How to Export Hyper-V Virtual Machines in Windows 10
Hyper-V enables running virtualized computer systems on top of a physical host. These virtualized systems (aka: guests) can be used and managed just as if they were physical computer systems, however they exist in a virtualized and isolated environment.
You can use Hyper-V's export and import functionality to quickly duplicate virtual machines. Exported virtual machines can be used for backup or as a way to move a virtual machine between Hyper-V hosts.
Import allows you to restore virtual machines. You don't need to export a virtual machine to be able to import it.
When creating an export of a virtual machine, all associated files are bundled in the export. This includes configuration files, hard drive files, and any existing checkpoint files.
This tutorial will show you how to export a single or all Hyper-V virtual machines (guests) on your Windows 10 PC (host).
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to export a Hyper-V virtual machine.
CONTENTS:
- Option One: To Export Hyper-V Virtual Machine(s) using Hyper-V Manager
- Option Two: To Export All Hyper-V Virtual Machines using PowerShell
- Option Three: To Export a Single Hyper-V Virtual Machine using PowerShell
Video by: Kari in TF Video thread
OPTION ONE
To Export Hyper-V Virtual Machine(s) using Hyper-V Manager
1. Open
Hyper-V Manager.
2. Select the Hyper-V host (ex: "BRINK-DESKTOP") in the left pane you want to export a virtual machine from, select one or more virtual machine(s) in the middle pane to export, and click/tap on
Export in the right
Actions pane. (see screenshot below)
You can press and hold the Ctrl key and click/tap on any virtual machine(s) to select them to export, then release the Ctrl key when finished selecting.
3. Click/tap on
Browse, navigate to and select the folder (ex: "My Virtual Machines") that you want to export to, click/tap
Select Folder, and click/tap on
Export. (see screenshots below)
4. The virtual machine(s) will now be exported. It may take a while to finish. (see screenshots below)
5. When finished, you can close Hyper-V Manager if you like.
OPTION TWO
To Export All Hyper-V Virtual Machines using PowerShell
For more details about the Export-VM command used in this option, see: Export-VM
1. Open an
elevated PowerShell.
2. Copy and paste the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter.
Get-VM | Export-VM –Path 'Full path of folder to export to'
Substitute Full path of folder to export to in the command above with the actual full path of the folder location you want to export the virtual machines' files to.
3. When finished, you can close PowerShell if you like.

Note
This may take a while to finish exporting the virtual machine(s) to the specified folder location.
OPTION THREE
To Export a Single Hyper-V Virtual Machine using PowerShell
For more details about the Export-VM command used in this option, see: Export-VM
1. Open an
elevated PowerShell.
2. Type the command below into the elevated PowerShell, press Enter, and make note of the
name (ex: "w10 build 14379") of the virtual machine you want to export. (see screenshot below)
get-vm

3. Type the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
Export-VM -Name 'Name of virtual machine' –Path 'Full path of folder to export to'

Note
Substitute
Name of virtual machine in the command above with the name of the virtual machine from
step 2 above.
Substitute
Full path of folder to export to in the command above with the actual full path of the folder you want to export the virtual machine to.
For example:
Export-VM -Name 'w10 build 14379' –Path 'D:\My Virtual Machines'

4. The virtual machine will now be exported. It may take a while to finish. (see screenshots below)
5. When finished, you can close PowerShell if you like.
That's it,
Shawn