[How To] Check and Enable Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x/VT-d)
Answer
Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x) and Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) allow the processor to run virtual machines and certain virtualization-dependent software more efficiently. MSI notebooks with a supported Intel processor have both features enabled by default. Refer to this article if you need to confirm your processor supports these features, or if virtualization software reports that Intel Virtualization Technology is unavailable and you want to verify or re-enable the setting in BIOS.
This article applies to MSI notebooks equipped with an Intel processor .
Check Whether Your Processor Supports Intel Virtualization Technology
1. Go to the Intel Product Specifications page and search for your notebook's processor model.
2. Under the “Security & Reliability” section, check whether “Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)” and “Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)” are listed as supported.
Confirm Intel Virtualization Technology and VT-d Are Enabled in BIOS
1. Power on or restart the notebook, and press “Delete” when the MSI logo appears to enter the BIOS menu.
2. Go to the “Advanced” tab.
3. Locate “Intel Virtualization Technology” and “VT-d”, and confirm both are set to “Enabled”.
4. If either option is set to “Disabled”, change it to “Enabled”.
5. Press “F10” to save the changes and exit BIOS.
Note:
- Both settings are enabled by default on supported processors. Use the steps below only if you need to verify or restore the setting
- Intel Virtualization Technology is being used by another piece of software at the same time, some virtual machine software may fail to run correctly due to a conflict.
Common Questions (Q&A)
What is the difference between VT-x and VT-d?
VT-x allows the processor itself to run virtual machines more efficiently by handling certain virtualization tasks directly in hardware. VT-d extends this support to input/output (I/O) devices, allowing virtual machines to access hardware such as graphics cards or storage controllers more directly and securely. Most virtualization software requires VT-x; some advanced configurations also require VT-d.
Why would Intel Virtualization Technology need to be enabled manually if it's on by default?
The BIOS setting can be turned off by a BIOS reset, a manual BIOS configuration change, or in some cases a BIOS update. If virtualization software reports that Intel Virtualization Technology is unavailable, checking and re-enabling the BIOS setting using the steps in this article typically resolves it.
Who does this apply to — does every MSI notebook support Intel Virtualization Technology?
Only notebooks with an Intel processor that supports VT-x/VT-d include this feature. Check your specific processor model on the Intel Product Specifications page, as described in this article, to confirm support before assuming the feature is available.
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