在x86的CPU电脑架构中，虚拟86模式又称为虚拟-实模式，允许在保护模式操作系统的控制下运行实模式的进程。

它用来在微软Windows和OS/2中透过虚拟DOS机器来运行DOS进程，在SCO UNIX中透过Merge软件，以及在Linux中透过dosemu。

要注意的是"保护模式的DOS进程"，不管是16或32比特，并不是在虚拟86模式下运行，而是在一种用户模式（只要他们是DPMI兼容），所以上面所提的仿真器事实上所作事情更多，而不只是仅仅支持虚拟86模式。

In the 80386 microprocessor and later, virtual 8086 mode (also called virtual real mode, V86-mode or VM86) allows the execution of real mode applications that are incapable of running directly in protected mode while the processor is running a protected mode operating system. It is a hardware virtualization technique that allowed multiple 8086 processors to be emulated by the 386 chip; it emerged from the painful experiences with the 80286 protected mode, which by itself was not suitable enough to run concurrent MS-DOS applications well.