COMMAND EVERYTHING.

Add-VMNetworkAdapter

Adds a virtual network adapter to a virtual machine.

Windows Server · Risk: High · Documentation Verified

Last verified: 2026-10-26

Microsoft Hyper-V reference: Adds a virtual network adapter to a virtual machine. The syntax and selected example below are adapted from the pinned Windows Server 2025 reference. Module availability, target configuration and delegated permissions determine whether it can run in your environment. Documentation and parameter text: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; formatting adapted by Cmdlet World. No execution testing is claimed.

Add-VMNetworkAdapter [-CimSession <CimSession[]>] [-ComputerName <String[]>] [-Credential <PSCredential[]>]
 [-VMName] <String[]> [-SwitchName <String>] [-IsLegacy <Boolean>] [-Name <String>] [-DynamicMacAddress]
 [-StaticMacAddress <String>] [-Passthru] [-ResourcePoolName <String>] [-DeviceNaming <OnOffState>] [-WhatIf]
 [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

Copied 0 times

Required permissions

Use an account with the target resource permissions documented for Add-VMNetworkAdapter. Modifying administrative cmdlets may require elevation or delegated administration. This catalog does not assert that ordinary users can execute the command.

Supported environments

Windows / Hyper-V · Windows Server 2025 documentation; feature/module prerequisites apply

Parameters

-CimSession: Runs the cmdlet in a remote session or on a remote computer. Enter a computer name or a session object, such as the output of a New-CimSession or Get-CimSession cmdlet. The default is the current session on the local computer.
-ComputerName: Specifies one or more Hyper-V hosts on which the virtual network adapter is to be added. NetBIOS names, IP addresses, and fully qualified domain names are allowable. The default is the local computer. Use localhost or a dot (.) to specify the local computer explicitly.
-Confirm: Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.
-Credential: Specifies one or more user accounts that have permission to perform this action. The default is the current user.
-DynamicMacAddress: Assigns a dynamically generated MAC address to the new virtual network adapter.
-IsLegacy: Specifies whether the virtual network adapter is the legacy type.
-ManagementOS: Specifies the management operating system.
-Name: Specifies a name for the new virtual network adapter. The default value is "Network Adapter."
-Passthru: Specifies that an object is to be passed through to be pipeline representing the network adapter to be added. If you specify -ManagementOS, the object passed is a Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.VMInternalNetworkAdapter; otherwise the object passed is a Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.VMNetworkAdapter.
-ResourcePoolName: Specifies the friendly name of a resource pool.
-StaticMacAddress: Assigns a specific MAC address to the new virtual network adapter.
-SwitchName: Specifies the name of the virtual switch to connect to the new network adapter. If the switch name is not unique, then the operation fails.
-VM (required): Specifies the virtual machine on which the network adapter is to be added.
-VMName (required): Specifies the name of the virtual machine on which the network adapter is to be added.
-WhatIf: Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

Prerequisites

Windows with the Hyper-V module and the Windows feature or management tools that provide it. Confirm target connectivity and version compatibility using the linked Microsoft reference.

Security considerations

This cmdlet changes system state. Review every target and parameter in the official reference, test outside production, and prepare an appropriate backup or rollback. Do not execute the example automatically.

Examples

Example 1

Add-VMNetworkAdapter -VMName Redmond -Name "Redmond NIC1"

This example adds a virtual network adapter named Redmond NIC1 to a virtual machine named Redmond. Source: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; transcript prompt/output removed. This example was not executed.

Sources

https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/windows-powershell-docs/blob/b7645dd8c687139b28e845119da30ec670526507/docset/winserver2025-ps/Hyper-V/Add-VMNetworkAdapter.md

https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/hyper-v/add-vmnetworkadapter?view=windowsserver2025-ps

Personal collections

Explain or customize this command with AI

Related commands

Add-CauClusterRole

Add-ClusterCheckpoint

Get-FsrmAdrSetting

Clear-HgsServer