This guide shows how to do Windows 11 VHD download, including Windows 11 VHD download official and Windows 11 VHDX download Microsoft, and manage your Windows 11 virtual hard disk download effectively.
Where do I find a VHD file for Win 11 to use? Microsoft took the download off their website.
- Question from www.reddit.com
Some users need a Windows 11 VHD or VHDX file when they want to test the system, run it in a virtual environment, or explore its features without fully installing it on their computer. A VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) or VHDX file works like a complete virtual version of Windows 11 that can be opened with tools such as Hyper-V, VMware, or VirtualBox. This method saves both time and storage, making it ideal for developers, IT professionals, and learners who want to test software or study system operations in a safe environment.
For instance, developers may use a Windows 11 VHD to check app performance, while students or testers use it to experiment with system settings without affecting their main PC. However, many users struggle to find secure and official download sources for these files, and downloading from unknown sites can bring security risks.
Once you get a Windows 11 VHD or VHDX file, managing it properly is the next step. Instead of using Windows built-in Disk Management, which offers limited functions and can be confusing for beginners, you can use AOMEI Partition Assistant. It provides an easier and more flexible way to create, attach, or detach VHD and VHDX files, making virtual disk management much simpler and more efficient.
Follow these steps to download a Windows 11 virtual hard disk (VHD) file from the Azure portal.
If you plan to use the VHD as an image to create multiple virtual machines, you should generalize the current VM using Sysprep.
Sign in to the Azure portal and connect to the VM.
Open Command Prompt as administrator.
Go to %windir%\system32\sysprep and run sysprep.exe.
Select Enter System Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) and check Generalize.
Under Shutdown Options, choose Shutdown and click OK.
You cannot download a VHD from a running VM.
In the Azure portal, go to Virtual Machines.
Select your VM and click Stop on the top menu.
If you prefer not to stop the VM, take a snapshot of the disk instead.
Go to the VM page and select Disks.
Choose the OS disk you want to snapshot.
Click Create Snapshot, name it, and choose Full or Incremental.
Select Review + create to finish.
Note: For cleaner results, stop the VM before taking a snapshot.
If your organization uses Microsoft Entra ID, make sure you:
Install the latest Azure PowerShell module.
Have the Data Operator for Managed Disks role or equivalent permissions.
Enable Data Access Authentication Mode for the disk under Settings → Disk Export.
Go to the VM’s Disks section.
Select the OS disk and click Disk Export.
Set the expiration time (e.g., 10 hours = 36,000 seconds).
Click Generate URL.
The SAS link gives temporary access (maximum 60 days).
Copy the generated SAS URL.
In the same page, click Download the VHD file or open the URL in your browser.
Choose Save when prompted to start the download.
Note: Large VHD files can take several hours to download depending on your internet speed.
If you want to stop the download link from being used, go to the Disk Export page and select Cancel export to revoke the SAS URL.
Once you have downloaded or created a Windows 11 VHD or VHDX file, the next step is managing it efficiently. This is where AOMEI Partition Assistant comes in. It’s a powerful disk management tool that makes handling virtual disks much easier than using Windows’ built-in Disk Management.
With AOMEI Partition Assistant, you can create, attach, and detach VHD or VHDX files in just a few clicks. The process is straightforward, even for beginners. Unlike Disk Management, which can feel limited or complex, AOMEI provides an intuitive interface with additional features such as resizing, cloning, and even encrypting VHDs using BitLocker.
This feature is especially useful when you want to:
Clone, check, or back up virtual disks.
Create a virtual environment for development or system testing.
Whether you’re managing multiple virtual disks or just one Windows 11 VHD, AOMEI Partition Assistant ensures a faster, simpler, and more flexible experience. It supports both VHD and VHDX, giving you full control over virtual storage without the complexity of command-line tools or manual setup.
The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer
If you want to create a VHD, you can follow the steps below:
Step 1. Click the tab "Virtual Disk", you will see 3 options available for VHDs: create VHD, attach VHD, and detach VHD. Select the "Create VHD" option after clicking the "Virtual Disk" tab.
Step 2. You can specify the virtual disk location and size.
Optionally, you can click the "Advanced" option to set the virtual hard disk format and type. (By default, the VHDX format and the Dynamically expanding type are checked.)
Virtual hard disk format: VHD and VHDX are supported.
For VHD, it supports virtual disks up to 2040GB in size.
For VHDX, it supports virtual disks larger than 2040GB in size. (Up to 64TB) This format is not supported in operating systems earlier than Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012.
Virtual hard disk format: Fixed size and Dynamically expanding are supported.
For fixed size, the virtual hard disk file will be allocated its maximum size when it is created. So it will take much longer to create.
For Dynamically expanding, the virtual hard disk file will grow to its maximum size as data is written to it. (Recommended)
Click "Browse" to select a location to create the VHD. Please enter a file name for the virtual disk and click "Save".
Step 3. Once the virtual disk location and size are set up, you can click "OK" to start creating the VHD.
Step 4. After the reload process is finished, you will see that the VHD has been created successfully. It will be attached automatically.
You can also view the VHD in Windows Disk Management.
The created VHD will be uninitialized so it is empty without any data or file system. To make it useful, you need to initialize the disk, create a partition, and assign a drive letter.
You can initialize the drive in Partition Assistant.
Or, initialize it in Windows Disk Management.
Then, you can create a partition and assign a drive letter for the partition. Finally, you can use the VHD normally.
A VHD is a container file that holds a virtual disk image. Until it is attached, Windows sees it only as a regular file. Once attached, Windows mounts it as a virtual disk, assigns a drive letter, and allows access to its file system. You can only perform disk operations, such as cloning VHD to HDD, checking for corruption or errors, or resizing partitions, after attaching it. Detaching the VHD safely removes it from the system without deleting the file.
The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer
Step 1. Select the "Attach VHD" option after clicking the"Virtual Disk" tab.
Step 2. Click "Browse" to locate the location where the .vhd or .vhdx file is saved. Select the .vhd or .vhdx file you want to attach and click "Open" to attach it.
Step 3. Once the virtual file is selected, you can click "OK" to start attaching the VHD.
Step 4. Once the process is finished, you will see that the VHD is attached successfully.
If the VHD is not necessary, you can remove it by detaching the VHD.
Step 1. You can right-click the attached VHD in Partition Assistant and select the "Detach VHD" option to detach it.
Or, you can select the "Detach VHD" option after clicking the"Virtual Disk" tab.
Step 2. You can select and deselect the virtual disk(s) and click the "Detach" button to start detaching the VHD(s).
Step 3. Once the process is finished, you will see that the VHD(s) has been removed successfully.
Downloading and managing a Windows 11 VHD or VHDX file allows you to test, develop, and explore Windows 11 safely without full installation. While downloading a VHD from Azure ensures security and reliability, efficient management tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant make working with virtual disks much easier. You can create, attach, detach, and even clone VHD/VHDX files with just a few clicks: far more conveniently than using Windows’ built-in Disk Management. Whether you’re a developer, IT professional, or learner, AOMEI Partition Assistant offers a simple and powerful way to handle all your virtual disk needs efficiently.
The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer