Meaning on Windows 11
Host	Your physical Windows 11 PC that runs the hypervisor
Guest	The operating system inside the VM, such as Windows 11, Windows 10 or Linux
Hypervisor	Hyper-V, VirtualBox or VMware Workstation; it hands CPU, RAM and disk to each guest
Virtual hard disk	A file on the host (.vhdx for Hyper-V) that the guest sees as its drive
ISO file	The installation disc image the guest boots from
Virtual Machine Platform	A Windows optional feature that provides core virtualization services to apps

Why use a virtual machine?

Virtual machines are useful whenever you need a second operating system without a second PC or a dual-boot setup. A server guest such as the Ubuntu Server ISO runs in a VM exactly as it would on bare metal.

Use	Why a VM helps
Try Windows 11 updates or Insider builds	A broken guest never touches the host install
Run Linux next to Windows	Both systems run at once, no restart
Test software and scripts	Restore a snapshot to get a clean machine again
Open suspicious files	Windows Sandbox discards everything when closed
Keep legacy apps alive	Old Windows versions run in VirtualBox
Learn server administration	Build a small network of VMs on one PC

Limitations of virtual machines

The advantages of virtual machines are isolation, snapshots and several systems on one PC. The costs are just as concrete.

Limitation	What it means
Shared RAM	Memory you give a guest is taken from the host while the VM runs
Disk space	Each guest needs its own disk file; Windows 11 alone needs 64 GB
One hypervisor owns the CPU	VirtualBox and VMware can fail or slow down while Hyper-V is on
Licensing	A Windows guest still needs its own product key
Edition limits	Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox are not available on Windows 11 Home

Hardware requirements

Check requirements for Windows before you start: the host needs hardware virtualization, and a Windows 11 guest needs the same TPM and Secure Boot as a physical PC.

Requirement	Hyper-V host	Windows Sandbox	Windows 11 guest
Windows edition	Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise	Pro, Enterprise, Pro Education/SE, Education	Any licensed edition
CPU	64-bit with SLAT and VM Monitor Mode Extension	AMD64, or Arm64 on 22H2 and later; 2 cores minimum	Supported for Windows 11
Firmware setting	Intel VT or AMD-V on, plus DEP (XD or NX bit)	Virtualization on in BIOS	UEFI with Secure Boot
Memory	4 GB minimum	4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended	4 GB assigned to the VM
Disk	Room for virtual hard disks	1 GB free, SSD recommended	64 GB virtual disk
TPM	Not needed on the host for Hyper-V	Not listed	TPM 2.0 (virtual TPM in the VM)

Method 1: Enable virtualization in BIOS or UEFI

Many PCs ship with virtualization already on, and Surface devices always have it on. If the requirements check says otherwise, here is how to enable virtualization on Windows 11 from the firmware.

1. Open Settings > System > Recovery.
2. Next to Advanced startup, select Restart now.
3. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Settings > Restart to access the UEFI (or BIOS).
4. Find the virtualization option, often labelled Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x), Intel VMX or AMD-V/SVM, and turn it on.
5. Change nothing else, then save and exit; the PC restarts.
6. Back in Windows, open Turn Windows features on or off, tick Virtual Machine Platform, select OK and restart if asked.

The menu names in the UEFI differ by maker, so open your PC manufacturer's support page (Acer, Asus, Dell, HP or Lenovo) for the exact location. Turning on Virtual Machine Platform mainly matters on PCs upgraded from Windows 10.

Method 2: Use Hyper-V (Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise)

Enable Hyper-V on Windows 11 Pro from the Windows Features dialog; it is an optional feature, not a separate app. The same choices apply to turning on Hyper-V in 26H2, including PowerShell and DISM.

Enable Hyper-V on Windows 11 Home is not possible: Microsoft states the Hyper-V role cannot be installed on Home. Use VirtualBox or VMware Workstation there, or upgrade to Pro.

1. Select Start, type Windows features, and open Turn Windows features on or off.
2. Tick Hyper-V; both Hyper-V Platform and Hyper-V Management Tools are selected.
3. Select OK.
4. Restart the PC when Windows asks.
5. Search the Start menu for Hyper-V Manager to confirm it opens.

If the list shows Windows Hypervisor Platform but no Hyper-V entry, the PC or edition does not meet the Hyper-V requirements.

Install Hyper-V

Open Windows PowerShell as administrator, or the command fails. This is the fastest way to enable Hyper-V on several PCs.

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

Turns on every Hyper-V component on the running system. With DISM, use DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /All /FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V instead.

You should see: PowerShell asks to restart; enter Y. DISM reports "The operation completed successfully."

Create a virtual machine

You need to be in the local Administrators or Hyper-V Administrators group, and you need an .iso file or an existing .vhdx disk.

1. Open Hyper-V Manager and select your PC in the left pane.
2. In the Actions pane, select New > Virtual Machine, then Next.
3. On Specify Name and Location, name the VM and select Next.
4. On Specify Generation, choose Generation 2 unless you have a reason for Generation 1.
5. On Assign Memory, enter the startup memory (4096 MB for Windows 11) and optionally tick Dynamic Memory.
6. On Configure Networking, pick a virtual switch, or skip and add one later.
7. On Connect Virtual Hard Disk, select Create a virtual hard disk, then on Installation Options choose Install an operating system from a bootable image file and select Finish.
8. To start and connect to the virtual machine, right-click it, select Connect…, then Action > Start.

Generation 2 VMs have Secure Boot on by default and support a virtual TPM, which a Windows 11 guest needs. Add the virtual TPM in the VM's security settings before you start Setup.

Method 3: Use Oracle VirtualBox on Windows 11

VirtualBox runs on Windows 11 Home as well as Pro. Get the current VirtualBox installer from Oracle, then install VirtualBox on Windows 11 and configure it.

1. Run the VirtualBox installer and keep the default components.
2. Open VirtualBox Manager and select New to start the Create Virtual Machine wizard.
3. Optionally install the Extension Pack from Tools > Extensions for VRDP remote display, webcam passthrough, PXE boot and disk encryption.

The base package is open source under GPL v3; the Extension Pack is a separate download with its own licence. VirtualBox also handles very old guests, such as a Windows 95 VirtualBox build from your own install media.

How to download the Windows 11 ISO file for VirtualBox

Microsoft's download page offers an ISO meant for this exact case: creating a virtual machine.

1. Open the Download Windows 11 page on microsoft.com.
2. Under Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices, select Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO for x64 devices).
3. Select Confirm, then pick the language for the ISO.
4. Select the 64-bit download link and save the .iso to a drive with space for the VM too.

The ISO is multi-edition; your product key decides which edition installs. Arm64 PCs need the separate Arm64 ISO.

How to create a new virtual machine for Windows 11

Windows 11 setup checks for a TPM and Secure Boot inside the VM, the TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirement Microsoft added for guests in 2021. VirtualBox provides both on the Motherboard tab.

1. In VirtualBox Manager, select New and name the VM.
2. Next to ISO Image, browse to the Windows 11 ISO; VirtualBox fills in Type and Version.
3. Tick Skip Unattended Installation if you want to run Setup yourself.
4. Set Base Memory to at least 4096 MB and give the VM 2 or more processors.
5. Create a virtual hard disk of 64 GB or more and select Finish.
6. Open Settings > System > Motherboard, tick Enable EFI and Enable Secure Boot, and set TPM to version 2.0.

How to install Windows 11 in VirtualBox

Install an operating system the same way in any hypervisor: boot the VM from the ISO and run Setup.

1. Select the VM and click Start; it boots from the attached ISO.
2. Pick the language and enter your product key when Setup asks.
3. Install Windows on the empty virtual disk.
4. Finish the out-of-box setup, then install Guest Additions.

With unattended installation, VirtualBox runs these steps itself and can add Guest Additions automatically.

Install Guest Additions or integration tools

Guest tools add the display driver, shared clipboard, drag and drop and shared folders. Each hypervisor has its own package; for screenshots of each step, use this walkthrough for installing Guest Additions in a Windows 11 VM.

Hypervisor	How to install	Then
VirtualBox	In the VM window, select Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD Image; if autorun is off, run VBoxWindowsAdditions.exe from the virtual CD drive	Reboot the guest
VMware Workstation Pro	Select VM > Install VMware Tools; if autorun is off, run D:\setup64.exe in a 64-bit guest	Reboot when prompted

Configure shared folders

Shared folders need the Guest Additions but no network. They are read-write unless you tick read-only.

1. In the running VirtualBox VM, select Devices > Shared Folders.
2. Add a host folder and give it a share name.
3. Turn on automatic mounting so it appears in the guest, and read-only access for untrusted guests.
4. In the Windows guest, open File Explorer and find the share under the network location VirtualBox Shared Folders, or map it with Map Network Drive.

Configure networking

VirtualBox's default NAT mode is enough for browsing, downloads and email inside the guest. Change it only for servers or VM-to-VM traffic.

Network mode	Use it when
NAT (default)	The guest only needs internet access
NAT Network	Several VMs need to see each other and reach the internet
Bridged	The guest must appear on your real network, for example a server
Host-only	The host and VMs talk to each other with no outside access
Not attached	You want the guest to see a network card with the cable pulled

In Hyper-V, the matching choice is the virtual switch you pick on the Configure Networking page.

Use snapshots

A snapshot saves the VM's exact state so you can return to it after a bad update or test. Keep free disk space, because snapshots grow the VM folder.

1. In VirtualBox Manager, select the VM and open the Snapshots tool.
2. Select Take, name the snapshot, and confirm.
3. To roll back, select the snapshot and choose Restore.
4. Select Delete on snapshots you no longer need to reclaim space.

Method 4: Use VMware Workstation on Windows 11

VMware Workstation Pro is free for personal and commercial use, downloaded through a Broadcom account. Grab the free Workstation Pro download, and add the VMware Remote Console client only if you also manage VMs on ESXi or vSphere.

1. Install Workstation Pro and open it.
2. Start the new virtual machine wizard and choose the installer disc image (ISO).
3. Set the guest type, VM name, disk size and memory, then finish the wizard.
4. Power on the VM and run the operating system's Setup.
5. Select VM > Install VMware Tools, then reboot the guest.

Workstation Pro runs on a PC with Hyper-V turned on through Host VBS Mode, which switches on automatically on Windows 10 build 19041.264 or newer. Broadcom notes that VMs in this mode have functional limitations.

Enable Windows Sandbox from Control Panel

Windows Sandbox is a disposable Windows desktop that starts clean every time and deletes everything when closed. Microsoft does not support it on Windows 11 Home edition. You can also enable Windows Sandbox from Settings and fix its startup errors.

1. Confirm virtualization is on in UEFI (prerequisites: 4 GB RAM, 1 GB free disk, 2 CPU cores).
2. Search the taskbar for Turn Windows features on or off and open it; this is the Control Panel dialog.
3. Tick Windows Sandbox and select OK.
4. Restart if prompted.
5. Open Windows Sandbox from the Start menu.

If the Windows Sandbox box is missing or greyed out, the PC does not meet the requirements, usually the edition or the virtualization setting.

Enable Windows Sandbox from PowerShell

Open PowerShell as administrator and run the following command:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "Containers-DisposableClientVM" -All -Online

Installs the Windows Sandbox optional feature on the running system; this is the command line interface route for managing the feature.

You should see: Windows asks to restart, and Windows Sandbox appears in the Start menu afterwards.

Inside a Hyper-V VM, Sandbox needs nested virtualization. Run Set-VMProcessor -VMName <VMName> -ExposeVirtualizationExtensions $true on the host first.

Using the Windows Sandbox feature in Windows 11

Sandbox behaves differently from a full VM in a few ways worth knowing before installation.

Behaviour	Detail
Closing the window	Deletes all files, apps and settings in the sandbox
Restart inside the sandbox	Data survives from Windows 11 22H2 onward
Networking	On by default; customizing Windows Sandbox using configuration files lets you turn it off
Mapped folders	A configuration file can map a host folder read-only
Instances	Only one sandbox can run at a time
Inbox apps	Calculator, Photos, Notepad and Terminal are missing from 24H2 onward
Preview features	Try WSB preview features by joining the Windows Insider Program (Dev, Beta or Release Preview channel)

Check whether virtualization is enabled

One report shows both whether the CPU feature is on and whether Hyper-V is already running. To dig into each Hyper-V component, confirm Hyper-V is enabled with the extra PowerShell and DISM checks.

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell, type systeminfo.exe and press Enter.
2. Scroll to Hyper-V Requirements; every line reading Yes means the PC can run Hyper-V.
3. A No next to virtualization enabled in firmware means you should repeat Method 1.
4. If the section reads "A hypervisor has been detected. Features required for Hyper-V will not be displayed.", Hyper-V is already running.
5. For a second check, search for msinfo32.exe, open System Information, and look for the same hypervisor line in the details pane.

Improve virtual machine performance

Get the most out of Windows 11 virtualization by sizing each guest to fit beside the host, not on top of it.

Setting	Recommendation
Allocate system resources: memory	Give the guest what it needs (4 GB for Windows 11), but leave enough for the host; two running VMs each take their own share
Processors	2 or more cores for Windows 11 guests
Disk	Store VM files on an SSD with spare space for snapshots
Hyper-V memory	Turn on Dynamic Memory so Hyper-V adjusts RAM while the VM runs
Guest tools	Install Guest Additions or VMware Tools for the proper display driver
One hypervisor at a time	Turn off Hyper-V when VirtualBox falls back to slow emulation

Common problems and solutions

VirtualBox or VMware VMs will not start, or run very slowly

Hyper-V, Memory Integrity or Credential Guard holds the CPU's virtualization extensions.

1. Open Control Panel > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off.
2. Expand Hyper-V > Hyper-V Platform and clear Hyper-V Hypervisor.
3. Select OK and restart.
4. If you depend on Memory Integrity, use VMware Workstation's Host VBS Mode instead of turning protection off.

Hyper-V is missing from Windows Features

The PC runs Windows 11 Home or fails a hardware requirement.

1. Check the edition in Settings > System > About.
2. Run systeminfo.exe and read the Hyper-V Requirements lines.
3. On Home, install VirtualBox or VMware Workstation instead.

Windows 11 setup says the PC can't run Windows 11

The VM has no TPM 2.0, no Secure Boot or too little RAM or disk.

1. In VirtualBox, open Settings > System > Motherboard and turn on EFI, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0.
2. In Hyper-V, use a Generation 2 VM with a virtual TPM.
3. Assign at least 4 GB RAM and a 64 GB disk.

Windows Sandbox option is greyed out

Virtualization is off in firmware, or the edition is Home.

1. Turn on virtualization in UEFI using Method 1.
2. Confirm the PC runs Pro, Enterprise or Education.
3. Inside a VM, expose virtualization extensions from the host.

Virtual machine not working on Windows 11: symptom, cause and fix

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
systeminfo shows virtualization disabled in firmware	Intel VT or AMD-V off in UEFI	Enable it in UEFI (Method 1)
Only Windows Hypervisor Platform is listed	Edition or CPU fails Hyper-V requirements	Use VirtualBox or VMware Workstation
VirtualBox VM is slow after enabling Hyper-V	Hyper-V owns virtualization, VirtualBox emulates	Clear Hyper-V Hypervisor and restart
Hyper-V Manager not in Start	Management Tools not installed	Re-run Windows Features with all Hyper-V items ticked
No clipboard or shared folders in a VirtualBox guest	Guest Additions missing or outdated	Insert Guest Additions CD Image and reboot
Calculator or Notepad missing in Sandbox	Not included from 24H2	Install the app inside the sandbox or wait for Microsoft's fix

Virtual machines on Windows 11 FAQ

Can I install a virtual machine on Windows 11?

Yes. Every Windows 11 edition can run VirtualBox or VMware Workstation Pro, and Pro or Enterprise also include Hyper-V. Turn on Intel VT or AMD-V in UEFI first, then create a VM from an ISO file.

Can I run a virtual machine on Windows 11 Home?

Yes, but not with Hyper-V or Windows Sandbox, which Microsoft does not support on Home. Install Oracle VirtualBox or VMware Workstation Pro, both free, and create the VM inside that app.

How do I enable Hyper-V in Windows 11?

Open Turn Windows features on or off, tick Hyper-V and restart. As an alternative, run Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V -All in an administrator PowerShell window and enter Y to restart.

How do I enable Hyper-V in Windows 11 with DISM?

Open PowerShell or Command Prompt as administrator and run DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /All /FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V. When it reports that the operation completed successfully, restart the PC to finish the install.

How do I enable Hyper-V in BIOS?

Hyper-V itself is a Windows feature, but it needs Intel VT or AMD-V turned on in the BIOS or UEFI. Restart into UEFI from Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup and switch the virtualization option on.

How do I open Hyper-V Manager in Windows 11?

Select Start, type Hyper-V Manager and open it. If it does not appear, the Hyper-V Management Tools are not installed, so tick the full Hyper-V entry in Windows Features and restart.

How do I turn off a virtual machine in Windows 11?

Shut the guest down from its own Start menu, which is the safe route. To stop Hyper-V itself, clear Hyper-V Hypervisor under Hyper-V Platform in Windows Features and restart.

Why disable Hyper-V?

VirtualBox and some VMware setups cannot use the CPU's virtualization extensions while Hyper-V runs, so their VMs fail or fall back to slow emulation. Disabling Hyper-V also turns off features that depend on it, such as Memory Integrity.

Is a Windows 11 virtual machine free?

The hypervisors are free: Hyper-V ships with Pro, and VirtualBox and VMware Workstation Pro cost nothing. The Windows 11 guest still needs a valid licence, entered as a product key during Setup.