Windows 11 has introduced a new Virtual Workspaces settings page on 2025-12-23, aimed at simplifying the management of virtualization features for users. This update allows users to enable or disable features like Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, and more directly from the settings menu.
Centralized Virtualization Management
The new Virtual Workspaces feature consolidates several critical virtualization settings within Windows 11's system settings. Users can now manage Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, Virtual Machine Platform, Windows Hypervisor Platform, Containers, and Guarded Host from a single interface. This reduces reliance on the legacy Windows Features dialog, streamlining the activation process significantly.
For instance, users can activate or deactivate Hyper-V services, including management tools and the Hyper-V Hypervisor itself, directly via this settings page. This development suggests a more user-friendly experience for virtualization enthusiasts and IT administrators.
Enabling and Disabling Features
To adjust virtualization settings, users navigate through Settings, then System, and Advanced before selecting Virtual Workspaces. Here, virtualization features can be readily toggled on or off. However, any changes require a system restart to take effect, ensuring the selected components are correctly implemented.
- Hyper-V includes management tools, a PowerShell module, and services.
- Windows Sandbox provides a secure environment to run untrusted software.
- Containers and Guarded Host support server solutions for secure workloads.
Availability and Requirements
This feature is available on Windows 11 editions like Pro, Education, and Enterprise, following the latest cumulative updates. If the Virtual Workspaces setting is not visible, users may need to update their system or check compatibility with their Windows edition.
Virtual Workspaces reflects Microsoft's direction in improving the ease of access and control over robust virtualization tools, signaling a step forward for enterprise productivity.
