This error is because you have virtualbox and kvm installed. The kernel modules conflict.

The "simple" solution is to use one or the other, but not both. You can, however, use both as long as you are willing to manually (or script) loading / unloading the kernel modules.

To see your modules

#Virtualbox modules
sudo lsmod | grep vbox

#kvm
sudo lsmod| grep kvm

To remove a module

# remove virtualbox
sudo rmmod vboxdrv
sudo rmmod vboxnetflt

#remove kvm
sudo rmmod kvm
sudo rmmod kvm_amd

use insmod

sudo insmod /full/path/to/your/modules

You can find the module with

locate kvm | grep .ko
locate vbox | grep .ko

Use the modules for your current kernel.

Answer from Panther on askubuntu.com
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VirtualBox
forums.virtualbox.org › board index › general › virtualbox on linux hosts
VMSetError: VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension. Please disable the KVM kernel extension, re - virtualbox.org
September 16, 2022 - You can't have two bits of software using your AMD processor's hardware virtualization feature (SVM aka AMD-v) at the same time. Similar to how only one app at a time can use the serial port. In your case you have KVM enabled - probably in the kernel if you didn't explicit run another VM app.
Discussions

VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension, since kernel 6.12
Is this a new report? Yes System Info Void 6.12.7_1 x86_64 AuthenticAMD notuptodate rFF Package(s) Affected virtualbox-ose-7.0.20_1 Does a report exist for this bug with the project's home (ups... More on github.com
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January 5, 2025
virtualbox - Why and how were KVM modules unexpectedly enabled in Ubuntu 24.04? - Unix & Linux Stack Exchange
System: Ubuntu MATE 24.04.2 I tried to start a virtual machine under VirtualBox and received the following error: VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension. Please disable the KVM kernel extensi... More on unix.stackexchange.com
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July 21, 2025
VirtualBox AMD-V is being used by another hypervisor .. VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension
Hello. Thanks for reading my topic. Here Ubuntu 24.04 kernel 6.14 and VirtualBox 7.2.4. Not is possible start any VM and is showed the message VirtualBox AMD-V is being used by another hypervisor … VirtualBox can’t enable the AMD-V extension. I need stop the KVM module. More on discourse.ubuntu.com
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October 29, 2025
VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension. What changed?
Perhaps you were previously running in 32bit mode? Most motherboards don't enable AMD-Virtualization by default, which limits you to 32bit. As others commented, consider GNOME Boxes or Virt-Manager. VirtualBox is not FLOSS and should be avoided where possible. More on reddit.com
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September 16, 2021
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/linuxquestions › virtualbox can't enable the amd-v extension. error
r/linuxquestions on Reddit: VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension. Error
November 22, 2024 -

When I launch VirtualBox first off I get a cant enumerate USB device error and then when I try and open any of the Virtual Machines I get the following Error "VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension. Please disable the KVM kernel extension".

Now doing a search on this error I discover that you cannot run Qemu and VirtualBox together. So As I've been mainly using VirtualBox I decided to uninstall qemu and virt-manager and all dependancies.

Unfortunately this hasnt worked and Im still getting the same error. SO I searched "how to disable KVM kernel extension"

I found instruction on how to temporarily disable them and how to permanently remove them.

It said to create a blacklist

sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-kvm.conf

and then add

blacklist kvm

blacklist kvm_amd

Surely there is a way to just remove these modules and wont this mean that VirtualBox also wont work?

🌐
GitHub
github.com › void-linux › void-packages › issues › 53855
VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension, since kernel 6.12 · Issue #53855 · void-linux/void-packages
January 5, 2025 - Please disable the KVM kernel extension, recompile your kernel and reboot (VERR_SVM_IN_USE) Boot your voidlinux and start a guest in VirtualBox .. the guest won't start and VBox reports VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension.
Author   return42
Top answer
1 of 3
16

In version 6.12 of the Linux kernel, kvm module initialisation was changed — it now takes place as soon as the modules are loaded, and not the first time they are used. This prevents VirtualBox from working, as you discovered. This is documented in the VirtualBox 7.1.4 release notes. Since your system was upgraded from 6.11 to 6.14, that explains the sudden appearance of the symptoms.

To return to the previous situation (where KVM modules can be loaded without preventing VirtualBox from working), you can add kvm.enable_virt_at_load=0 to the kernel boot parameters. If you’re using Grub on a Debian derivative, that’s done by adding the parameter to the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT= line in /etc/default/grub, then running sudo update-grub. After a reboot, this will allow VirtualBox to work, without preventing any other KVM-based tool from working either.

The other option is to disable the KVM modules entirely; this is safe, but will prevent any KVM-based tool from working. See cas’ answer for details.

2 of 3
8

Create (as root) a file called /etc/modprobe.d/kvm.conf with the following lines:

blacklist kvm
blacklist kvm-amd

Save it and run update-initramfs -u -k all (again, as root). If you use dracut or something else instead of initramfs you'll have to figure out the command to update it yourself (I've never used dracut)... or maybe someone here knows how and will mention it in a comment so I can update my answer.

To remove kvm and kvm-amd from the currently running kernel without needing to reboot, run:

modprobe -r kvm

You may also need to run modprobe -r kvm_amd but I think just kvm alone will be enough. If something is currently using the kvm modules (e.g. libvirt), you'll have to kill that before you'll be able to remove the modules.

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VirtualBox
forums.virtualbox.org › board index › general › virtualbox on windows hosts
[Solved] Error VERR_SVM_IN_USE - virtualbox.org
VGuillermo wrote:I have disabled the option, Configuration Settings->System->Acceleration->Virtualization HW: Enable VT-x/AMD-v That may help your current VMs because they have no need for VT-x/AMD-v, but if you install any 64-bit guest, this will be a problem.
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VirtualBox
forums.virtualbox.org › board index › general › virtualbox on windows hosts
[Resolved] Problem with virtualization, AMD-V is disabled in the BIOS - virtualbox.org
April 10, 2019 - Reason: Marked as [Resolved]. ... Joined: 22. Oct 2010, 11:03 ... Post by socratis » 10. Apr 2019, 21:03 · misonak wrote:AMD-V is disabled in the BIOS (or by the host OS) (VERR_SVM_DISABLED).You need to address the message; you need to go into your BIOS and enable hardware virtualization.
Find elsewhere
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Ubuntu Community Hub
discourse.ubuntu.com › support and help
VirtualBox AMD-V is being used by another hypervisor .. VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension - Support and Help - Ubuntu Community Hub
October 29, 2025 - Hello. Thanks for reading my topic. Here Ubuntu 24.04 kernel 6.14 and VirtualBox 7.2.4. Not is possible start any VM and is showed the message VirtualBox AMD-V is being used by another hypervisor … VirtualBox can’t enable the AMD-V extension. I need stop the KVM module.
Top answer
1 of 3
10

Starting with the Linux 6.12 kernel, the behavior of KVM kernel modules has changed.

They now accept virtualization directly upon module load; this procedure was integrated without prior discussion some time ago.

Since this modification, kernels initialize virtualization upon module load by default, which causes VirtualBox VMs to fail to start.

To avoid this, you need to add the following line to the command line of the kernel in use:

kvm.enable_virt_at_load=0

To do this, edit the /etc/default/grub file.

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Add kvm.enable_virt_at_load=0 to the line beginning with GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX

Alternatively, you can create a custom file named /etc/default/grub.d/custom.cfg with this content:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="$GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX kvm.enable_virt_at_load=0"

After saving the file with Ctrl + O and closing nano with Ctrl + X, run

sudo update-grub
sudo reboot
2 of 3
5

I found the answer. I had to run the following to unload the kvm_amd module.

sudo rmmod kvm_amd 2>/dev/null

I have no idea why this is true now, but once I ran that command then I was able to start the VirtualBox VM up with no problems.

QEMU

Well, maybe QEMU images run no matter what, because QEMU will still run even when the VirtualBox VM is running and with the kvm_amd module unloaded.

No idea why this module is running and interfering all of a sudden.

Docker

I could also still start my Docker (running MS SQL) without the kvm_amd module running.

Well, all my virtualization seems to be working now. If you run into this problem just unload your associated module

sudo rmmod kvm_amd 2>/dev/null
sudo rmmod kvm_intel 2>/dev/null
sudo rmmod kvm 2>/dev/null

Android Studio Device Emulator

I discovered, however, that for Android Studio device emulator (which I thought ran under QEMU) you will need the kvm loaded in again. (see error I saw when I tried to start the Android Emulator)

To load your KVM module again, you can just run:

sudo modprobe kvm_amd

When you return to Android Studio & try the emulator, it will now run.

I'll be writing scripts to quickly switch between the two.

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/fedora › virtualbox can't enable the amd-v extension. what changed?
r/Fedora on Reddit: VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension. What changed?
September 16, 2021 -

Hi all,

Some time ago I installed VirtualBox in Fedora 34 KDE. Now I want to use it again.

I'm getting this error: "VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension. Please disable the KVM kernel extension, recompile your kernel and reboot (VERR_SVM_IN_USE)."

What changed? Did I install something? Online documentation is telling me to change settings in Bios. Why? I did not change anything in Bios.

Thank you!

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VirtualBox
forums.virtualbox.org › board index › general › virtualbox on linux hosts
Kernel 6.12.4 breaks Virtualbox - virtualbox.org
With kernel 6.11.11 all ok. With the, as of today, new kernel 6.12.4 no VM will start anymore. There is a message of a supposed conflict between AMD-V and KVM which would require re-compiling the kernel. I am staying with 6.11.11 and de-installing 6.12.4 and blocking it in dnf.conf.
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Atetux
atetux.com › home › quick fix virtualbox can’t enable the amd-v extension
Quick Fix VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension - Atetux
January 7, 2025 - Please disable the KVM kernel extension, recompile your kernel and reboot (VERR_SVM_IN_USE)., that mean there are another kernel module that running, to check it use lsmod sudo lsmod | grep -E 'kvm|vbox' # output vboxnetadp […]
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GitHub
github.com › actions › runner-images › issues › 13202
Ubuntu 24.04 runner: VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension · Issue #13202 · actions/runner-images
October 21, 2025 - Description When running the same CI in runner version 20251013.424 compared to 20250912.392, we get the following error when running Vagrant via the VirtualBox provider: Stderr: VBoxManage: error: VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V exten...
Author   saschagrunert
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Linux Mint Forums
forums.linuxmint.com › board index › main edition support › virtual machines
[SOLVED] Virtualbox n 7.1.12 r169651 on Zara with 6.14 kernel won't start - Linux Mint Forums
September 4, 2025 - SOLVED: This error occurs because both VirtualBox and KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) are trying to use the same AMD-V hardware virtualization features, and they can't run simultaneously. Diagnosed as follows; ps aux | grep qemu ps aux | grep kvm lsmod | grep kvm The output showed that KVM ...
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openSUSE Forums
forums.opensuse.org › english › applications
VirtualBox no longer working after latest update - Applications - openSUSE Forums
December 28, 2024 - I’m in Tumbleweed Plasma X11 ... three… VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension. Please disable the KVM kernel extension, recompile your kernel and reboot (VERR_SVM_IN_USE)....
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/debian › unable to activate amd-v in bios to work with virtualbox
r/debian on Reddit: Unable to activate AMD-V in BIOS to work with VirtualBox
April 22, 2024 -

Old laptop needs to run a virtual machine (using VirtualBox) with Debian-12.5.0 for a uni project.

Error code is:

"Not in a hypervisor partition HVP= 0 (VERR_NEM_NOT_AVAILABLE) AMD-V is disabled in the BIOS (VERR_SVM_DISABLED)"

However, I am unable to make any changes in the BIOS. I've updated the BIOS and tried a few command lines in cmd with my IT professor but to no avail.

I've just replaced the CMOS battery but the BIOS is still not saving changes and I'm still getting the same error messages.

Laptop specs:

Windows10 Home

AMD A8-7050 Radeon R5

HP 812F mobo

DDR3 4GB RAM

Thank you in advance

🌐
VirtualBox
forums.virtualbox.org › board index › general › virtualbox on windows hosts
Enable Nested VT-X/AMD-V not working - virtualbox.org
January 26, 2023 - Launching Ubuntu... Installing, this may take a few minutes... WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x80370102 Please enable the Virtual Machine Platform Windows feature and ensure virtualization is enabled in the BIOS. I have the Nested VT-x/AMD-V checked.
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Arch Linux Forums
bbs.archlinux.org › viewtopic.php
[Solved] virtualbox 7.1.4 can't run on kernel 6.12 on an AMD machine / [testing] Repo Forum / Arch Linux Forums
Please disable the KVM kernel extension, recompile your kernel and reboot (VERR_SVM_IN_USE) downgrading to kernel 6.11.9.arch1-1 and virtualbox-host-modules 7.1.4-9 solved the issue. AMD-V is enabled in BIOS and no BIOS settings were changed at all.