How do you check to see if Hyper-V is enabled using PowerShell?

Question

I am trying to write a PowerShell script that checks the Windows Optional Features to see if Hyper-V is installed. However, my code is not working. Even when Hyper-V is disabled, the script outputs that it is already enabled.

#Requires -RunAsAdministrator

# Get the Hyper-V feature and store it in $hyperv
$hyperv = Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V-All -Online

# Check if Hyper-V is already enabled.
if($hyperv.State = "Enabled") {
    Write-Host "Hyper-V is already enabled."
} else {
    Write-Host "Hyper-V is disabled."
}

There is no error when the code is run.

Solution 1

I believe it has to do with your if condition, try this:

if($hyperv.State -eq "Enabled")

The = sign is not going to work, you need to do it PowerShell way

Solution 2

Here's the full powershell script that works for me. Just copy and paste it into an elevated powershell then press enter.

$hyperv = Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V-All -Online
# Check if Hyper-V is enabled
if($hyperv.State -eq "Enabled") {
    Write-Host "Hyper-V is enabled."
} else {
    Write-Host "Hyper-V is disabled."
}

Solution 3

For Windows 10 Pro / Education / Enterprise

if ((Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V-All -Online).State -ne 'Enabled')
{
    Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V -All
}

For Windows Server

if ((Get-WindowsFeature -Name Hyper-V) -eq $false)
{
    Install-WindowsFeature -Name Hyper-V -IncludeManagementTools
}

Generic script

Write-Host "Enabling Hyper-V in host..."
if ((Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem).Caption -match 'Microsoft Windows 10')
{
    if ((Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V-All -Online).State -ne 'Enabled')
    {
        Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V -All
    }
}
if ((Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem).Caption -match 'Microsoft Windows Server')
{

    if ((Get-WindowsFeature -Name Hyper-V) -eq $false)
    {
        Install-WindowsFeature -Name Hyper-V -IncludeManagementTools
    }
}

Comments

[Evan Amara]

This fixed it, thanks. It seems like the = was resetting the value of $hyperv.

[c-chavez]

@EvanAmara In most programming languages one equal sign (=) assigns a value and 2 equal signs (==) compare values. In powershell -eq (meaning equal) compares if 2 values are equal. If you need to know if the values are different you can use -ne (not equal). Check this website for more info on comparing values ss64.com/ps/syntax-compare.html

[Jonathan Gagne]

Using PowerShell

[Lee_Dailey]

the OP asked for help with doing this programmatically, preferably using powershell. your method is not at all suitable for the scenario listed - and that scenario is fairly sensible. [grin]

[Pablo Jomer]

Is it possible to check if hyper-v is also running? Usually this requires a reboot and until then this command reports that the feature is enabled even if it's not actually running.