How to Check if Virtualization Is Enabled in Windows 10

Hardware virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V, also called SVM) lets your processor run virtual machines efficiently. You need it for Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, WSL 2, Android emulators, Docker Desktop and apps like VirtualBox or VMware. It’s built into almost every modern CPU but is often turned off in the BIOS. Here’s how to check whether it’s enabled in Windows 10 in a few seconds, what the results mean, and what to do if it’s off.

Quick Answer

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, click the Performance tab, select CPU, and look for Virtualization: Enabled in the details below the graph. If it says Disabled, turn it on in your BIOS/UEFI settings.

Method 1: Task Manager

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, or right-click the taskbar and choose Task Manager.
2. Click More details if you see the small view.
3. Open the Performance tab and click CPU.
4. Check the Virtualization line at the bottom right: Enabled or Disabled.

If there’s no Virtualization line at all, your CPU may not support it or a hypervisor is already running (see below).

Method 2: System Information Command

1. Right-click Start and choose Windows PowerShell or open Command Prompt.
2. Type systeminfo and press Enter. Wait for it to finish.
3. Scroll to Hyper-V Requirements at the bottom:
   • Virtualization Enabled In Firmware: Yes means it’s on.
   • A hypervisor has been detected. Features required for Hyper-V will not be displayed. means virtualization is on and already in use by Hyper-V, WSL 2, Windows Sandbox, Memory Integrity or another hypervisor.

In PowerShell, Get-ComputerInfo -Property "HyperV*" shows the same information.

Method 3: Check the BIOS/UEFI

Restart into firmware settings (Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings) and look for Intel Virtualization Technology, VT-x, SVM Mode or AMD-V, usually under Advanced, CPU Configuration or Security.

What If It’s Disabled?

1. Restart into the BIOS/UEFI as above.
2. Set Intel Virtualization Technology or SVM Mode to Enabled. On Intel systems, also enable VT-d if you need device passthrough (optional).
3. Press F10 to save and exit.
4. Check Task Manager again.

See how to enable virtualization in BIOS on Windows 10 for brand-specific steps.

Does My CPU Support Virtualization?

Nearly all Intel Core and AMD Ryzen processors from the last decade support it. Look up your processor model (shown at the top right of the Task Manager CPU page) on Intel’s or AMD’s website and check for VT-x or AMD-V. Some very old or low-end chips and some locked-down business PCs don’t offer it.

Virtualization Is Enabled but My App Still Complains

• VirtualBox or VMware errors: Hyper-V or Memory Integrity may be using virtualization. Recent versions of VirtualBox and VMware can run alongside Hyper-V; update them. Otherwise, turn off Hyper-V features in Turn Windows features on or off.
• WSL 2 or Docker errors: turn on Virtual Machine Platform in Turn Windows features on or off, and restart.
• Android emulator slow: enable Windows Hypervisor Platform in Windows features.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to enable virtualization?

Yes. It doesn’t slow down your PC or cause problems. It’s enabled by default on many new PCs.

Does virtualization affect gaming?

Having it enabled in the BIOS doesn’t. Running Hyper-V-based features, such as Memory Integrity, can reduce performance slightly in some games.

Do these steps work in Windows 11?

Yes. Task Manager and systeminfo show the same information in Windows 11.

Summary

1. Open Task Manager > Performance > CPU.
2. Check the Virtualization line.
3. Or run systeminfo and read Hyper-V Requirements.
4. If it’s disabled, enable VT-x or SVM in the BIOS.