How to enable CPU virtualization? we show you
Updated: March 13, 2023 10:52 am
Interested in enabling CPU virtualization on your system? Many modern motherboards have this setting disabled by default, so you’ll need to do some digging in your computer’s BIOS setup to manually enable it.
Now read: The best CPU for gaming
Let’s find out how to enable CPU virtualization, and I’ll also talk about the benefits of this feature and the potential drawbacks of having it enabled.
Is CPU virtualization enabled on my computer?
First of all, you need to check if virtualization is already enabled on your system. If you’re on a Windows machine, an easy way to do this is with Task Manager.
- Launch the app using the Windows search bar or just use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc shortcut.
- Select “More details” at the bottom left to expand the menu.
- Then navigate to the “Performance tab” using the top bar.
- Here, you will see information about your processor, including whether virtualization is enabled or not.
How to enable CPU virtualization in your BIOS
To enable CPU virtualization on your PC, you’ll need to access your motherboard’s BIOS. You can access the BIOS by pressing a certain key while your system boots after a shutdown or reboot.
Usually this key is one of the “F” keys: F2, F7, F12. But it varies depending on the model and the manufacturer of the motherboard.
The easiest way to find out which key is for you is to consult your motherboard’s user manual, although you can also use trial and error by pressing the above F keys in order. The BIOS key is one of the three listed above for most motherboards.
The exact steps to enable CPU virtualization can vary a bit. Essentially, you’re looking for a related option that refers to virtualization in some way. These settings are usually found in the “CPU Settings” or “Advanced Settings” category.
In most cases, it will simply be called virtualization or hardware virtualization. However, it can also be called Intel VT-x or AMD-V. Once you find this option, enable it, agree to save changes, and exit the BIOS menu.
Your PC will have virtualization enabled once it finishes booting.
You can find more specific instructions, including the exact name of the configuration you’re looking for, by checking your motherboard manufacturer’s website.
How to disable CPU virtualization
If you don’t intend to use virtual machines or emulators, you probably don’t need to have virtualization enabled. However, there is also nothing wrong with keeping it enabled.
There used to be some security vulnerabilities in the past, but they have since been fixed, and reduced security is no longer a big concern now that we have powerful protection software.
If you want to disable CPU virtualization anyway, simply navigate to settings in your BIOS similar to how we described above and disable it.
If it was originally disabled and you manually enabled it, you can also simply restore your BIOS to default with one button.
Last words
Enabling virtualization can give you access to powerful tools like virtual machines and emulators, but it’s often disabled by default.
To turn it on, go into your motherboard BIOS and look for an option related to virtualization. Once you have found it, enable it and exit the BIOS menu. If you ever want to turn it off, just follow the same steps in reverse.
Not sure if virtualization is already enabled on your system? You can use Task Manager to check.
