How To Enable Hardware Virtualization In Windows 10: A Step-by-Step Guide

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5 min. read

Published on October 25, 2025

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Hardware virtualization enhances your computer’s performance, especially when running virtual machines or emulators. Enabling it in Windows 10 can significantly improve the efficiency and speed of these tasks. This guide provides a straightforward, step-by-step approach to help you enable hardware virtualization and unlock your system’s full potential.

Whether you’re a developer, gamer, or simply someone who uses virtual machines, understanding how to enable hardware virtualization is crucial. This article will walk you through the necessary steps, ensuring you can easily enable this feature and enjoy the benefits it offers.

Want to Enable Hardware Virtualization on Windows 10?

1. Check if Hardware Virtualization Is Already Enabled

Before making any changes, verify if hardware virtualization is already enabled on your system.

Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
Go to the Performance tab.
Look for Virtualization. If it says “Enabled,” you’re all set. If it says “Disabled,” proceed to the next steps.

2. Enter Your Computer’s BIOS/UEFI Settings

To enable hardware virtualization, you need to access your computer’s BIOS/UEFI settings.

Restart your computer.
As your computer restarts, look for a message indicating which key to press to enter the BIOS/UEFI setup. Common keys include Del, F2, F12, or Esc.
Press the key repeatedly until the BIOS/UEFI setup screen appears.

3. Locate the Virtualization Settings

The location of virtualization settings varies depending on your motherboard manufacturer. Look for settings related to “Virtualization Technology,” “VT-x,” or “SVM.”

Navigate through the BIOS/UEFI menus. Look for sections such as “Advanced,” “CPU Configuration,” or “Security.”
Find the setting related to virtualization. It might be labeled as “Virtualization Technology,” “Intel VT-x,” “AMD-V,” or “SVM (Secure Virtual Machine).”

4. Enable Virtualization

Once you’ve found the virtualization settings, enable them.

Select the virtualization option.
Change the setting from “Disabled” to “Enabled.”

5. Save and Exit BIOS/UEFI

After enabling virtualization, save your changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI setup.

Look for an option like “Save & Exit,” “Exit Saving Changes,” or press the key indicated on the screen (usually F10).
Confirm that you want to save the changes and exit.
Your computer will restart.

6. Verify Virtualization Is Enabled (Again)

After restarting, check again to ensure virtualization is now enabled.

Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
Go to the Performance tab.
Check the Virtualization status. It should now say “Enabled.”

7. Enable Hyper-V (Optional)

If you plan to use Hyper-V, Windows’ built-in virtualization platform, you may need to enable it separately.

Search for “Turn Windows features on or off” in the Start menu and open it.
Find “Hyper-V” in the list.
Check the box next to “Hyper-V” and any sub-components.
Click “OK.”
Your computer will restart to complete the installation.

Tips

If you can’t find the virtualization settings in your BIOS/UEFI, consult your motherboard’s manual or the manufacturer’s website for specific instructions.
Ensure that your CPU supports hardware virtualization. Most modern CPUs do, but it’s worth checking the specifications.
If you’re still having trouble, try updating your BIOS/UEFI to the latest version.

Comparing Virtualization Technologies

Here’s a quick comparison of the two main virtualization technologies you might encounter:

Feature	Intel VT-x	AMD-V (SVM)
Manufacturer	Intel	AMD
Purpose	Enables hardware virtualization on Intel CPUs	Enables hardware virtualization on AMD CPUs
Common BIOS Label	Intel Virtualization Technology, VT-x	SVM (Secure Virtual Machine), AMD-V

Get the Most Out of Your Virtual Machines

Enabling hardware virtualization in Windows 10 unlocks the full potential of your virtual machines and emulators, providing a smoother and more efficient computing experience.

FAQ

How do I know if my CPU supports virtualization? You can check your CPU’s specifications on the manufacturer’s website (Intel or AMD) to see if it supports virtualization technology. Alternatively, many system information tools can provide this information.

What if I can’t find the virtualization settings in my BIOS/UEFI? Consult your motherboard’s manual or the manufacturer’s website for specific instructions on locating and enabling virtualization settings.

Do I need to enable Hyper-V to use virtualization? No, Hyper-V is an optional virtualization platform built into Windows. You don’t need to enable it unless you specifically want to use Hyper-V.

Will enabling virtualization slow down my computer? Enabling virtualization itself doesn’t typically slow down your computer. However, running virtual machines or emulators can consume significant resources, which might impact performance.

What are the benefits of enabling hardware virtualization? Hardware virtualization improves the performance of virtual machines, emulators, and other virtualization-dependent applications. It allows your CPU to handle virtualization tasks more efficiently.

Virtualization Enabled, Performance Boosted

By following these steps, you’ve successfully enabled hardware virtualization in Windows 10, optimizing your system for virtual machines and emulators. Enjoy the improved performance and efficiency!