How to Create and Mount a VHDX in Windows 11

A Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) acts as a physical hard drive within your Windows operating system, allowing you to store files, install separate operating systems, or isolate environments without partitioning your physical drive. This guide covers how to create a VHDX file, initialize and format it for immediate use, and mount or detach it as a drive in Windows 11 using built-in tools.

Step 1: Create the VHDX File

1. Press Win + X on your keyboard and select Disk Management from the Power User menu.
2. In the top menu bar, click Action and select Create VHD.
3. Click Browse to choose the location where you want to save the VHDX file and give it a name.
4. Under Virtual hard disk size, specify the capacity you want (e.g., 50 GB).
5. Under Virtual hard disk format, select VHDX (recommended for larger capacities and power failure resilience).
6. Under Virtual hard disk type, select either:
   • Dynamically expanding: The file grows as you add data (saves initial physical space).
   • Fixed size: The file occupies the full allocated space immediately (offers better performance).
7. Click OK to create the virtual disk.

Step 2: Initialize and Format the Virtual Drive

Once created, the disk will appear in Disk Management as an unallocated, uninitialized disk.

1. Scroll down the lower pane in Disk Management to locate the new virtual disk (typically labeled as Disk 1, Disk 2, etc., with an “Unknown” and “Not Initialized” status).
2. Right-click the disk name on the left and select Initialize Disk.
3. Choose the partition style:
   • Select GPT (GUID Partition Table) for modern systems.
   • Click OK.
4. Right-click the black bar labeled Unallocated space and select New Simple Volume.
5. Follow the New Simple Volume Wizard:
   • Set the volume size (default uses all available space).
   • Assign an available Drive Letter.
   • Choose the File System (typically NTFS).
   • Enter a Volume label to name the drive.
6. Click Finish. The drive is now formatted and visible in File Explorer.

How to Mount and Unmount a VHDX File

• To Mount (Attach): Locate the .vhdx file on your storage drive in File Explorer and double-click it. Alternatively, right-click the file and select Mount. The drive will immediately appear under This PC.
• To Unmount (Detach): Open File Explorer, navigate to This PC, right-click the virtual drive, and select Eject. Alternatively, open Disk Management, right-click the virtual disk label on the left, and select Detach VHD.