Last Updated on July 10, 2026
Using virtual machines to run multiple virtual computers on one physical computer is nothing new. But back when virtual machine technology was beginning, we could only run VM on expensive servers that were compatible with the hypervisor technology we were trying to implement.
But these days we have several options when it comes desktop virtualization software that we can run on our PC at home. There are several programs that are available with many of them being free to use. Some of the more popular examples would be Oracle VirtualBox, VMware Workstation and Player, and Parallels for macOS.
Microsoft has its own virtualization software called Hyper-V that is typically run on Windows servers but can also be run on the professional edition of the Windows desktop operating system. Many people are using the Windows Home edition on their desktops at home which doesn’t come with Hyper-V. In this article, we will be showing you how to configure Microsoft Hyper-V to run on Windows 11 Home edition. This should also work if you are still running Windows 10 Home.
If you are running the Professional version of Windows 11, all you need to do is go to the Windows Features section which can be found in Control Panel under Programs and features. Then simply check the box for Hyper-V as well as the options beneath it. Windows Home users will not see this option by default.
Installing Hyper-V on Windows Home
1. Create the Custom Batch File
In order to enable Microsoft Hyper-V on Windows Home, we will be using a custom made batch file. You will need to run as an administrator on your computer to execute this code. The text below shows the exact contents of the batch file that can be downloaded here. You can also copy and paste this text into a blank Notepad document and save it with a .bat extension.
pushd "%~dp0"
dir /b %SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\*Hyper-V*.mum >hyper-v.txt
for /f %%i in ('findstr /i . hyper-v.txt 2^>nul') do dism /online /norestart /add-package:"%SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\%%i"
del hyper-v.txt
Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Hyper-V -All /LimitAccess /ALL
pause2. Run the Script as Administrator
Once you have the file downloaded or created, simply right click on it and choose Run as Administrator. Click on Yes at the UAC prompt to allow the system changes. The batch file will then run inside a command prompt window. You will be able to see all the Hyper-V components being installed as it goes through the process.
3. Restart Your Computer
When the process is complete, you will be prompted to restart your computer to finish the installation. You do not need to do this right away. You will need to reboot before being able to use Hyper-V on your PC. Close all your open applications and initiate the reboot.
4. Wait for Windows to Update
Once you reboot, Windows will finish the installation in the background. This screen will look similar to how Windows Updates look when running on your computer. Do not turn off your machine during this phase. Let the percentage counter reach completion.
Launching the Hyper-V Manager
1. Search for the Application
Once you log back in, you can do a search for Hyper-V in the taskbar search box. You should be able to open the Hyper-V Manager app directly from there. Pin it to your taskbar for easier access later.
2. Create Your Virtual Machines
Once you have Hyper-V Manager open, you can then start creating virtual machines. The interface looks exactly the same as it does on Windows Server or Windows 11 Pro. You now have full access to enterprise grade virtualization right on your home computer.
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