How to Dual Boot Windows 11 and Windows 10: Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve ever wondered how to install two operating systems on one machine, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, I’ll show you how to set up a dual boot Windows system for Windows 11 and Windows 10. Whether you’re using a virtual machine or a physical machine, this step-by-step process will help you switch between operating systems seamlessly.

What You Need to Get Started

• A machine running Windows 11 (virtual or physical).
• A Windows 10 ISO file.
• A partitioned hard drive with enough space for a second operating system.

Preparing Your Machine

To begin, right-click on the Start menu and select “Disk Manager.” In Disk Manager, you need to create a partition by shrinking your primary drive. For example, if your C drive is 200 GB, shrink it by 100 GB to allocate space for Windows 10. Right-click on the C drive, choose “Shrink Volume,” enter the desired size (in megabytes), and click “Shrink.” Once this process is complete, you will see 100 GB of unallocated space, which is now ready for the Windows 10 installation. This partitioning step is essential for setting up your dual boot Windows environment.

Installing Windows 10

To install Windows 10 and complete your dual boot Windows setup, first mount the Windows 10 ISO file. If you’re using a virtual machine, mount the ISO as a virtual CD/DVD drive. On a physical machine, burn the ISO file onto a bootable USB drive and restart your machine. Access the boot menu by pressing the appropriate key for your system (e.g., F1, F2, or F12) and select the correct boot device (CD/DVD or USB). Follow the installation steps, which include selecting your language and region, clicking “Next” and “Install,” and choosing “Custom: Install Windows only.” Finally, select the unallocated space you created earlier and click “Next” to start the installation process.

To continue with the setup, please view the YouTube video below: