How to create a dual boot setup on Windows 11

On Windows 11, you can make a double boot arrangement to freely run at least two working frameworks. This arrangement proves to be useful to run more established discharges (like Windows 10, 8.1, or 7), permitting you to utilize applications that are contradictory to the ongoing variant. You can introduce reviews of more up-to-date adaptations of Windows 11 to test new highlights without influencing your current establishment. Or then again you can introduce working frameworks from different stages, like Linux.

In spite of the fact that you can likewise utilize virtualization, a double boot framework will have full admittance to the equipment for better execution and experience.

How to create a dual boot setup on Windows 11. In the ideal situation, you could utilize one more PC to run an alternate working framework. In any case, a double boot arrangement is a feasible answer for running Windows 11 close-by Insider review works for the Dev, Beta, Delivery See Channels, or another rendition.

Table of Contents

How to create a dual boot setup on Windows 11:-

The most common way of setting up a double boot framework includes a couple of moves toward ensuring that everything goes without a hitch and is designed accurately. The primary thing you want to do is to make a reinforcement on the off chance that something occurs and you really want to move back. Then you really want to set up the framework and make a USB bootable media. Then, at that point, you need to go through the Windows establishment process and design the boot supervisor.

Create temporary backup

The backup is not a requirement, but it’s a good idea since you will modify the current installation.

To create a temporary backup of Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Start
Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the app.
Click on System and Security.
Click on Backup and Restore.

How to create a dual boot setup on Windows 11

Click the Create a system image option from the left pane.

Select the drive to save the full backup.
Click the Next button.

Select additional drives to include the in backup (if applicable).
Click the Start backup button.
Click the No button.
Click the Close button

Once you complete the steps, a backup of the current state of the computer will be created.

Create installation media

You can make a double boot arrangement with practically any working framework (barring macOS), like a past variant of Windows or any Linux conveyance. In this aid, we’re deciding to set up a second establishment of Windows 11 accessible through the Dev Channel, which permits you to test impending highlights without undermining your ongoing establishment and documents. How to create a dual boot setup on Windows 11.

Download ISO file

To download the latest preview of Windows 11, use these steps:

Open the Windows Insider Preview Downloads page.
Sign in with your Microsoft account.
Select the edition of Windows 11 in the Dev Channel.
Click the Confirm button.
Select the installation language.
Click the Confirm button.

Click the 64-bit Download button.

After you complete the steps, you can proceed to create the installation media with Rufus.

Create bootable media

To create a bootable media of Windows 11, connect a USB flash drive with at least 8GB of storage, and use these steps:

Open the Rufus download page.
Under the “Download” section, click the link to save the latest release on your device.

Double-click the Rufus-x.xx.exe file to launch the tool.
Under the “Device” section, select the flash drive to create the USB media.
Click the Select button.
Select the Windows ISO file.
Click the Open button.
(Optional) Under the “Volume label” section, confirm a name for the USB flash drive.
Click the Start button

Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the USB installation media will be created.

Shrink partition for a new setup

Setting up a double boot framework in a similar segment on the ongoing establishment of Windows is unthinkable. Accordingly, you should shrivel the current parcel to make unallocated space to design the establishment. Be that as it may, assuming you have a second hard drive, you can keep the parcel design something similar and utilize the other drive for the establishment.

To shrink the system partition on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for “Create and format hard disk” and select the top result to open the Disk Management app.
Right-click the partition and select the Shrink Volume option.

Confirm the amount to shrink.

Quick note: Windows 11 requires at least 64GB of space. We’re selecting 71680MB for this guide, which translates to 70GB of space.

Click the Shrink button.

After you complete the steps, the partition of the current setup will be reduced by the number of megabytes you specified.

Change boot order

Before installing the Windows 11 Insider Preview build on your computer using a dual-boot setup, you must make sure you can boot from the USB flash drive.

To change the boot order on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click the Recovery page on the right side.

Under the “Recovery options” sections, click the Restart now button in the “Advanced startup” setting.

Click the Restart now button again.
Click on Troubleshoot.
Click on Advanced options.
Click the UEFI Firmware Settings option.

Click the Restart button.
Open the boot settings page.
Select the option to start the computer from the USB bootable media.

Save the changes.

Once you complete the steps, the computer should be able to start from the Windows 11 USB boot media.

Clean install of Windows 11

To create a dual-boot system with another Windows installation, use these steps:

Connect the bootable USB flash drive.
Power on the computer.
Press any key to boot to the Windows Setup wizard.
Select language and keyboard settings, and click the Next button.

Click the Install Now button.

Confirm the product key that activates the version of Windows. Or click the “I don’t have a product key” to skip the activation temporarily.

Choose the edition of Windows to install that matches the product key activation.
Click the Next button.

Accept the licensing terms.
Click the Next button.
Select the “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)” option.

Choose the shrunk “Unallocated Space” on the drive.

Caution: Choosing the right space is vital. Any other way, you could wind up eradicating the other establishment or the stockpiling you use for documents. ( How to create a dual boot setup on Windows 11).

Click the Next button.
After the first reboot, select the first instance of the operating system to continue the installation.

Select your language.
Click the Yes button.

Select the keyboard layout.
Click the Yes button.

Click the Skip button.
Click the Skip for now option.

Select the “Set up for personal use” option (if applicable).
Click the Next button.

Click the Sign in button.

Confirm your Microsoft account credentials.
Click the Next button.

Click on “View more options.”

Choose the “Set up as new device” option.
Click the Next button.

Click the Create PIN button.
Configure the PIN.
Click the OK button.

Choose your privacy settings.
Click the Next button.
Click the Next button again.
Click the Accept button.

Click the Skip button for the experience customization feature.
Click the Skip button again for the Android feature.
Click the “Only save files to this PC” option to skip the OneDrive file backup

Click the Decline button to skip the Microsoft 365 offer.
Click the Skip, for now, button to skip the Game Pass offer.

Once you complete the steps, the new setup of Windows will be completed.

Activate new installation

After the installation, the arrangement will naturally enact on the off chance that you give an item key during the establishment. If not, you should initiate it physically.

To check and activate Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click the Activation page on the right side.

Click the Change button in the “Change product key” setting.

Confirm the product key that activates the new setup.
Click the Next button.

After you complete the steps, the new installation will activate automatically.

On the off chance that you utilize an openly accessible ISO record with the see of Windows, the gadget will sign up for the Insider program naturally. Any other way, you should select physically.

To enroll in the Windows Insider Program, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Windows Insider Program page on the right side.

Click the Get started button.

Click the “Link an account” button.
Select your account.
Click the Continue button.

Select the Insider channel, for example, the Dev Channel.

Click the Continue button.
Click the Continue button again.
Click the Restart button.

Once you complete the steps, when a new preview is available in the Dev Channel, it will download and install automatically.

You can always check manually on Settings > Windows Update and click the Check for updates button.

Customize boot manager

The boot supervisor will design consequently during the subsequent establishment process. Nonetheless, you can continuously tweak the settings. For instance, you can change the name of the choice during startup, so they are clear to recognize. You can choose which of the establishment is the default, and you can change the default break, so you don’t need to stand by a portion of a moment to auto-select the choice to begin the working framework.

Change setup name

To change the installation name in the boot manager, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to identify the setup information for each operating system and press Enter: bcdedit

Confirm the new installation entry.

Quick note: If you haven’t modified the default settings, the “Identifier” should read “{default}.”

Select and right-click the “Identifier” value.
Type the following command to change the installation identifier in the boot manager and press Enter: bcdedit /set {current} description “NAME”

For example, this command sets the name to “Insider”: bcdedit /set {current} description “Windows 11”

After you complete the steps, the boot manager will list the operating systems with the names you specified.

On the off chance that you’re signed on in the first establishment, the identifier will peruse “default” for the subsequent establishment and “current” for the main arrangement. On the off chance that you’re signed on in the subsequent establishment, the identifier will peruse “current” for the subsequent establishment and a long exceptional GUID an incentive for the main establishment. To make things less confounding, playing out the progressions from the first setup is ideal.

Change default boot

To specify which installation the boot manager will start if you don’t choose an option, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to identify the setup information for each operating system and press Enter: bcdedit

Confirm the identifier for the installation you want to make the default.
Select and right-click the “identifier” number.
Type the following command to change the default installation in the boot manager and press Enter: bcdedit /default {identifier}

For example, this command sets the default to the original installation: bcdedit /default {current}

Once you complete the steps, the new default will be added to the list.

Change timeout setting

To change the amount of time the boot manager waits before starting the default operating system, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to lower or increase the timeout setting and press Enter: bcdedit /timeout 5