Microsoft Virtual PC for Windows

Where to get Microsoft Virtual PC for Windows

You can download Microsoft Virtual PC for Windows at no charge to create a virtual desktop on your machine. This edition is intended for use with Windows 7. People install it for a number of reasons: to run software that won’t work on their main OS, to use applications tied to a workplace or school license, or simply to test other operating systems without changing the host system.

How the virtual desktop behaves

• The virtual desktop runs like an ordinary application alongside your normal programs; start it and a separate desktop environment appears.
• To return to your regular workspace, minimize or close the virtual desktop window — but keep in mind that shutting the virtual desktop will also close any apps running inside it.
• The virtual machine operates independently of your host PC, so problems inside the VM don’t directly affect your main system.

What you can do with a virtual machine

• Run older or different operating systems (for example, set up Windows XP on a newer PC to use legacy software).
• Experiment, test software, or troubleshoot in an isolated environment where changes won’t alter the host system.
• Access programs or licenses provided by an organization that you can’t install or run on your primary OS.

Minimum system specs and supported platforms

• RAM: at least 2 GB.
• Free disk space: around 20 MB required for the Virtual PC installer.
• Supported OS: designed to work only with Windows 7; other editions or upgrades are not supported (for example, Windows 7 Professional and older releases such as Windows Vista Business Service Pack 1 are listed as incompatible).

Microsoft 365 versus a virtual desktop

• Microsoft Virtual PC is not available through Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
• A Microsoft 365 subscription can often remove the need for a virtual machine by letting you sign in and use apps and services from any device, with access to the latest versions and centrally managed licenses.
• Higher-tier Microsoft 365 plans also provide additional business features that can replace some uses of a virtual desktop (collaboration tools, cloud storage, and license-managed access to applications).