Install Windows 11 safely in a virtual machine with this step-by-step guide from ExtremeTech—ideal for testing software or managing files securely.

Plus, getting Windows 11 to work as a virtual machine in a third-party application can be challenging due to its onerous requirements. That's where the Windows Sandbox comes into play.

Want to try Windows 11 risk-free? Use Hyper-V to create a virtual machine where you can test the new operating system without losing access to your "real" PC. I've got step-by-step instructions here.

If you're using a Windows virtual machine, simply open up the 'CD' and run the installer. It'll go through a similar process to any other Windows software you'd install this way.

Select the right region, and click Yes (Figure K). Figure K Confirm your country or region for the virtual machine. After the setup process finishes, you’ll be deposited at the Windows 11 desktop.

Before you jump in and start installing Windows 10, move over to the "Display" tab. You can configure how much video memory you will allocate to the virtual machine, but stay in the green.

Virtualbox on Windows 11 will be able to build x86 and x64 virtual machines, but not ARM64. Likewise, if you're on an ARM machine, like the new Copilot+ PCs, you'll need to make sure you download ...