WSA/Windows Virtual Machine platform questions

I'm thinking of trying the Windows Subsystem for Android, which requires enabling 'Virtual Machine Platform' in Windows features. Does this have any system overheads while it's not in use? How is this different from the 'Windows Hypervisor Platform' also in Windows features? I did read that Hyper-V can have a slight performance hit when enabled.

Also, does using WSA/Virtual Machine platform affect the ability to use VirtualBox?

You will struggle to detect a significant difference between running with the hypervisor on or off.

Just do your own benchmark, turning hypervisor on or off.

They do affect performance of games according to Microsoft.

In this video, i will explain and guide on how to turn off security features to improve Windows 11 gaming performance.

FreeBooter said:

They do affect performance of games according to Microsoft.

In this video, i will explain and guide on how to turn off security features to improve Windows 11 gaming performance.

Microsoft Support

Microsoft Support is here to help you with Microsoft products. Find how-to articles, videos, and training for Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft 365, Windows 11, Surface, and more.

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I don't have the security features enabled, I'm really only interested in whether WSA will affect performance

FreeBooter said:

They do affect performance of games according to Microsoft.

In this video, i will explain and guide on how to turn off security features to improve Windows 11 gaming performance.

Microsoft Support

Microsoft Support is here to help you with Microsoft products. Find how-to articles, videos, and training for Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft 365, Windows 11, Surface, and more.

prod.support.services.microsoft.com

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I have Core isolation turned off, and am running both WSL for Android *and* running multiple VMs for testing. It is not *required* to have Core Isolation enabled for either type of virtualization, VMs in Hypervisor, nor enabling external virtualization platforms running.

Of course, having them running *while* gaming is foolish to begin with - even with the gobs of resources I have in my system, I'm not doing both at the same time at any given moment (virtualization + gaming).

BrianInEngland said:

I don't have the security features enabled, I'm really only interested in whether WSA will affect performance

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So, the short of it is that it will not affect performance *when it is turned off and not in use*. You can set WSL for Android to not startup automatically (and I highly recommend that you do this).

BrianInEngland said:

I'm thinking of trying the Windows Subsystem for Android, which requires enabling 'Virtual Machine Platform' in Windows features. Does this have any system overheads while it's not in use? How is this different from the 'Windows Hypervisor Platform' also in Windows features? I did read that Hyper-V can have a slight performance hit when enabled.

Also, does using WSA/Virtual Machine platform affect the ability to use VirtualBox?

Click to expand...

it is different from Hypervisor because that is specifically used by Windows 11 Hyper-V, not other VM platforms.

WSA should not affect VBox, but I only use Hyper-V, so I cannot be 100% certain of this.

You may have to get a command script to enable / disable it on the fly if enabling it breaks your VBox, meaning you can either run WSA or VBox, not both, if it requires being turned on for one and off for the other, at any given time. However, if this is the case, it is a trivial thing to do.

johnlgalt said:

I have Core isolation turned off, and am running both WSL for Android *and* running multiple VMs for testing. It is not *required* to ahve Core Isolation enabled for either type of virtualization, VMs in Hypervisor, nor enabling external virtualization platforms running.



So, the short of it is that it will not affect performance *when it is turned off and not in use*. You can set WSL for Android to not startup automatically (and I highly recommend that you do this).



it is different from Hypervisor because that is specifically used by Windows 11 Hyper-V, not other VM platforms.

WSA should not affect VBox, but I only use Hyper-V, so I cannot be 100% certain of this.

You may have to get a command script to enable / disable it on the fly if enabling it breaks your VBox, meaning you can either run WSA or VBox, not both, if it requires being turned on for one and off for the other, at any given time. However, if this is the case, it is a trivial thing to do.

Click to expand...

All very helpful, thanks!