Hyper-V

ApplicationMicrosoft Corporation

Also called hyper v, hyperv, vmms, vm worker

Microsoft CorporationSystem

In-box hypervisor on Windows Pro and Enterprise. It is an optional Windows feature, not a download from a forum. It is not VirtualBox.

What you need to know

Hyper-V is an optional Windows feature on Pro. It is not VirtualBox.

Enable Hyper-V from Windows Features. vmwp.exe is a guest worker. There is no legitimate Hyper-V exe on a download forum. VirtualBox is Oracle's app.

What is it?: In-box hypervisor on Pro and Enterprise
Download it?: No. Enable the optional feature
Same as VirtualBox?: No. VirtualBox is Oracle's app

Feex says

If Hyper-V is missing on Home, I would not hunt a setup.exe. I would use VirtualBox or upgrade the edition. This is an optional feature, not a forum download.

What is Hyper-V?

Hyper-V is the in-box hypervisor. You enable it. You do not install it from a third-party exe. vmwp.exe runs a guest. VirtualBox.exe is Oracle.

If you have never used it

If you are on Windows Pro or Enterprise, Hyper-V is Microsoft's hypervisor already on the disk. Turn it on under Windows Features. There is no Hyper-V setup.exe from a forum. Home editions do not include it. VirtualBox is a different product you download from Oracle.

What is it used for?

Windows and Linux VMs

Hyper-V Manager or PowerShell. This is not VirtualBox Manager.

Optional Windows feature

Turn Windows features on or off, or Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature. No forum installer.

Host for other Microsoft stacks

WSL 2 and Windows Sandbox use the Windows hypervisor platform. They are not this Manager UI.

Who is it for?

Windows Pro and Enterprise users
People who were told to "download Hyper-V"
Admins who already use Hyper-V Manager

Current status

Hyper-V (2008) is a current in-box windows hypervisor from Microsoft Corporation. The vendor still points Windows users at https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/.

How old is it?

Hyper-V shipped with Windows Server 2008 and later landed on Pro client Windows. It is an optional feature, not a 2024 store app. Windows Sandbox and WSL 2 use related virtualization pieces.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

Windows 11 Pro / Enterprise

Windows 10 Pro / Enterprise

Windows Server Hyper-V

System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system	Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education with Hyper-V available, per Microsoft. Not Windows Home
RAM	Microsoft-class hosts want enough RAM for Windows plus each guest

Resource profile

CPU demand: Follows what you open inside the app
RAM demand: Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

Installed processes
vmwp.exe	Per-VM worker. vmms.exe is the management service. Hyper-V Manager is the UI.
vmms.exe	Virtual Machine Management Service

Startup components

vmms starts when Hyper-V is enabled and a VM needs management. You do not add vmwp.exe to Startup Apps.

File locations

Common Hyper-V locations
Typical install	C:\Windows\System32\vmms.exe

Common problems

Searched for a Hyper-V installer

That is how people land on junk exe hosts. Use Windows Features on Pro or Enterprise.

VirtualBox or VMware then fail to start

Two hypervisors on one host fight. Plan which stack owns VT-x / AMD-V.

Getting unstuck

Turn Windows features on: Hyper-V

Or run the Learn-documented PowerShell enable. Restart when Windows asks.

Confirm the edition is Pro, Enterprise, or Education

Home does not ship this feature. VirtualBox is the usual Home path.

Enable virtualization in firmware if the checkbox is grey

Intel VT-x or AMD-V. That is firmware, not a missing download.

Alternatives

VirtualBox and VMware Workstation are downloadable type-2 apps. WSL is Linux on Windows, not Hyper-V Manager. Windows Sandbox is a disposable VM feature.

Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

Official contacts
Download	learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/ Official installer or vendor page
Help	learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/ Vendor support
Official site	learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/ Start here, not a random exe host
Enable Hyper-V on Windows	learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/get-started/install-hyper-v Optional feature, not a forum exe

Related hardware

Needs a CPU with virtualization extensions and firmware that exposes them. Microsoft also documents SLAT. RAM follows the guests you run.

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

Hyper-V official site · Vendor product page
Hyper-V help · Vendor support
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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