Tuesday, September 9, 2025

How to Dual Boot Windows 11 with Windows 10 (Step-by-Step Guide)

 










How to Dual-Boot Windows 11 with Windows 10

Sometimes you need both Windows 10 and Windows 11 on the same PC for compatibility, testing, or gradual migration. The good news is: you can dual boot both systems easily.

Here’s a complete guide with all steps and solutions:

1. Prerequisites

✔️ A PC that supports Windows 10 and Windows 11
✔️ Minimum 64GB free disk space
✔️ Windows 11 ISO & bootable USB (use Rufus)
✔️ Backup your data before starting

2. Step 1: Create a New Partition for Windows 11

  1. Press Win + X → Disk Management.

  2. Right-click your main drive (C:) → Shrink Volume.

  3. Enter at least 64,000 MB (64GB) → click Shrink.

  4. You’ll see new Unallocated Space.

  5. Right-click it → New Simple Volume → assign a drive letter (e.g., D:) → format as NTFS.

✅ Now you have a partition ready for Windows 11.

3. Step 2: Create a Bootable USB for Windows 11

  1. Download Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft.

  2. Use Rufus to make a bootable USB.

  3. Plug the USB into your PC.

4. Step 3: Install Windows 11

  1. Restart your PC → boot from USB (press F12, F9, or ESC depending on your PC).

  2. Choose Install Windows 11.

  3. When asked where to install, select the new partition (D:).

  4. Continue installation → PC will restart multiple times.

✅ After installation, you’ll have both Windows 10 and 11 installed.

5. Step 4: Configure Boot Menu

  1. After installation, when your PC restarts, you’ll see a boot menu:

    • Windows 10

    • Windows 11

  2. Select the OS you want to run.

  3. To set a default OS:

    • Press Win + R → type msconfig → Enter.

    • Go to Boot tab → select OS → click Set as Default.

    • You can also adjust the timeout (seconds).

6. Step 5: Troubleshooting Dual Boot Issues

🔹 Issue: Windows 10 boots directly without showing menu

  • Go to msconfig → Boot tab → check if both OS are listed.

  • If not, run this command in CMD (Admin):

    bcdboot D:\Windows

    (Replace D: with your Windows 11 drive letter).

🔹 Issue: Error "This PC can’t run Windows 11"

  • Use TPM/Secure Boot Bypass Registry Hack (see Day 3 post).

🔹 Issue: Disk Partition not showing

  • Make sure the partition is formatted as NTFS.

Notes

  • Each OS will have its own programs; installing software on one won’t affect the other.

  • You can access files from both drives unless BitLocker encryption is enabled.

  • Keep enough storage for updates (minimum 64GB each).

🔑 Final Words

Dual booting Windows 11 with Windows 10 allows you to enjoy the new features of Windows 11 while keeping Windows 10 for compatibility. Follow the steps carefully, and you’ll have a smooth dual-boot system.