Enabling virtualization in Windows 11 Pro or higher is really very simple. In this way we will be able to create virtual machines to be able to install any other operating system and use it in a normal way without having to leave Windows 11..
Before enabling virtualization in Windows 11
If we want to enable virtualization in Windows 11, we are going to have to verify a few things first:
- We will have to check the compatibility of the CPU for SLAT: our PC must have a 64-bit CPU that supports second-level address translation (which would be SLAT technology). Modern 64-bit Intel or AMD processors should support it without any problem.
- Enable virtualization in BIOS / EUFI: we will have to enable virtualization technology in the BIOS / UEFI configuration menu of our computer. In this case, the steps may vary depending on the manufacturer, so it is advisable to consult their manual or the support site. Most users will have to press F2 or F10 (even some other key) while the computer is starting up. Then look for "System Settings" and "Virtual Technology." But remember that it varies depending on the PC manufacturer.
- Windows 11 Pro or higher: The Home version of Windows 11 does not support the Hyper-V manager which is required. In this way we will have to have Windows 11 Pro.
How to enable Hyper-V in Windows 11
Hyper-V is the tool we need to create and use virtual machines in Windows 11. No additional software is required to create a virtual machine. The only downside is that Hyper-V is generally not enabled by default. So we are going to have to proceed to enable it.
For this we will have to press Windows + R to open the "Run" window. Once we have the window open, we are going to write "optionalupdates.exe" and then we click "OK"..
Once we are in the "Windows Features" window, we will be able to enable or disable various features of the operating system, among which we can find Hyper-V. To do this, we will have to verify that all Hyper-V options are checked. Once they are, we click "Accept".
We can see a kind of progress bar while Windows is in charge of installing the files that are necessary for this function to be activated. Once this bar ends; we will simply have to click on "Restart now"..
Run Hyper-V manager
After the Hyper-V computer restarts, we will have to start using Hyper-V Manager or Hyper-V Administraodr. So we are just going to press "Start" and then type "Hyper-V". When it appears, we will simply have to click on the right side where it says "Run as administrator".
Thanks to the Hyper-V manager we can create new virtual machines that run Linux or other operating systems. We can generate virtual machines using the New Virtual Machine Wizard.
As long as we have disk space, we can create different virtual machines, each with its own specific purpose.
We must bear in mind that when we create a virtual machine, we are using the resources of our computer. This means that we do not want to allocate too much RAM or storage. Especially if we don't have great resources when it comes to hardware.