How To Dual Boot Fedora And Windows

Want the flexibility to run both Windows and Fedora on the same machine? Dual-booting is the way to go. This guide will show you exactly how to set it up—no nonsense, no jargon, just practical steps.

Why Dual Boot?

• Access both Windows-only and Linux-only apps
• Test or learn Fedora without giving up Windows
• Get the best of both worlds on one device

What You’ll Need

• A PC with Windows already installed
• A backup of your important files (seriously, back up now)
• At least 30 GB of free disk space
• A Fedora ISO (download here)
• A USB stick (at least 4GB)
• Rufus or BalenaEtcher (to create a bootable USB)

1. Back Up Everything

Mistakes happen. Save your data before you start. Use an external drive or cloud backup.

2. Create Free Space For Fedora

• Open Disk Management: Press Win + X and select Disk Management.
• Shrink Your Windows Partition: Right-click your main Windows partition (usually C:), choose “Shrink Volume.”
  • Shrink by at least 30 GB for Fedora.

Leave this space unallocated—don’t format it.

3. Create a Fedora Bootable USB

• Download the Fedora ISO.
• Open Rufus or BalenaEtcher.
• Plug in your USB stick.
• Select the Fedora ISO and your USB drive.
• Click “Start” and wait for it to finish.

4. Boot From USB

• Restart Your PC.
• Enter the boot menu: Usually F12, F10, or Esc during boot (watch for instructions on your screen).
• Select your USB drive.

5. Install Fedora Alongside Windows

• Choose “Install Fedora” when prompted.
• When you reach the installation type screen, select “Install alongside Windows Boot Manager.”
  • If you don’t see this option, choose “Custom” or “Manual partitioning.”
  • Select the free/unallocated space you created earlier for Fedora’s partitions.

Partition Setup (If Needed):

• / (root): 20+ GB, ext4
• swap: 2-4 GB
• /home: remaining space, ext4

Don’t touch the Windows partitions!

6. Follow The Installer Prompts

• Set your timezone, username, and password.
• Start the installation.
• Once finished, reboot your PC.

7. Choose Your OS At Startup

On restart, you’ll see the GRUB bootloader. Choose Fedora or Windows. Fedora usually boots by default, but you can pick Windows from the list.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Windows boots automatically: Enter BIOS/UEFI and set Fedora/GRUB as the primary boot option.
• No GRUB menu: Sometimes Secure Boot interferes. Disable Secure Boot in BIOS if Fedora doesn’t appear.
• Can’t find Windows: From Fedora, run sudo os-prober && sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg to add Windows to GRUB.

Final Thoughts

Dual-booting gives you real flexibility. If you want to remove Fedora later, just delete its partitions from Windows and restore the Windows bootloader using a recovery disk.

Want to try something new, break free from limitations, or just want more choice? Now you’ve got it.

Questions? Problems? Drop them in the comments—I’ll help if I can.

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!