# Disable Windows Features

### Head to Windows Search

Search for **`Turn Windows features on or off`** in your Windows Search

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{% hint style="danger" %}
Set HYPER-V <mark style="color:$danger;background-color:$danger;">**to Disabled**</mark>\
Set Virtual Machine Platform <mark style="color:$danger;background-color:$danger;">**to Disabled**</mark>\
Set Windows Hypervisor Platform <mark style="color:$danger;background-color:$danger;">**to Disabled**</mark>
{% endhint %}

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### **Further checks to make sure Hyper-V is completely Disabled!**

**Solution 1: Disable Hyper-V Completely**

This is the most reliable solution if you don't need Hyper-V:

**Method A: Using Windows Features**

1. Open "Turn Windows features on or off" (search in Start menu)
2. Uncheck these items:
   * Hyper-V
   * Virtual Machine Platform
   * Windows Hypervisor Platform
   * Windows Sandbox (if present)
   * WSL 2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux 2)
3. Restart your computer

**Method B: Using Command Prompt (Run as Administrator)**

CMD (Batch)

Copy

```
bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off
dism.exe /Online /Disable-Feature:Microsoft-Hyper-V
```

Then restart your PC.

**Method C: Using PowerShell (Run as Administrator)**

PowerShell

Copy

```
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V-All
bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off
```

Restart required.

**Solution 2: Check for Hidden Hyper-V Services**

Even with Hyper-V "disabled," some services might still activate the hypervisor:

1. **Disable Windows Defender Application Guard:**

CMD (Batch)

Copy

```
   Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Windows-Defender-ApplicationGuard
```

1. **Disable Core Isolation/Memory Integrity:**
   * Open Windows Security
   * Go to Device Security → Core Isolation Details
   * Turn off "Memory Integrity"
   * Restart
2. **Check for VBS (Virtualization-Based Security):**

CMD (Batch)

Copy

```
   bcdedit /set vsmlaunchtype off
```

**Solution 3: Verify Hyper-V is Actually Off**

After disabling, verify with these commands:

CMD (Batch)

Copy

```
# Check hypervisor launch type
bcdedit /enum | findstr hypervisorlaunchtype

# Check if virtualization is enabled
systeminfo | findstr /i "Hyper-V"

# PowerShell check
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V-All
```

Should show:

* `hypervisorlaunchtype Off`
* No Hyper-V features listed or all showing "Disabled"

#### Common Culprits That Keep Hyper-V Active <a href="#common-culprits-that-keep-hyper-v-active" id="common-culprits-that-keep-hyper-v-active"></a>

Even after "disabling" Hyper-V, these can reactivate it:

1. **Docker Desktop** (if configured for WSL2 or Hyper-V backend)
2. **Windows Sandbox**
3. **WSL 2** (uses Hyper-V infrastructure)
4. **VirtualBox** (with Hyper-V mode enabled)
5. **Memory Integrity/HVCI** (Windows Security feature)
6. **Device Guard/Credential Guard**