If you want to be able to run both Ubuntu Linux and Windows 11 on your PC, one option is to implement a dual boot configuration. This will give you the best of both worlds by allowing you to boot into either Ubuntu or Windows 11 whenever you turn on your computer. Having access to both operating systems is a powerful option in which you can take advantage of both system’s abilities.
A dual boot system works by prompting you at startup to select which operating system you would like to load into. The two installations remain completely separate, and once loaded into one, the other can be accessed with a quick reboot. In this tutorial, we will go through the step by step instructions required to install Ubuntu alongside Windows 11. We will also go over other considerations such as drive partitioning, BitLocker, and other factors that are known to trip up some users.
NOTE
Another viable option for running both operating systems is to install Ubuntu inside of a virtual machine, rather than alongside Windows 11. The advantage is that you will not need to reboot whenever you want to load into the other operating system. The disadvantage is that the virtual machine can’t integrate quite the same way with the host hardware, and you will always encounter the performance overhead of running one operating system on top of another.
In this tutorial you will learn:
- How to install Ubuntu alongside Windows 11 in dual boot configuration
- How to load into Ubuntu or Windows 11 during system boot
| Category | Requirements, Conventions or Software Version Used |
|---|---|
| System | Windows 11, Ubuntu 24.04 |
| Software | N/A |
| Other | Privileged access to your Linux system as root or via the sudo command. |
| Conventions |
# – requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command$ – requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user |
Preliminary Considerations
Before getting started, let’s go over some considerations, recommendations, and questions that some readers may have.
Creating a bootable USB for installation
Most users will probably want to install Ubuntu via USB. To do so, you can download an Ubuntu ISO file from the official download page, and then use a program like Rufus to create a bootable USB drive.
Which operating system should I install first?
In this tutorial, we are assuming that Windows 11 is already installed and you want to install Ubuntu Linux as an additional operating system. But, the reverse is also possible. It does not matter which one is installed first, as both operating systems can be installed in addition to a pre-existing OS.
Is it safe to install Ubuntu alongside Windows?
Installing Ubuntu will not affect your Windows installation. The hard drive you are installing Ubuntu onto may need to be partitioned to make a separate space for the new OS, but your Windows install and files should be perfectly safe. However, data integrity can never be guaranteed on any system, so we recommend backing up all your important files before proceeding.
Is dual booting compatible with BitLocker?
Windows’ BitLocker will need to be disabled in order to configure a dual boot system. BitLocker encrypts the hard drive’s contents, including partitioning information, so Ubuntu will not be able to detect a pre-existing Windows installation or be able to safely create a separate partition.
UEFI vs. legacy BIOS
Windows 11 officially requires UEFI to be installed, although workarounds do exist. Ubuntu can be installed on both UEFI and legacy BIOS. For best results, it is recommended to only implement the dual boot configuration on UEFI (essentially all computers produced in 2012 or later utilize UEFI).
Do I need two hard drives for dual booting?
You only need one drive to install Ubuntu alongside Windows 11. If you have one drive, then each operating system will have its own partition. However, if you have two hard drive disks, installing one operating system on each drive is also possible, and the installation process is easy and remains mostly the same.
Dual Boot Windows 11 and Ubuntu
Now that you have your bootable Ubuntu USB drive handy and have checked off all the considerations above, we are ready to installing ubuntu alongside windows. Follow along with the step by step instructions below to configure the dual boot system:
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From now on, when you start your system, the GRUB loader will ask you which operating system you want to load into. You can make your selection by using the arrow keys and then press the Enter key to load into what you selected.
If you do not interact with the menu for a few seconds, the system will load into Ubuntu by default.
DID YOU KNOW?
You may edit the GRUB_DEFAULT option within the /etc/default/grub file if you would like your boot menu to select Windows by default, instead of Ubuntu.
Closing Thoughts
In this tutorial, we guided you through the step by step instructions of installing Ubuntu alongside Windows 11. Implementing a dual boot configuration is perfect for users that need to utilize both operating systems on the same computer. In some cases, it is not as convenient as virtualizing your extra OS install, but it offers many advantages, such as having direct access to the system hardware.