VHD / VHDX Format
Everything about VHD / VHDX files
Can Create
No
Can Extract
Yes
Extension
.vhd
Platform
Windows
VHD / VHDX Guides
What Is a VHD / VHDX File?
VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) and VHDX are virtual hard disk formats used by Microsoft Hyper-V, Virtual PC, and other virtualization platforms. They contain a complete file system that can be mounted as a drive.
VHD supports up to 2 TB, while VHDX (the newer format) supports up to 64 TB and offers better corruption resistance.
7-Zip can open VHD, VHDX, VMDK (VMware), VDI (VirtualBox), and QCOW2 (QEMU) files, allowing you to extract files from virtual disks without running the virtual machine.
Can 7-Zip Open VHD / VHDX Files?
7-Zip can open and extract files from VHD, VHDX, VMDK, VDI, and QCOW2 virtual disk images.
7-Zip treats virtual disks like archives — you can browse the file system and extract individual files without mounting.
This is useful for recovering files from virtual machines without booting them.
How to Extract VHD / VHDX Files
Right-click the VHD/VHDX file
Locate your .vhd or .vhdx file, right-click it, and navigate to "7-Zip".
Choose extraction option
Select "Open archive" to browse the virtual disk contents, or "Extract Here" to extract everything.
Browse and extract files
In the 7-Zip File Manager, navigate the virtual disk's file system like a regular folder and extract the files you need.
How to Create VHD / VHDX Archives
7-Zip cannot create VHD/VHDX files
7-Zip can extract files from virtual disks but cannot create them. VHD creation requires virtualization software.
Creating virtual disks
Use Hyper-V Manager, Disk Management (Windows), or tools like qemu-img to create VHD/VHDX files.
How to Password Protect VHD / VHDX Files
VHD/VHDX files do not support password protection at the format level.
Virtual disk encryption (like BitLocker) is applied inside the virtual disk, not on the VHD file itself. 7-Zip cannot decrypt BitLocker-protected virtual disks.
VHD / VHDX Specifications
| Extension | .vhd / .vhdx |
| Compression | None (raw disk image) |
| Encryption | Not at format level (BitLocker inside) |
| Platform | Windows (Hyper-V, Virtual PC) |
| Maximum Size | 2 TB (VHD), 64 TB (VHDX) |
| Developer | Microsoft |
| MIME Type | application/x-vhd |
Common VHD / VHDX Errors & Solutions
Cannot open VHD file
Cause: Corrupted VHD or unsupported format variant.
Solution: Ensure the VHD is not corrupted. 7-Zip supports standard VHD and VHDX formats. For VHDX, use the latest 7-Zip version.
VHD shows as empty
Cause: The virtual disk may use a file system 7-Zip doesn't support, or the disk is dynamic and not fully allocated.
Solution: Try mounting the VHD in Windows Disk Management instead. Some dynamic VHDs may not be fully readable by 7-Zip.
VHD / VHDX vs 7Z
| Feature | VHD / VHDX | 7z |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Virtual hard disk | Compressed archive |
| Can create with 7-Zip | No | Yes |
| Can extract with 7-Zip | Yes | Yes |
| Compression | None | LZMA2 |
VHD / VHDX FAQ
Can 7-Zip open VHD files?
Yes. 7-Zip can open and extract files from VHD and VHDX virtual disk images without mounting them. Browse the file system and extract individual files.
Can 7-Zip open VHDX files?
Yes. 7-Zip supports both VHD and VHDX formats. Use the latest 7-Zip version for best VHDX compatibility.
Can 7-Zip open VMDK files?
Yes. 7-Zip can open VMware VMDK, VirtualBox VDI, and QEMU QCOW2 virtual disk formats in addition to VHD/VHDX.
Can 7-Zip create VHD files?
No. 7-Zip can extract files from VHD/VHDX but cannot create them. Use Hyper-V Manager or Disk Management to create virtual disks.
How to mount VHD instead of extracting?
On Windows 10/11: right-click the .vhd file > Mount. Or use Disk Management > Action > Attach VHD. This mounts it as a drive letter.
What is the difference between VHD and VHDX?
VHD supports up to 2 TB and is the older format. VHDX supports up to 64 TB, has better corruption resistance, and supports larger block sizes. VHDX is recommended for new virtual machines.
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