> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.nvidia.com/ai-workbench/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.nvidia.com/ai-workbench/_mcp/server.

> Provides instructions for system configurations required by the full

# Windows Full Local Install Reference

## Overview

**This reference provides guidance on configuring system settings that AI Workbench requires for the full local install.**

Use the specific sections to resolve any issues.

**Cross reference steps with the Windows documentation and your manufacturer's specific instructions.**

There are links to relevant documentation.

## Configure User Account Controls

**Microsoft User Account Controls (UAC) must be set properly.**

UAC sets the controls if and how you are alerted when applications request elevated privileges.

AI Workbench needs elevated privileges at a few points during the full local install, so you need to set UAC so that you can see and authorize those requests.

**Set UAC to "Notify me only when apps try to make changes to my computer (default)"**

1. Go to **Control Panel > User Accounts > User Accounts > Change User Account Control settings**
2. Set slider to [Notify me only when apps try to make changes to my computer (default)](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/user-account-control-settings-d5b2046b-dcb8-54eb-f732-059f321afe18)
3. Click **OK**

## Enable Virtualization

**AI Workbench requires Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL 2), which requires virtualization.**

Virtualization is usually enabled by default, but there are instances when it is not.
AI Workbench will check if it is enabled during the full local install.

**If virtualization isn't enabled,** [you must enable it manually](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/enable-virtualization-on-windows-c5578302-6e43-4b4b-a449-8ced115f58e1).

AI Workbench will alert you to this but it does NOT enable virtualization for you.
You must do this manually in your system's BIOS menu.

**To get to the BIOS menu, restart your computer and hit the "BIOS key" while it is rebooting.**

This interrupts the startup process and redirects you to the BIOS menu.
Generic instructions are:

1. Find the BIOS key and location of the virtualization settings for your manufacturer.
2. Restart your computer and hit the BIOS key as your computer restarts.
3. Go to the virtualization setting in the menu.
4. Enable virtualization.
5. Exit the BIOS to restart your computer.

**BIOS key and virtualization settings are manufacturer dependent.**

These are instructions for common manufacturers.

- [Acer Instructions](https://community.acer.com/en/kb/articles/14750-how-to-enable-virtualization-technology-on-acer-products)
- [Asus Instructions](https://www.asus.com/us/support/faq/1045141/)
- [Dell Instructions](https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000195978/how-to-enable-or-disable-hardware-virtualization-on-dell-systems)
- [HPi Instructions](https://support.hp.com/si-en/document/ish_5637142-5637191-16)
- [Lenovo Instructions](https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht500006-how-to-enable-virtualization-technology-on-lenovo-computers)

## Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 Enablement

**As long as virtualization is enabled, AI Workbench will handle this for you.**

WSL is typically enabled, but in some cases it is not.

If that is the case, AI Workbench can enable it for you but will request authorization to do so through UAC.

## Use Mirrored Networking

**Mirrored networking is an optional WSL 2 networking mode that AI Workbench supports on Windows 11 version 22H2 or later.**

AI Workbench also works with the default WSL 2 networking mode.
AI Workbench does not enable mirrored networking for you.

**Mirrored networking can be necessary when you use NVIDIA Sync to connect to a device discovered through multicast DNS (mDNS).**

NVIDIA Sync runs directly on Windows, while a full local AI Workbench installation connects from the `NVIDIA-Workbench` WSL 2 distribution.
Mirrored networking makes the Windows network interfaces and multicast traffic available to WSL 2.

**Step One: Enable mirrored networking in WSL Settings.**

1. Close AI Workbench.
2. Open **WSL Settings** from the Windows Start menu.
3. Select **Networking**.
4. Set **Networking mode** to **Mirrored**.
5. Save the setting.

**Alternatively, configure mirrored networking in the WSL configuration file.**

1. Open `%UserProfile%\.wslconfig` in a text editor.

2. Add the following configuration, or update the existing `[wsl2]` section:

   ```ini
   [wsl2]
   networkingMode=mirrored
   ```

3. Save the file.

**Step Two: Restart WSL 2 and AI Workbench.**

1. Open PowerShell.

2. Shut down WSL 2:

   ```powershell
   wsl --shutdown
   ```

3. Open AI Workbench.

**Success: AI Workbench runs with WSL 2 mirrored networking and can retry the Sync-managed remote location.**

For more information about mirrored networking, see [Accessing network applications with WSL](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/networking#mirrored-mode-networking) in the Microsoft documentation.

## NVIDIA GPU Drivers on Windows

- If your system has an NVIDIA GPU, you must install the drivers manually
- Use the [NVIDIA App](https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/software/nvidia-app/) to install and manage your drivers