How to Add Another Hard Drive to a Virtual Machine in HyperV

Expanding your virtual machine’s storage in Hyper-V isn’t complicated, but it does require a few precise steps. Whether you need extra space for files, applications, or backups, adding a new virtual hard drive is a quick way to get the job done. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Shut Down the Virtual Machine (If Needed)

Before making changes to your VM, it’s a good idea to power it off. While it’s possible to add a hard drive to a running VM with some configurations, shutting down avoids possible issues.

• Open Hyper-V Manager.
• Right-click your virtual machine and select Shut Down.

Step 2: Open VM Settings

Once the VM is off:

• Right-click the VM again in Hyper-V Manager.
• Choose Settings.

Step 3: Add a New Hard Drive

Inside the settings window:

• In the left menu, under your VM’s hardware, click SCSI Controller (recommended).
• Click Add next to Hard Drive.

Why SCSI? It’s hot-add capable (you can add or remove drives while the VM is running), and it’s the standard for most newer virtual machines.

Step 4: Create or Attach a Virtual Hard Disk

You have two options:

• Create a new virtual hard disk:
  • Select New, then click Next.
  • Pick VHDX (the modern format), set the disk size, and finish the wizard.
• Use an existing virtual hard disk:
  • Browse to your .vhd or .vhdx file and select it.

Step 5: Apply and Start the VM

• Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.
• Power the VM back on.

Step 6: Initialize and Format the New Drive in the Guest OS

Inside your VM’s operating system, the new disk will appear as unallocated space.

• Open Disk Management (in Windows, right-click the Start button > Disk Management).
• Find the new disk (it’ll show as uninitialized).
• Right-click the new disk and choose Initialize Disk.
• Create a new volume, assign a drive letter, and format it.

That’s it—you now have extra storage ready to use inside your virtual machine.

Final Tips

• For best performance, keep your VM storage files on fast physical drives.
• Don’t forget to back up your VMs before making changes.
• You can add multiple drives using the same process.

Adding storage in Hyper-V is quick and painless once you know the steps. If you run into any issues, double-check your VM’s configuration or consult Microsoft’s official Hyper-V documentation.

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!