Hyper-V Hypervisor Not Running — Virtualization Platform Startup Failure

Fix 'Hypervisor is not running' error preventing Hyper-V virtual machines, WSL 2, and Docker from functioning on Windows Pro and Enterprise. This guide covers everything you need to know about this topic, including common causes, step-by-step solutions, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Here are the key things to understand: The hypervisor is the low-level virtualization layer that enables Hyper-V VMs, WSL 2, and Docker. Even with Hyper-V feature enabled, the hypervisor may fail to start due to BIOS or configuration issues. The error appears in Event Viewer as Event ID 1 from Hyper-V-Hypervisor source. Secure Boot and hardware virtualization (VT-x/AMD-V) are prerequisites for the hypervisor. Some third-party security software disables the hypervisor for 'kernel protection' features. Understanding these fundamentals will help you diagnose and resolve this issue more effectively.

The most common reasons this occurs include: Hardware virtualization (VT-x/AMD-V) disabled in BIOS/UEFI. Hyper-V hypervisor launch not configured in boot configuration data. Third-party security software (anti-cheat, anti-rootkit) disabling the hypervisor. Secure Boot disabled when the hypervisor requires it. Identifying the root cause is the first step toward finding the right solution.

To resolve this, follow these recommended steps: Enable virtualization in BIOS: restart > enter BIOS > Advanced/Security > enable Intel VT-x or AMD-V and VT-d/IOMMU. Enable Hyper-V hypervisor launch: run 'bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype auto' in elevated Command Prompt, then restart. Enable Hyper-V feature: 'dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Hyper-V /all /norestart' then restart. Check for conflicting software: disable third-party security, anti-cheat, or kernel protection tools temporarily. Verify in Event Viewer: Windows Logs > System > filter by source 'Hyper-V-Hypervisor' for startup messages. If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider consulting additional resources or a qualified professional.

This article is part of our Windows Error Codes collection on Error Codes Wiki. We provide comprehensive, up-to-date information to help you find solutions quickly.