Turn on virtualization for the Treecat agent

The Treecat agent runs a small, secure computer inside your PC to power your browser automations, and that needs a feature called virtualization to be switched on. On most computers it already is, and the Treecat app can turn on the rest for you. You only need to change a setting by hand when virtualization is switched off in your computer's BIOS.

Most of the time, Treecat fixes it for youCopy Anchor Link

If virtualization just needs to be switched on in Windows, the Treecat app shows an Enable & restart button.

1. Click Enable & restart.
2. Approve the Windows permission prompt.
3. Your PC restarts. After you sign back in, Treecat starts on its own. There is nothing else to do.

How do I check whether virtualization is on?Copy Anchor Link

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Performance tab and click CPU.
3. Look for Virtualization. If it says Enabled, your hardware is ready and Treecat can handle the rest.

If Treecat says virtualization is off in your BIOSCopy Anchor Link

Some computers ship with virtualization switched off at the hardware level, in a settings screen called the BIOS (or UEFI). No app can change this from inside Windows; it has to be turned on in that screen. It is a quick, safe, one-time change.

1. Open the BIOS. Restart the PC and, as it powers on, press the setup key repeatedly. It is usually Del, F2, F10 or Esc; the exact key depends on your PC maker and often flashes on screen for a second. On Windows you can also go to Settings → System → Recovery → Advanced startup → Restart now → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → UEFI Firmware Settings.
2. Find the setting. Look under Advanced, CPU Configuration or Security. It is called:
   • Intel processors: "Intel Virtualization Technology", "Intel VT-x" or "VMX"
   • AMD processors: "SVM Mode" or "AMD-V"
3. Turn it on. Change the value to Enabled, then choose Save & Exit (often the F10 key). The PC restarts.
4. Open Treecat. The agent starts automatically. You will not need to touch the BIOS again.

Special casesCopy Anchor Link

• Cloud or remote PC (VPS or virtual desktop): virtualization has to be allowed by your provider ("nested virtualization"). If it is not, the agent cannot run there. Use a regular Windows PC or Mac instead.
• Work computer managed by an IT department: the setting may be locked. Ask your IT team to enable virtualization (VT-x / SVM) in the BIOS.
• Mac: no setup needed. Treecat uses Apple's built-in virtualization automatically.

Still stuck?Copy Anchor Link

Treecat support is happy to walk you through it; it only takes a few minutes. Email [email protected] or book a call from the Help page in Treecat. See Get help from Treecat support.