Share your network connection with Hyper-V in Windows 10

Previously, we showed you how to use Hyper-V, available only in Windows 10 Pro. here’s how to set up a virtual machine with another copy of Windows.

Previously, we showed you how to use Hyper-V, available only in Windows 10 Pro, to set up a virtual machine with another copy of Windows. I recently needed to run some tests, but realized I would need the internet for this to work. Unfortunately, Hyper-V’s out-of-the-box networking support isn’t exactly intuitive. It’s doable but it’s a bit tricky. To share your computer’s internet connection with a Hyper-V virtual machine, you will need to set up a virtual switch through your internet connection. In this article, we show you how.

Share your network connection with a Hyper-V virtual machine

If you haven’t yet set up a virtual machine, see our previous article for instructions. If you already do, launch the Hyper-V manager. Select your virtual machine, then click Virtual Switch Manager under the Actions pane.

Step 1

To select New virtual network switch, select Internal, then click Create a virtual switch.

Enter a name for your switch, then select Internal network. Click Apply then OK.

Step 3

Select your virtual machine, then click Settings under the Actions pane.

Step 4

Select the Add material tongue; select Legacy Network Adapter, then click Add.

Step 5

Click the Virtual Switch list box, then select the connection created earlier; mine is Groovy Connect. Click Apply then OK.

Step 6

Right-click the network icon in the connection icon in the notification area, then click Network and Sharing Center. There you will see your newly created connection.

Step 7

In the same window, click Change adapter settings, select your network connection through which your computer connects to the Internet. Right-click on the connection, click Properties, select the Sharing tab, then check the box All other network users must connect through this computer’s Internet connection.

Step 8

You should now have internet configured in your virtual machine. It works whether you use a wired or wireless connection.

Step 9

If you are running another edition such as Windows 10 Home, you can use a third-party virtual machine utility such as Oracle VirtualBox. VirtualBox handles the network part of setting up and sharing internet connections much easier.