How to Create a Virtual Hard Disk in Windows 10 and Windows 11

A Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) is a convenient way to add extra storage to your computer without the need to purchase a physical hard drive. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of creating a virtual hard disk in Windows 10 and Windows 11 and explain why it can be useful for your needs.

Why Use a Virtual Hard Disk?

There are several reasons to use a virtual hard disk:

  • Creating backups of important data.
  • Storing sensitive information in a separate, easily attachable/detachable drive.
  • Testing new operating systems or software without risking your main system.
  • Organizing different types of data for better file management.

How to Create a Virtual Hard Disk in Windows 10 and Windows 11

The process of creating a virtual hard disk is nearly identical in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Let's go through the steps:

Step 1: Open Disk Management

To begin, you need to open the Disk Management utility. You can do this in several ways:

  • Press Win + X and select Disk Management from the menu.
  • Or type “Create and format hard disk partitions” in the Windows search bar and select the result.

Step 2: Create the VHD File

Once the Disk Management window is open, follow these steps:

  1. Click on Action in the top menu and select Create VHD.
  2. Choose the location where you want to store the VHD file and give it a name (e.g., MyVirtualDisk.vhdx).
  3. Select the size and format of the disk:
    • VHD — compatible with older versions of Windows.
    • VHDX — recommended for modern systems; supports larger volumes and is protected against power failures.
  4. Choose the disk type:
    • Fixed size — occupies the specified space immediately.
    • Dynamically expanding — grows as data is added.

Step 3: Initialize the Virtual Disk

After creating the VHD file, you need to initialize it:

  1. In the list of disks, find the new disk marked as “Not Initialized”, right-click on it, and select Initialize Disk.
  2. Choose the partition style:
    • MBR — for compatibility with older systems.
    • GPT — for modern systems and larger volumes.

Step 4: Create a New Volume

Next, create a volume on the initialized disk:

  1. Right-click on the unallocated space and select New Simple Volume.
  2. Follow the wizard’s instructions to specify the volume size, assign a drive letter, and choose the file system (NTFS is recommended).

Step 5: Attach and Detach the Virtual Hard Disk

To attach the virtual disk, open Disk Management again and select Attach VHD, specifying the path to the VHD file. To detach it, right-click on the virtual disk and select Detach VHD.

Benefits of Using VHD in Windows

There are several advantages to using a virtual hard disk:

  • Convenient for backup and recovery of data.
  • Simple to set up and manage.
  • Useful for testing purposes or secure storage of personal files.