How to dual-boot Windows 11 & Linux on your computer

Microsoft plans to release Windows 11 in the second half of this year. It looks significantly better than Windows 10. It features a new visual design that is more consistent and appealing and some notable new features such as support for Android apps. It’s not the best choice for every task or preference, however. What if Linux is your preferred operating System, or do you need it to perform specific tasks? This guide will show you how to set your computer up so that you can either dual-boot into Windows 11 or Linux whenever you like.

Since most people have Windows already installed on their PCs, we assume you have it. To create a partition on your computer and install Linux there, we’ll show you how to do it. To follow the steps, you will need a Windows 10 or 11 PC. A USB flash drive (8GB) is required for the installation of media. You also need another storage method to backup your data in case something goes wrong.

If you are running Windows 10, the first thing you should do is upgrade to Windows 11. This should be done before you install Linux.

Windows 11 is still in development and may be unstable. Follow the Windows 11 update tracker to see the most recent updates. Make sure that your computer is compatible with Windows 11. After that, you can install Linux for dual-booting.

Creating Linux installation media

You will first need a USB drive to install Linux. Turn your flash drive into installation media. It is important to erase all data and back up any files you may need. Here are the steps:

1. Download the Linux distribution (distro) you wish to use. There are many Linux distributions out there. For this guide, we will be using Ubuntu 21. You should find the exact steps or something similar regardless of whether you are using another distro. After you have completed the download, you will receive a file with the ISO extension.
2. Next, you will need a tool to create bootable USB drives using ISO files. Rufus is available for this purpose.
3. Rufus will prompt you to insert the flash drive that you wish to use for installation media. Click SELECT to select the ISO file that you have downloaded. All options will be filled automatically.
4. Next, click START and then OK at the prompt. Once the process is complete, you will have created Linux installation media.

Create a partition for dual-boot Linux

Next, create a second partition for Linux on your hard drive. Partitions can be described as virtual partitions on a hard disk that is labeled as separate disks. Although partitions aren’t intended for general use, they can be used for dual-booting. We will Show how to make one.

1. Right-click the Start menu icon or press Windows key +X on your keyboard and select Disk Management. A list of all your partitions and drives will appear. You should ignore the smaller partitions, which are usually only a few MB. These are system partitions that Windows needs to function correctly. They’re not to be altered. The largest partition is the most important.
2. You will need to shrink the existing partition before you can create a new one. Right-click on your primary partition and select Shrink Volume…
3. You can specify the space that you wish to be removed from the partition. The files on the partition will limit storage. The amount that you put in will determine how much space you have available for your Linux installation. It will need at least a few gigabytes to work correctly or multiply by 1024 for MB. Make sure that you have enough space in both your Windows and Linux partitions. The space you choose will be taken from your partition and listed as unallocated in the Disk Management window. You can leave it as-is and close the window.

Dual-booting Linux with Windows 11

Now you are ready to install Linux on the empty partition. After removing the USB media from your computer, insert it again (remove any flash drives) and follow these steps.

1. Click the Start menu, then click on the power button. Hold Shift while you type. Click Restart. Alternatively, you can open the Settings app, go to System (in Windows 11) or Update & Security(in Windows 10), and choose Recovery. Next to Advanced startup, click Restart Now.
2. A series of boot options will be presented to you. Select Use a device and then select the USB flash drive that you have inserted. Your computer will then boot from it.
3. You’ll now be in the Ubuntu boot menu. Press Enter to boot into Ubuntu.
4. Ubuntu and other Linux operating systems let you try it out by booting from the USB drive and without installing it. To install Linux on your empty partition, click Install Ubuntu.
5. You can follow the setup process by selecting your keyboard layout and connecting to Wi-Fi (optionally). You can choose your preferred options up until you reach this page. This will install Ubuntu on the space that you have not allocated before. It will also keep your Windows installation intact.
6. It’s pretty straightforward from here. The installation will start when you choose your region and create your Ubuntu profile. After it is done, you can boot into Ubuntu from your USB flash drive.

Switching between Windows 11 or Linux

You should have the option to start Linux immediately after it is installed on your computer. However, this might not be possible. You’ll always boot into Windows if your Windows partition has been set to priority in your BIOS. You may not have to change anything because the behavior of your computer will vary.

Here’s how to get out of Windows 11 if you are stuck.

1. Next to Advanced startup, open the Settings app—click Recovery.
2. Click Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Choose UEFI Firmware settings.
3. This will open your computer’s BIOS/UEFI settings. To open the BIOS setup, you may be required to use one of the function keys. The process may vary depending on the type of PC you use. We are looking into options for booting. This is the HP laptop that we are using. The System Configuration tab contains Boot options.
4. Select the option related to boot order (UEFIboot Order) and ensure the Linux drive is at the top of the Windows drive. Select the OS Boot Manager option and then use the F5/F6 keys for Ubuntu to be moved to the top. Although the process will vary depending on laptops, the principle should be the same for all devices.
5. This is how you can simultaneously boot Windows 11 and Linux. Dual-booting may not be the best way to have two operating systems that you use regularly, but it is possible. You will need to find a way for files to be transferred between the two operating systems using either a flash drive or cloud storage. You can’t copy and paste files between the OS’s, as each OS cannot access the other’s boot drives.
6. You can use Disk Management to delete any partitions you have created and to expand your primary partition. You can also use G Parted Linux to delete the Windows partition. Either way, back up your data before you do that.