This article describes how to dual boot two Windows 11 in 5 easy steps while protecting your current OS and data well. Scroll down to learn more!
Yes, you can dual boot two separate installations of Windows 11 on the same computer, allowing you to run two distinct Windows 11 environments (e.g., for work and personal use, testing, or different configurations). This setup involves installing two Windows 11 instances on separate partitions or drives, with a boot manager to choose between them at startup. Here’s a simple overview of how it works:
To dual boot two Windows 11 installations on the same drive or two separate drives, you need to make enough preparations to ensure a smooth setup.
To dual boot two Windows 11, you can choose to install Windows 11 on the same drive or two separate drives, preferably using SSDs for optimal performance.
Installing Windows 11 on the same drive requires partitioning, with a slight risk of data loss if not done carefully. It’s suggested to create a disk image in Windows 11 first.
1. Download and install AOMEI Backupper Standard. Under the Backup tab, click Disk Backup.
2. Click "Select Source" to add the source disk. You can also set the task name to distinguish it from others.
3. Click the PC icon and select a destination (e.g., a new disk, USB, NAS, network share, etc) to store the disk image file.
4. At last, click Start Backup to backup disk in Windows 11.
Rufus is a free, reliable tool to create a bootable Windows 11 USB drive for installation, especially useful when you can’t upgrade to Windows 11. Be sure to prepare a USB drive with 8GB minimum (16GB recommended) and connect it to your computer as well.
1. On Microsoft’s Windows 11 download page, select Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) and save the ISO file, e.g., Win11_24H2_English_x64.
2. Download the latest version of Rufus. Open it and select your USB under Device.
3. Click Select under Boot selection and choose the Windows 11 ISO file. Confirm the settings and click Start > OK to create a Windows 11 installation USB.
To dual boot two Windows 11 installations on the same drive, it’s essential to create a second partition for the second installation- minimum 64GB, 100GB+ recommended. The built-in Disk Management tool can assist in creating a new partition.
1. Press Win + X, select Disk Management to access it. Right-click the partition (e.g., C:) with enough space, click Shrink Volume.
2. In the Shrink C: window, enter the size for the new partition (e.g., 100000 MB for ~100GB)and click Shrink. This creates “Unallocated” space.
3. Optionally, right-click the“Unallocated” space, select “New Simple Volume”. Then, follow the wizard to assign a drive letter (e.g., D:), format as NTFS, and label (e.g., “Win11_2”).
The drive is now ready for the second Windows 11 installation. If using two separate drives, skip shrinking and partitioning, just directly install Windows 11 on each drive separately.
With the installation USB and partition (or second drive) ready, you can get started to set up dual boot Windows 11 system.
1. Insert the Windows 11 USB into the computer where you want to dual boot Windows 11. Restart your computer and press the BIOS key, e.g., F2, Del, or Esc during boot to access the BIOS/UEFI settings window.
2. Go to the Boot tab and set USB as the first boot device. Be sure UEFI mode is enabled.
3. Save and reboot to install the second Windows 11. In the Windows Setup window, click Next > Install Now.
4. Click I don’t have a product key to skip it and accept the licensing terms. Then, select Windows 11 edition and click Next.
5. Select Custom as the installation type. Then, select the second partition or “Uallocated” space and click Next to install Windows 11.
After the first reboot, select your current Windows 11 to configure your settings. It will be automatically activated if you provide a product key during installation.
If not, you need to activate Windows 11 manually. Go to Settings > System > Activation and click Change next to Change product key. Enter a product key and click Next to make it.
By default, the boot manager will configure automatically during installation. However, you can customize the name, default option, timeout, etc., in the Command Prompt, with administrator privileges, to make it more convenient.
Type bcdedit to identify the setup information for each operating system. Then, enter the following commands as needed.
#1：Change the name: Select and right-click the identifier value and type bcdedit /set {current} description "Windows 11".
#2：Change default boot option: Right-click the identifier number of the default installation and type bcdedit /default {current} to set it as the original installation. You can also set the second installation as the default option.
#3：Change timeout setting: Type bcdedit /timeout 5 in the Command Prompt window. Here, 5 is 5 seconds. You can change it to longer or shorter.
With a Rufus-created USB, a new partition (or second drive), and careful installation, you can dual boot two Windows 11 systems. Just in case you want to restore to original status or avoid data loss, it’s crucial to create a disk backup in Windows 11. AOMEI Backupper Standard is a free backup software worth trying.
For better performance, it’s suggested to install Windows 11 on SSD, either on the same drive or a different drive. Disconnect the current system drive as well if you are installing Windows 11 on a second drive.