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Windows Virtualisation Tools

Virtual machines, containers and WSL on Windows, and how they differ.

Virtual machines run a complete operating system with its own virtual hardware. Containers package an application with its dependencies and share a kernel. WSL runs Linux environments integrated with Windows. They solve different problems.

Virtual machines

Run complete operating systems.

  • Hyper-VBuilt into Windows

    Run virtual machines on Windows.

    Open:Turn Windows features on or off > Hyper-V

    Windows 10 and 11 Pro, Enterprise and EducationMicrosoft documentation

  • VirtualBox icon
    VirtualBox

    A cross-platform desktop virtualisation app.

    Open SourceWin / Mac / Linux

  • QEMU icon
    QEMU

    A machine emulator and virtualiser.

    Open SourceWin / Mac / Linux

Containers

Run applications in isolated containers.

  • Docker Desktop icon
    Docker Desktop

    Build and run containers locally with a desktop dashboard.

    FreemiumWin / Mac / Linux

  • Podman icon
    Podman

    A daemonless container engine.

    Open SourceWin / Mac / Linux

WSL

Linux environments integrated with Windows.

  • WSL (wsl command)Built into Windows

    Run Linux command-line tools and distributions alongside Windows.

    Command Prompt or PowerShell:wsl --install

    Windows 10 and 11Microsoft documentation

Disposable sandboxes

Try untrusted software in a throwaway environment.

  • Windows SandboxBuilt into Windows

    Run untrusted software in an isolated environment that's discarded when you close it.

    Open:Turn Windows features on or off > Windows Sandbox

    Windows 10 and 11 Pro, Enterprise and Education

More Windows tools