---
title: "bcdedit hypervisorlaunchtype off: disabling the Hyper-V hypervisor for gaming"
description: "When the Windows hypervisor is on, Windows itself runs as a virtual machine on top of it. What it changes, when it hurts, and how to undo it."
url: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-hyper-v-hypervisor
author: Frost LIVE, Founder of Frozen Tweaks
published: 2026-10-08
updated: 2026-10-08
category: "Security"
source: Frozen Tweaks (https://frozentweaks.com)
---

# bcdedit hypervisorlaunchtype off: disabling the Hyper-V hypervisor for gaming

**Short answer:** When the Windows hypervisor is on, Windows itself runs as a virtual machine on top of it. That is what Memory Integrity, WSL 2, Windows Sandbox and Hyper-V need. hypervisorlaunchtype off stops the hypervisor from starting at boot. It runs bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off.

## In the app

- Switch: Disable Hypervisor (Hyper-V) (Security, Pro, Advanced)
- Undo: Yes. Switching it off sets the hypervisor to start automatically, the Windows default, even if you had it off before.
- Catalog row: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks#t-1037

## What it does

When the Windows hypervisor is on, Windows itself runs as a virtual machine on top of it. That is what Memory Integrity, WSL 2, Windows Sandbox and Hyper-V need. hypervisorlaunchtype off stops the hypervisor from starting at boot.

In the app the switch is called "Disable Hypervisor (Hyper-V)", described there as: Sets hypervisorlaunchtype=Off to remove virtualization layer overhead (reboot).

## When it helps

- Processor-bound games on a PC where the hypervisor is running: removing that layer can recover a few percent.

## When it hurts

- WSL 2, Docker Desktop, Windows Sandbox, Hyper-V machines and Android emulators that use Hyper-V stop working.
- Memory Integrity (VBS) cannot run without it, and Valorant on Windows 11 and some other anti-cheats expect those protections. Check your games first.

## What it writes

Read from the app's source. "Switching it off" is what the app writes when you turn the tweak off again.

Commands the tweak runs:

```bat
bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off
```

Switching it off runs:

```bat
bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype auto
```

Source: Tweaks/hypervisordisable.hpp in the app's source, app 2.0.0, checked 2026-10-08.

## How to undo it

Switch the tweak off in Frozen Tweaks. It runs the commands shown under "Switching it off".

## Verdict

Real but small gains, with real costs. Only for a PC that is used for gaming and nothing that needs virtualization.

## Questions

### What does the "Disable Hypervisor (Hyper-V)" tweak change in Windows?

It runs bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off.

### Is "Disable Hypervisor (Hyper-V)" safe to switch on?

Real but small gains, with real costs. Only for a PC that is used for gaming and nothing that needs virtualization. The main cost: WSL 2, Docker Desktop, Windows Sandbox, Hyper-V machines and Android emulators that use Hyper-V stop working.

### How do I undo it?

Switch the tweak off in Frozen Tweaks. Switching it off sets the hypervisor to start automatically, the Windows default, even if you had it off before.

### Does it need a restart?

Yes, the change applies after a restart.

### Is "Disable Hypervisor (Hyper-V)" free in Frozen Tweaks?

It is part of Frozen Pro and Elite. You can also make the change by hand with the values on this page.

## Related guides

- [Windows 11 Gaming Optimization: What Still Works in 2026](https://frozentweaks.com/guides/windows-11-gaming-optimization)

## More tweak explainers

- [SmartScreen](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-smartscreen)
- [Remote Registry and Remote Assistance](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-remote-registry-and-remote-assistance)
- [Spectre and Meltdown mitigations](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-spectre-meltdown-mitigations)

---
Written by Frost LIVE, founder of Frozen Tweaks. Canonical version: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-hyper-v-hypervisor