Virtualization Enable or Disable Hyper-V Enhanced Session Mode in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable allowing Hyper-V enhanced session mode for your account or all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Hyper-V enables running virtualized computer systems on top of a physical host. These virtualized systems can be used and managed just as if they were physical computer systems, however they exist in virtualized and isolated environment. Special software called a hypervisor manages access between the virtual systems and the physical hardware resources. Virtualization enables quick deployment of computer systems, a way to quickly restore systems to a previously known good state, and the ability to migrate systems between physical hosts.

Enhanced Session Mode lets Hyper-V connect to virtual machines using RDP (remote desktop protocol). Not only does this improve your general virtual machine viewing experience, connecting with RDP also allows the virtual machine to share resources with your computer when you're running Virtual Machine Connection (VMConnect).

If your Hyper-V host (physical PC) runs Windows 10 or Windows 11, enhanced session mode is on (enabled) by default.

RDP/Enhanced Session mode includes:

• Makes virtual machines resizable and high DPI aware.
• Improves virtual machine integration
  • Shared clipboard
  • File sharing via drag drop and copy paste
• Allows device sharing
  • Microphone/Speakers
  • USB devices
  • Data disks (including C:)
  • Printers

You may want to use the computer's local resources to:

• Troubleshoot a virtual machine without a network connection to the virtual machine.
• Copy and paste files to and from the virtual machine in the same way you copy and paste using a Remote Desktop Connection (RDP).
• Sign in to the virtual machine by using a smart card.
• Print from a virtual machine to a local printer.
• Test and troubleshoot developer applications that require USB and sound redirection without using RDP.

References:

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Hyper-V enhanced session mode.

Enhanced Session Mode requires Remote Desktop to be enabled in the VM. The Home edition of Windows 10/11 does not support Remote Desktop.

If this is for a Windows 10 or Windows 11 VM, you will need to turn off For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device in the VM to be able to sign in to RDP with a password.

1 Open Hyper-V Manager (virtmgmt.msc).

2 Select the host computer name (ex: "BRINKW11") in the left pane, and click/tap on Hyper-V Settings in the right "Actions" pane. (see screenshot below)


3 Under User, click/tap on Enhanced Session Mode. (see screenshot below step 4)

4 Check (enable) or uncheck (disable) Use enhanced session mode for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)


5 You can now close the Hyper-V Manager if you like.





1 Open Hyper-V Manager (virtmgmt.msc).

2 Select the host computer name (ex: "BRINKW11") in the left pane, and click/tap on Hyper-V Settings in the right "Actions" pane. (see screenshot below)


3 Under System, click/tap on Enhanced Session Mode Policy. (see screenshot below step 4)

4 Check (enable) or uncheck (disable) Allow enhanced session mode for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

If you uncheck Allow enhanced session mode, it will override Option One for all users.

5 You can now close the Hyper-V Manager if you like.





1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select Windows PowerShell.

2 Type the command below you want to use into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter. (see screenshots below)

If you disable Allow enhanced session mode, it will override Option One for all users.

3 You can now close Windows Terminal (Admin) if you like.






That's it,
Shawn Brink