How to Disable Hyper-V in Windows 11

Hyper-V is a useful virtualization tool that lets Windows 11 users run virtual machines on their PCs. The problem is that it can cause problems with other apps and emulators, preventing you from using some programs or playing games.

In this tutorial, we’ll explain how to disable Hyper-V so that you can get back to gaming in peace.

What Is Hyper-V?

Hyper-V is a virtualization platform developed that lets users create and run virtual machines (VMs) on Windows 10 andWindows 11 Pro, Education, and Enterprise. This makes it possible to run multiple operating systems on a single PC, reducing hardware costs and making it easier to test new software during development.

However, Hyper-V can cause conflicts with third-party apps like VMWare Workstation, VirtualBox, and some game emulators. Because of this, many users like to disable Hyper-V — especially since it has no use for most PC owners.

Note:Hyper-V is not available on Windows 11 Home Edition.

How to Check if Hyper-V Is Running on Your PC

To see if the Hyper-V Hypervisor is running on your Windows 11 PC, you can check the System Information tool. To do so:

A hypervisor has been detected. Features required for Hyper-V will not be displayed.

How to Disable Hyper-V

Below, we’ll explain how to remove Hyper-V using Windows Features, BCDEdit, command line, andPowerShell. Keep in mind that once removed, you’ll be unable to access Hyper-V Manager or change any VM settings until you reinstall it.

The easiest way to disable Hyper-V is by using the Windows Features app. To do so:

Note:This method will completely uninstall Hyper-V, meaning that if you want to use it in the future, you’ll have to reinstall it. We’ll explain how to do so below.

The BCDEDIT tool lets you disable Hyper-V in your PC’s boot configuration rather than uninstalling it entirely. This is useful if you want to avoid having to install Hyper-V again in the future.

To disable Hyper-V using BCDEDIT:

bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off

If you ever need to re-enable Hyper-V, type the following command into Command Prompt as above:

bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype auto

Then restart your PC to confirm the changes.

If you’re unable to use the Windows Features tool to disable Hyper-V, you can uninstall it using Command Prompt. To do so:

dism /online /disable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-hyper-v-all

One final method to disable Hyper-V is by using PowerShell in admin mode. To do so:

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

How to Fix “We Couldn’t Complete the Updates” Error

While uninstalling Hyper-V, many users encounter an error message that states, “We couldn’t complete the updates, undoing changes.” This error prevents you from uninstalling Hyper-V and means that the original error is still going to occur.

To fix this, you need to remove the Hyper-V Virtual Network Adapter:

Still Having Problems With Hyper-V? Try These Fixes

Unfortunately, you may still have issues with games and other virtualization software after removing Hyper-V. This is due to a few similar Windows features that cause conflicts with third-party virtualization tools.

Here are two things to try:

The memory integrity feature, found in Windows Security, helps prevent malware from infecting the most important system processes. However, it also stops certain third-party tools from being able to access key resources they need to function.

To turn off memory integrity:

Device Guard and Credential Guard are two Windows features that require Hyper-V to function. Due to this, there may be agroup policyfunction orBIOS/UEFI settingsthat automatically enable Hyper-V whenever you boot up your PC.

To fix this, you need to alter the Windows registry. Modifying the registry can be risky, so we recommend creating a system restore point before performing the next steps.

Here’s how to disable Device Guard and Credential Guard:

Note:If you ever need to re-enable Device Guard or Credential Guard, repeat the steps above but set the value to1.

No More Virtualization Issues

The Hyper-V feature is a great virtualization tool, but it can cause frustrating issues. Now that you’ve successfully disabled Hyper-V and its related features, you should be able to use third-party virtualization software with no problems.

Jake Harfield is an Australian freelance writer whose passion is finding out how different technologies work. He has written for several online publications, focusing on explaining what he has learned to help others with their tech problems. He’s an avid hiker and birder, and in his spare time you’ll find him in the Aussie bush listening to the birdsong.Read Jake’s Full Bio

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