How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
1 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in
Linux With KVM
By Deepesh Sharma
– Aug 12, 2023
Follow
Like
Running a Windows virtual machine alongside Linux has its bene�ts. With a
Windows virtual machine set up, you don't have to wrap your head around
compatibility layers or look for open-source ✕
alternatives to your favorite Windows
apps. Additionally, if you're a developer, it becomes easy to test your software on
multiple operating systems.
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
2 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
Kernel-based Virtual Machine, or KVM is your best bet when it comes to setting
up a Windows virtual machine on Linux. But how do you go about creating a new
KVM and installing Windows on it?
1. Install and Con�gure the Necessary KVM
Software
As a �rst step, you need to check if your CPU supports virtualization and whether
it's enabled on your system. To do so, run:
grep -Ec '(vmx|svm)' /proc/cpuinfo
✕
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
3 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
Output greater than 0 denotes that virtualization is enabled and you can proceed.
If otherwise, restart your PC, go to the BIOS options, and enable virtualization
support.
If this is your �rst time working with KVM, you must understand Kernel-based
Virtual Machines and how they work.
Once virtualization is set up, install the required KVM packages from your distro's
repositories. The installation command will vary depending on the distro you're
using.
✕
On Debian and Ubuntu-based distributions, run:
sudo apt install qemu-kvm libvirt-daemon bridge-utils virt-manager
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
4 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
On Arch Linux and its derivatives:
sudo pacman -S qemu-kvm libvirt bridge-utils virt-manager
Install KVM packages on Fedora and RHEL with:
sudo dnf install @virtualization
Next, enable and start the libvirt daemon by running:
sudo systemctl enable libvirtd
sudo systemctl start libvirtd
Check whether libvirtd is running properly with:
sudo systemctl status libvirtd
If the output returns "active" in green, you can safely proceed. If it displays
"inactive" in red, run the above commands again.
Finally, add your user to the libvirt and kvm groups with:
✕
sudo usermod -aG libvirt $(whoami)
sudo usermod -aG kvm $(whoami)
2. Download the Windows 10 ISO
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
5 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
With virtualization con�guration out of the way, you're now ready to create a
virtual machine. But �rst, download the Windows 10 ISO �le that you'll use to boot
the VM.
Head over to the Windows 10 downloads page and scroll down to select Windows
10 (multi-edition ISO) from the Select edition dropdown menu. Then, click
Con�rm.
Ad
✕
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
6 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
Select the appropriate language and hit Continue. You'll now have two options to
download the 64- and 32-bit editions of Windows 10. Click on the one you wish to
install.
Download: Windows 10 (Free)
3. Create a New KVM Using virt-manager
Launch Virtual Machine Manager by typing virt-manager in the command line or
from the applications menu. Click the Create a new virtual machine option (the
desktop icon with a play button in the middle) to continue.
✕
Continue with the default selection—Local install media—and click Forward.
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
7 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
Ad
✕
Click Browse > Browse Local and select the downloaded Windows 10 ISO �le
from your storage. Click Open to select the ISO image. Virtual Machine Manager
will automatically detect the OS. Click Forward to proceed.
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
8 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
Specify the amount of memory and CPU cores you want to allocate to the virtual
machine. For starters, half of your computer's actual memory will be more than
enough. Regarding CPU cores, select anything ranging from one-third to half of
the available cores. Once done, hit Forward.
Ad
✕
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
9 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
On the following window, make sure Enable storage for this virtual machine is
checked off. Then, specify the size of the disk image (50GB will su�ce) and click
Forward.
✕
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
10 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
Type in the virtual machine's name and click Finish once you've reviewed the VM
speci�cations.
✕
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
11 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
Virtual Machine Manager will now create the machine and boot it up right after.
Ad
✕
4. Install Windows 10 on the KVM
A new Virtual Machine Manager window will pop up, within which you can see
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
12 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
your Windows machine booting. The screen will turn blue and you'll see the
Windows Setup box appear.
Select the Language to install, Time and currency format, and Keyboard or input
method from the list of available options. Once done, hit Next > Install Now.
The setup process will now start and you'll be asked to enter a product key. Type
in the product key if you have one. Otherwise, select I don't have a product key.
✕
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
13 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
Ad
✕
There are different versions of Windows 10 you can install. Choose the one you'd
like to install and click Next. On the following screen, check off the box next to I
accept the license terms and click Next.
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
14 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
Select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) since the virtual machine
doesn't have Windows installed on it already.
✕
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
15 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
On the next screen, partition the drive using the New, Delete, and Format options
if you'd like to have multiple drives. For those who like to set up a single partition,
click Next.
Ad
✕
Windows will now start installing on the virtual machine. You'll go through these
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
16 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
steps: Copying Windows �les, Getting �les ready for installation, Installing
features, Installing updates, and Finishing up.
Note
The virtual machine might restart several times during installation, so
don't fret and let Windows Setup do its work.
After Windows has �nished installing, you'll ✕
see the Cortana Welcome screen.
Click the little microphone icon at the bottom left to turn off Cortana. Next, select
your geographical location and click Yes.
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
17 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
Ad
✕
Choose a keyboard layout and click Yes. If you want to add a second layout,
select Add layout. Otherwise, click Skip. You might have to wait for several
minutes after this step.
Next, add your Microsoft account to continue. If, as a Linux user, you don't prefer
sharing your email information, use a dummy email address and password for
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
18 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
now. Windows will throw an incorrect password error. Then, click Next to skip
adding the correct email address
On the following screen, enter your name and password. Next, select and answer
three security questions to continue.
✕
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
19 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
Ad
✕
The Choose privacy settings for your device screen will appear. Disable all the
options if you don't like to share usage data with Microsoft. Then, click Accept.
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
20 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
Skip the Let's customize your experience screen and select Not now when it asks
you to share personal information with Cortana. Following that, Windows will
customize a few other things for you before booting you to the desktop.
✕
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
21 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
If you don't fancy KVM, why not go for other hypervisors like VirtualBox or
VMware to install Windows?
Ad
✕
You Aren't Limited to Just KVM on Linux
That's how easy it was to install Windows 10 using a KVM on Linux. But don't stop
here. Try all sorts of Linux distros and other open-source operating systems by
installing them in virtual machines.
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
22 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
You're not limited to using Kernel-based Virtual Machine on Linux. If you want, you
can even go for other hypervisors like VirtualBox or VMware to install Windows on
your Linux machine.
Linux
Follow
Windows
Windows 10
Like
Share
✕
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
23 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
RECOMMENDED
Jul 24, 2022
Aug 31, 2025
4 days ago
How to Set Up a
Windows Virtual…
Machine in Linux
Linux is actually the
better OS for gaming—…
I’m never going back to
Windows
2025 is the �rst time I'm
not upgrading my phon…
every two years: here's
why
4 hours ago
I use Notion only for this
one thing now—here’s…
why
✕
Join Our Team
Our Audience
About Us
9/7/25, 20:06
How to Create a Windows Virtual Machine in Linux With KVM
24 of 24
https://www.makeuseof.com/create-windows-virtual-machi...
Press & Events
Contact Us
Follow Us
Advertising
Careers
Terms
Privacy
Policies
MUO is part of the Valnet Publishing Group
Copyright © 2025 Valnet Inc.
✕
9/7/25, 20:06
0
