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Linux ARM64 guests are supported on Hyper-V; the phrase “working towards” describes an earlier enablement effort, not the current status. The Linux kernel documentation says Linux guests are supported on Hyper-V on both x86/x64 and ARM64, with ARM64 guests limited to 64-bit. That confirms kernel and hypervisor support, but it does not establish compatibility for every Windows host release or provide performance comparisons.
What the ARM64 Hyper-V support means
The Linux kernel documentation states: “Hyper-V runs on x86/x64 and arm64, and Linux guests are supported on both architectures.” This is the current status described in the kernel’s Hyper-V overview, accessed October 8, 2026. ARM64 guests must be 64-bit; Hyper-V does not support big-endian ARM64 guests.
Support means the Linux kernel contains the mechanisms needed to run as a Hyper-V guest. It does not, by itself, guarantee that a particular Linux distribution works with every Windows host version, or that guest performance matches bare metal.
How Microsoft’s enablement work added ARM64 support
In a patch series dated May 12, 2021, Microsoft engineer Michael Kelley described work to enable Linux guests on ARM64 Hyper-V. The changes added architecture-specific setup, interrupt handling and hypercalls, while adapting shared Hyper-V components such as VMbus and synthetic-device support. The code is included when the kernel is configured with CONFIG_HYPERV. This series documents the development effort; current kernel documentation, rather than the historical proposal, establishes that Linux ARM64 guests are supported.
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What to check before setting up a guest
Confirm the host and distribution combination
Microsoft’s general guest support documentation explains support boundaries and lists supported guest families, but it does not establish every ARM64 Windows host and release combination. The available documentation does not specify a complete minimum Windows build matrix for Linux ARM64 guests. Check the guidance for the specific Windows host and Linux distribution rather than assuming that kernel support guarantees every combination.
Check Linux Integration Services
Linux Integration Services (LIS) provide drivers and services for Hyper-V integration. Some distributions include LIS in their kernels. Microsoft’s Ubuntu guidance says its separate LIS package does not work for distributions where LIS is already built in. A version difference between a built-in module and Microsoft’s package is not, by itself, proof that the built-in version is outdated. Follow the distribution-specific instructions before installing any additional package.
Consider the architectural timer caveat on older hosts
ARM64 Linux guests use the virtualized ARMv8 architectural system counter and timer through the standard ARM architectural timer driver. The kernel’s Hyper-V clock and timer documentation warns that older ARM64 Hyper-V versions only partially virtualized that timer, which can prevent timer interrupts from working. On those older versions, current kernels may need an out-of-tree patch to use Hyper-V synthetic timers. This is a caveat about older implementations, not a general limitation of current hosts.
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Support responsibilities and performance expectations
Microsoft says it supports issues involving Microsoft operating systems and integration services. For other operating systems certified by their vendors, support comes from those vendors; other issues may be submitted through TSANet. Microsoft also says guests and hosts must be up to date. These policy boundaries do not turn the general guest list into a complete ARM64 host compatibility matrix.
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The cited kernel and Microsoft documentation do not provide comparative performance measurements for Linux ARM64 guests on Hyper-V. They therefore do not establish performance parity with bare metal or with another hypervisor.
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