How to Create and Mount Virtual Hard Drives in Windows 11 (2025 Guide)
Virtual Hard Drives (VHDs) in Windows 11 allow you to create a virtual disk that behaves like a physical hard drive but is actually a file stored on your PC. This feature is perfect for testing, backup, or organizing files without needing extra hardware. Follow this detailed step-by-step guide to create and mount your own virtual hard drives in Windows 11.
Step 1: Open Disk Management
Press Win + X and select Disk Management from the menu.
Step 2: Create a New Virtual Hard Disk
- In Disk Management, click Action > Create VHD.
- Choose a location and file name for your VHD file.
- Select the size of the virtual hard disk (e.g., 20GB, 50GB, etc.).
- Choose the disk format: Fixed size for fixed capacity or Dynamically expanding for more flexible space usage.
- Click OK to create the virtual disk file.
Step 3: Initialize the Disk
Once created, the new disk will appear as unallocated. Right-click on the disk label (e.g., Disk 2) and choose Initialize Disk. Select the partition style (MBR or GPT) and press OK.
Step 4: Create a New Volume
Right-click on the unallocated space and select New Simple Volume. Use the wizard to assign a drive letter and format the disk with NTFS.
Step 5: Mount and Use Your VHD
The new virtual hard drive will now appear as a separate drive in File Explorer, ready for storing files and data.
Unmounting or Detaching a VHD
To detach a virtual hard drive when not needed:
- Go to Disk Management, right-click the virtual disk label, and select Detach VHD.
- Confirm by clicking OK (this only detaches the disk; the file remains safe on your system).
Benefits of Using VHDs
- Test new operating systems or software without impacting your main PC.
- Create sandbox environments for software development or malware analysis.
- Easily backup data or organize files without a physical drive.
- Transport virtual drives between computers by copying the VHD file.
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