Creating a Windows 11 Virtual Machine (VM) on Azure allows you to leverage cloud power for running applications, testing environments, or other essential tasks. From logging into the Azure portal to completely setting up and launching your virtual machine, this guide takes you through the entire process.

Step-by-Step Guide to Deploying a Windows 11 Virtual Machine on Azure

Step 1: Log into the Azure Portal

Open your web browser and go to https://portal.azure.com.
Enter your Azure account credentials and sign in.

Step 2: Navigate to the Virtual Machines Service

On the Azure portal homepage, select Virtual Machines from the left-hand menu.
If it’s not visible, you can search for Virtual Machines in the top search bar.

Step 3: Start Creating a New VM

In the Virtual Machines dashboard, click on Create and select Azure Virtual Machine. This will open the Create a virtual machine setup wizard.

Step 4: Configure Basic Settings
In the Basics tab, you’ll configure the primary details for your VM.

Subscription: Select the Azure subscription you want to use.
Resource Group: Either select an existing resource group or create a new one.
Virtual machine name: Give your VM a unique name (e.g., Windows11-VM).
Region: Choose the region closest to you or your target audience.
Availability options: Select the appropriate option for redundancy, if needed.
Security type: Choose "Standard" for a basic configuration.
Image: Click on the image dropdown and select Windows 11 Pro, version 21H2 - x64 Gen2 or another available Windows 11 version.
Size: Select a VM size, like Standard_D2s_v3, which provides a balance of performance and cost.
Administrator account: Choose Username and Password to create login credentials. Ensure the username doesn’t conflict with Windows reserved names.
Inbound port rules: Allow RDP (3389) to enable Remote Desktop Protocol access. Optionally, allow other ports if needed.

Step 5: Configure Disks

Navigate to the Disks tab.
Select the OS disk type, such as Standard SSD or Premium SSD, based on your needs.
You may add data disks if you need additional storage.

Step 6: Configure Networking

Go to the Networking tab.
Virtual network: Either select an existing virtual network or create a new one.
Subnet: Choose an existing subnet or create a new one.
Public IP: Ensure this is set to Enabled if you need public access.
NIC network security group (NSG): Choose Basic and allow RDP if you need remote access.
Leave other settings as default unless specific configurations are needed.

Step 7: Management Settings

Move to the Management tab.
Monitoring: Enable Boot diagnostics to troubleshoot any startup issues.
Optionally enable Azure Backup if you need regular backups.

Step 8: Review and Create

Go to the Review + create tab.
Review your configuration settings to ensure everything is set as desired.
Click Create to deploy the VM.
Azure will validate the settings and, if everything is correct, will start the deployment process.

Step 9: Access Your Windows 11 VM

Once deployment is complete, go to the Virtual Machines dashboard.
Select your new VM, and under the Overview tab, find the Public IP address.
Use the public IP to connect to your VM via Remote Desktop: -- Open Remote Desktop Connection on your local machine. -- Enter the IP address, username, and password you set up earlier.

Your Windows 11 virtual machine is now operational and ready for use right away on Azure's robust platform.