How to Enable 64-bit Version Operating Systems in Virtual Box

Sometimes we might want to use different operating systems on our computer at the same time. Virtualization made it possible and thanks to all virtualization software developers who brought this technology to a common man’s PC.

Oracle’s Virtual Box is a powerful virtualization product that runs on Windows., Linux, Macintosh and Solaris hosts and supports all major guest operating systems to be installed in it.

Sometimes, the Virtual Box won’t allow us to install 64-bit guest operating systems though our host operating system is potentially eligible to do that.

In this tutorial, I’m going to reveal the trick to unlock the 64-bit options while it is being installed on Windows environment.

What’s the actual problem?

Generally, Windows operating systems come with built-in virtualization feature called hyper-v. It works the same way as Virtual Box and is to be enabled to use it.

If Virtual Box is installed on Windows environment with hyper-v enabled knowingly or unknowingly, conflict rises between these two virtualization platforms and so Virtual Box doesn’t show up the 64-bit options.

What’s the solution?

The solution for the problem is very simple. All you have to do is, disable hyper-v in windows features and restart the computer before you open the virtual box.

To enable/disable windows features go to search and type “windows features” in it.

Click on ‘Turn Windows features on or off’ to open the settings.

Uncheck the checkbox of Hyper-V and click ‘Ok’.

After making the changes, in a minute of two, it will ask you to restart the computer. Restart it and open the Virtual Box now. Check out the guest operating system options while configuring a new machine.

You’d found new 64-bit options in it. Yippee!