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Running Windows 11 on Linux with KVM/QEMU

This guide walks through the full process of running Windows 11 on Linux using KVM/QEMU and Virt-Manager,  the most robust and future-proof setup available today. While tools like VirtualBox still exist, KVM/QEMU has quietly become the gold standard on Linux. It offers: Near-native CPU performance Excellent disk and network throughput Proper UEFI, Secure Boot, and TPM support Long-term compatibility with Windows 11 updates Before starting, make sure you have: A Linux system with virtualization enabled in BIOS Intel: VT-x / VT-d AMD: SVM / IOMMU At least 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended) Around 80 GB of free disk space A Windows 11 ISO The VirtIO drivers ISO Step 1: Check Virtualization Support Open a terminal and run: egrep -c '(vmx|svm)' /proc/cpuinfo If the result is 1 or higher , virtualization is enabled. If it returns 0 , you’ll need to enable it in your BIOS before continuing. Step 2: Install KVM, QEMU, and Virt-Manager On Ubuntu / Debian-based systems: sudo apt update sudo...

How to Install Home Assistant on Windows with Hyper-V


Works on Windows 10/11 Pro or Enterprise.


1. Enable Hyper-V

  1. Press Windows Key + S, type Windows Features, and click Turn Windows features on or off.
  2. Tick Hyper-V, Hyper-V Management Tools, and Hyper-V Platform.
  3. Click OK, reboot your computer.

2. Download the Home Assistant VHDX


3. Create the Virtual Machine

  1. Press Windows Key, search for Hyper-V Manager, and open it.
  2. On the right-hand menu, click Quick Create.
  3. Select Local installation source → choose any existing image for now (we’ll replace it later).
  4. Give the VM a name, click Create Virtual Machine.

4. Swap in the Home Assistant VHDX

  1. In Hyper-V Manager, right-click your new VM → Settings.
  2. Under SCSI Controller → Hard Drive, click Browse.
  3. Select the HomeAssistant.vhdx file you downloaded.
  4. Click Apply and OK.

5. Start the VM

  1. Right-click the VM → ConnectStart.
  2. Wait for the Home Assistant OS to boot (first boot may take a few minutes).

6. Access Home Assistant

  • Open a browser on your Windows PC and go to:
    • http://homeassistant.local:8123
    • Or use your VM’s IP address (shown in the console window).

7. Finish Setup

  • Follow the on-screen wizard to create your Home Assistant account and start adding integrations.

Tip: If you want Home Assistant to start automatically when Windows boots, in Hyper-V Manager right-click your VM → SettingsAutomatic Start Action → select Automatically start if it was running when the service stopped.

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