How to Dual-Boot Windows 11 and Linux Ubuntu on your PC

Step 1: Preparation

Before installing dual boot, you’ll need to download the installation images for Windows 11 and Linux Ubuntu. Make sure to get the version that matches your processor’s architecture. To check this, right-click the Start button and select “System.” Look for “System type” to see if your processor is 32-bit or 64-bit.

You’ll also need to create bootable media for each operating system. For Windows 11, use the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft. Download it on a Windows PC, run the file, and follow the on-screen instructions to create a bootable USB drive. For Linux Ubuntu, use balenaEtcher, which works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Download balenaEtcher on your preferred OS, run the file, and follow the prompts to create a bootable USB drive.

Step 2: Configuring the BIOS

Before you start the dual boot installation, you’ll need to set up your computer’s BIOS to boot from the USB drive. Restart your computer and press the BIOS access key (usually F2, F10, or Delete—check your motherboard or laptop manufacturer’s website for the exact key). Then, go to the boot settings and set the USB drive as the primary boot device.

Make sure to save your changes before exiting the BIOS.

Step 3: Installing Windows 11

Insert the Windows 11 USB drive and boot up your computer. On the startup screen, select your language and keyboard options. Click “Install now” and follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 11. When prompted, choose the partition where Windows 11 will be installed. Select “Custom” and create a new partition for Windows 11. Be careful not to delete any existing partitions, as this could harm your current system.

Here are some tips for creating partitions correctly:

• To create a new partition, click “New” and specify the size. We recommend allocating at least 30 GB for Windows 11 and 50 GB for Ubuntu, but you can adjust these sizes as needed.
• Ensure you select the correct partition before clicking “New.”
• Set the partition type to “Primary” and format it as “NTFS.”
• Do not delete the existing system partition.

After creating the partition, select it and click “Next” to continue with the installation.

Step 4: Installing Linux Ubuntu

After installing Windows 11, restart your computer and insert the Ubuntu USB drive. On the startup screen, select your language and click “Install Ubuntu.” Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the installation. When prompted to choose a partition for Ubuntu, select the “Something else” option for custom installation.

Here’s how to set up the partitions correctly:

• Select the partition created earlier for Ubuntu and click “Edit.”
• Set the partition type to “Primary” and format it as “Ext4.”
• Set the mount point to “/” to install Ubuntu on the root of this partition.
• Be careful not to select the Windows 11 partition.

After configuring the partition options, click “Install Now” to continue.

Additionally, you will need to create a swap partition, which acts as virtual memory. If you have at least 4 GB of RAM, create a swap partition of the same size. If you have less RAM, make the swap partition half the size of your RAM. Make sure to select the correct partition for swap.

Step 5: Configuring GRUB

After installing Ubuntu, restart your computer, and you should be greeted by the GRUB bootloader, which lets you choose your operating system. If GRUB doesn’t appear, try holding the Shift key during startup. If that doesn’t work, you may need to configure GRUB manually.

To manually configure GRUB, start Ubuntu and open the Terminal. Enter the following command to edit the GRUB configuration file:

In the Nano text editor, find the line starting with GRUB_TIMEOUT= and set it to the number of seconds you want GRUB to wait before booting the default OS. For example, to set a 10-second delay, update the line to:

Also, enable the GRUB menu to choose the OS manually by locating the line starting with GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT= and commenting on it out by adding a # at the beginning:

Save the changes with Ctrl+O and exit with Ctrl+X. Update GRUB with:

This updates GRUB and detects the installed operating systems. Upon reboot, GRUB should appear, allowing you to select between Windows 11 and Ubuntu.

Step 6: Testing the Dual Boot

After setting up GRUB, restart your computer and test the dual boot. You should see GRUB and be able to choose between Windows 11 and Ubuntu. Select your desired OS and boot into it.

If you encounter issues with GRUB or booting into one of the operating systems, you can use a recovery tool like Boot-Repair. Create a bootable USB with Boot-Repair, start your computer from it, and follow the on-screen instructions to fix boot issues.

Conclusion – Dual Boot on Windows and Ubuntu Can Be a Simple Task

This guide walked you through setting up a dual boot of Windows 11 and Ubuntu. Remember to back up your system before you begin and follow the steps carefully to avoid data loss or system damage. Once set up, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of both operating systems on one computer.