If you want to experience the latest features of Windows 11 while keeping your existing Windows 10 setup, dual-booting is an effective solution. This guide walks you through the process of installing Windows 11 alongside Windows 10.
Prerequisites
Before you start, ensure your PC meets the following requirements:
- Windows 10 Installed: Ensure your current operating system is functioning properly.
- Backup Important Data: Always back up your files to avoid data loss during the installation process.
- Windows 11 Installation Media: Download the Windows 11 ISO file from the official Microsoft website and create a bootable USB drive using tools like Rufus.
Step 1: Check System Requirements
Make sure your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11:
- Processor: 1 GHz or faster with at least two cores on a compatible 64-bit processor.
- RAM: 4 GB or more.
- Storage: 64 GB or larger storage device.
- TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
- Graphics Card: DirectX 12 compatible graphics / WDDM 2.x.
You can use the PC Health Check tool provided by Microsoft to verify compatibility.
Step 2: Create Space for Windows 11
Disk Management
- Open Disk Management:
- Right-click on the Start menu and select Disk Management.
- Shrink Volume:
- Right-click on your primary drive (usually C:) and choose Shrink Volume.
- Enter the amount of space to shrink (at least 20 GB is recommended) and click Shrink.
Create a New Partition
- Unallocated Space:
- After shrinking, you’ll see unallocated space. Right-click on it and select New Simple Volume.
- Follow the wizard to format the new partition, assigning it a drive letter.
Step 3: Prepare the Installation Media
Create Bootable USB
- Download Rufus: Get Rufus from its official website.
- Insert USB Drive: Connect a USB drive with at least 8 GB of storage.
- Open Rufus:
- Select the USB drive.
- Choose the Windows 11 ISO file you downloaded.
- Click Start to create the bootable USB drive.
Step 4: Install Windows 11
- Boot from USB:
- Restart your PC and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2, F12, or DEL during boot).
- Set the USB drive as the first boot device.
- Start Installation:
- Save changes and exit BIOS. Your PC should boot from the USB.
- Select your language and preferences, then click Next.
- Install Now:
- Click on Install Now and accept the license terms.
- Select Custom Installation:
- Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
- Select the new partition you created for Windows 11 and click Next.
- Complete Installation:
- Follow the prompts to complete the installation. Your PC will restart several times during this process.
Step 5: Choose Between Windows Versions
After installation, your PC will display a boot menu when you start it up, allowing you to choose between Windows 10 and Windows 11.
