What is a .vhdx file?
Hyper-V Virtual Hard Disk · Disk image · Microsoft · 2012
VHDX is the modern Hyper-V virtual hard disk format, replacing VHD. It supports disks up to 64 TB, resists corruption from unexpected power loss, and is the default for Windows virtual machines.
What is a .vhdx file used for?
A .vhdx file begins with the ASCII magic vhdxfile. It adds a logging structure that protects the disk's metadata if the host loses power mid-write, a weakness of the older VHD.
Windows mounts VHDX like VHD through Disk Management, and Hyper-V uses it as the default virtual disk.
How to open a .vhdx file
The .vhdx format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to open a .vhdx file.
Windows
- Hyper-V
- Disk Management (mount)
macOS
- qemu-img (convert)
Linux
- qemu / qemu-img
How to convert a .vhdx file
You can convert a .vhdx file to vhd, vmdk, img using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.vhdx file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .vhdx file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for VHDX. For a full breakdown, see the VHDX file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 76 68 64 78 66 69 6C 65 | 0 | 'vhdxfile' |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .vhdx file?
VHDX is the modern Hyper-V virtual hard disk format, replacing VHD. It supports disks up to 64 TB, resists corruption from unexpected power loss, and is the default for Windows virtual machines.
How do I open a VHDX file?
On Windows, mount it with Disk Management (Attach VHD) or use it in Hyper-V. To convert it, use qemu-img.
Should I use VHD or VHDX?
VHDX for anything modern: it handles far larger disks and survives power loss better. Use VHD only for compatibility with older tools.
Can VirtualBox use VHDX?
Not directly in older versions. Convert it to VHD or VDI with qemu-img, or use Hyper-V, which is its native home.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: