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Yes. Linux Mint can share a computer with Windows 10 or Windows 11 in a dual-boot configuration. Install Windows first when possible, then install Mint in the same firmware mode (normally UEFI). Mint can detect the existing Windows installation and add both systems to a startup menu. Before changing partitions or boot files, make a separate backup, save any BitLocker recovery key, and confirm how your computer handles Secure Boot.
What dual boot means
A dual-boot computer has Windows and Linux Mint installed on separate partitions (or separate drives). At startup, a boot manager presents a choice; you select Mint or Windows, and only that operating system runs until the next restart. Your Windows files and applications remain available when you boot Windows, while Mint uses its own Linux filesystem and software environment.
This is different from running Mint in a virtual machine. A virtual machine keeps both systems active at once but shares memory and processor resources. Dual boot gives the selected system direct access to the hardware, but switching systems requires a reboot and partition or bootloader changes require care.
Why the installation order matters
Windows can replace the firmware boot entry or bootloader during installation or some major repairs. Linux Mint is designed to detect other operating systems and build a menu for them, so the more reliable order is:
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- Install and update Windows first.
- Leave free, unallocated disk space for Mint.
- Install Mint after Windows is working.
Mint’s installation guidance specifically recommends Windows first for dual-boot and multi-boot systems. If Mint is already installed and you add Windows later, Windows may boot directly and hide Mint until the boot configuration is repaired.
Check these conditions before changing the disk
Back up files and recovery information
Copy Windows documents and other irreplaceable data to storage that is not being repartitioned. A backup drive is preparation, not a Mint requirement, but it is the practical safeguard against a mistaken partition selection, interrupted update, or failed boot repair. Test that important files can actually be opened from the backup.
If BitLocker or Windows device encryption is enabled, record the recovery key before resizing a partition or changing firmware settings. A firmware or bootloader change can cause Windows to request that key at the next start. Keep the key somewhere accessible even if Windows currently unlocks automatically.
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Windows and Mint should be installed in the same mode. On modern computers this is usually UEFI; older installations may use legacy BIOS/CSM. Booting the Mint USB in a different mode from Windows can produce missing boot entries or an installation that the firmware cannot start. In the firmware’s one-time boot menu, choose the USB entry identified as UEFI when the existing Windows installation is UEFI.
Check encryption and Secure Boot
Microsoft explains that BitLocker uses a separate partition for pre-startup authentication and system-integrity verification, rather than placing those functions inside the encrypted Windows volume. Do not delete or format the small EFI, Microsoft-reserved, recovery, or other vendor partitions merely because they do not contain personal files.
Secure Boot is a firmware policy, not a disk partition. Mint may work with it enabled, but some hardware or third-party driver combinations can report a Secure Boot Violation. Mint documents two responses: reinstall while connected to the internet and leave the installer’s third-party graphics, Wi-Fi, and media-codec options unchecked, or disable Secure Boot in firmware. Disabling it changes the computer’s firmware security policy, so treat that as a deliberate compatibility choice rather than a routine first step.
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How much disk space Mint needs
The Mint installation guide states that the operating system without additional software or personal data uses roughly 15 GB. It advises giving the root partition 100 GB or more for a comfortable installation. That recommendation leaves room for updates, applications, caches, and personal Linux data; it is not a minimum boot requirement.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems| Disk area | Purpose | Planning guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Windows volume | Windows, its applications, updates, and Windows files | Keep enough free space for Windows updates and normal use; shrink it from Windows rather than deleting it. |
| EFI System Partition | UEFI boot files for Windows and Mint | Preserve the existing partition. Do not format it during a normal alongside-Windows installation. |
Mint root (/) |
Mint system, installed Linux applications, and system data | Ext4 is recommended. Mint documents roughly 15 GB for the base system and recommends 100 GB or more for a comfortable root partition. |
| Swap | Swap space when RAM is exhausted and support for hibernation when configured | Useful, but the exact size depends on RAM and whether you intend to hibernate. The guide describes it as a safety buffer and a hibernation aid. |
| Unallocated space | Space from which Mint partitions can be created | Create it by shrinking Windows; leave Windows recovery and EFI partitions intact. |
There is no universal “correct” total size: a machine used mainly for browsing can allocate less than one used for development, media, or large datasets. The 100 GB recommendation is the comfortable target stated by Mint, while the approximately 15 GB figure describes the base system alone.
Same disk or separate disk?
| Layout | Advantages | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Both systems on one disk | Uses the existing computer, shares one EFI boot arrangement, and is convenient for a laptop with one internal drive. | Partition mistakes affect both systems, and a disk failure affects both installations. |
| Windows and Mint on separate disks | Greater isolation and easier physical rollback: disconnecting one disk can leave the other untouched during troubleshooting. | Requires an additional drive and careful firmware boot-order management; the boot files may still be placed on whichever EFI partition the installer selects. |
Neither layout removes the need for backups. Separate disks reduce some partitioning risk but do not protect against theft, electrical failure, or deleting the wrong boot entry.
Step-by-step: install Mint next to Windows
1. Prepare Windows
- Install pending Windows updates and restart normally.
- Back up personal files to separate storage.
- Save the BitLocker or device-encryption recovery key if encryption is enabled. In Windows, TPM and device-security details are available through Windows Security; the exact labels can vary by Windows edition and manufacturer.
- Open Windows’ disk-management tool, identify the Windows partition, and use its shrink operation to create unallocated space.
- Do not delete or format the EFI System Partition, Windows recovery partitions, Microsoft-reserved partitions, or manufacturer recovery partitions.
Shrink only the Windows volume and let Windows complete the operation before rebooting. If Windows reports that the volume cannot be shrunk as far as expected, leave more space allocated to Windows rather than forcing a destructive change.
2. Create Mint installation media
- Download the Linux Mint ISO from the official Mint project download path.
- Use a USB flash drive to write the ISO as bootable media. The writing process erases that USB drive, so verify that it contains no needed files.
- Keep the USB available as live recovery media after installation; it can also be used to inspect partitions and repair the boot menu.
3. Boot the USB in the correct mode
- Restart the computer and open its one-time boot menu (the key differs by manufacturer).
- Select the USB entry marked UEFI when Windows was installed in UEFI mode. Do not switch the machine to legacy/CSM merely because the USB appears twice.
- Start the Mint live session and confirm that the keyboard, display, network, and storage are visible before launching the installer.
4. Choose the partitioning option
When the installer correctly identifies Windows and the unallocated space, choose the option to install Mint alongside Windows. This lets the installer create the Linux layout while preserving the detected Windows installation.
Select Something else only when you understand the partition table and can identify each device by size and filesystem. In a manual layout:
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- Create or select a Linux partition mounted at
/. - Use ext4 for the root filesystem unless you have a specific, documented reason to choose another filesystem.
- Allocate the root partition with the available workload in mind; Mint recommends 100 GB or more for a comfortable installation.
- Use swap if you need hibernation or want a safety buffer when physical RAM is exhausted.
- Keep the existing EFI System Partition and select it as the EFI location without formatting it.
Read the installer’s final disk summary carefully. The summary should show Mint using the intended unallocated space and should not show the Windows, EFI, or recovery partitions being formatted.
5. Finish and test the menu
- Complete the installation and restart when prompted.
- Remove the USB when the computer begins to reboot, unless you need to return to the live session.
- The Mint/GRUB menu should list Linux Mint and Windows. Start each system once and confirm that its files and normal applications are present.
Major Windows updates can alter boot settings later, so keep the Mint USB and recovery information available even after a successful installation.
What to do if the computer boots straight into Windows
A direct Windows boot does not necessarily mean Mint was erased. The firmware may simply be choosing Windows’ EFI entry first. Start with the least invasive checks:
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Check firmware boot order
Enter the firmware setup or one-time boot menu and look for a Linux Mint entry. Put it ahead of Windows Boot Manager in the persistent boot order, save, and restart. A one-time USB or Linux selection is useful for testing; a persistent order is needed for the normal menu to appear every time.
Inspect entries from a Mint live session
Boot the Mint USB in the same UEFI mode used for installation. In the live session, use lsblk to identify the Mint and EFI partitions by their sizes and filesystems. Device names are machine-specific; never copy a device name from another computer.
Mint’s EFI troubleshooting guidance uses efibootmgr to list firmware entries. After identifying the entry numbers on your computer, the documented form for setting the order is:
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sudo efibootmgr
sudo efibootmgr --bootorder XXXX,YYYYReplace XXXX and YYYY with the actual entry numbers shown on your system, placing the Mint entry first and the Windows entry second. Mint uses ubuntu as its EFI boot name for technical reasons, so that label can appear even though the installed operating system is Linux Mint.
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Reinstall the Mint boot menu only after identifying the right partitions
If the Mint EFI files or GRUB menu are missing, the Mint guide’s recovery path is to boot live mode, identify the Mint partition with lsblk, mount that installation and its EFI partition, and reinstall the boot menu. The exact device paths depend on your disk layout. Substitute the names reported by your machine; using a guessed path can write boot files to the wrong disk. If you cannot distinguish the EFI, Windows, and Mint partitions, stop and obtain device-specific help rather than experimenting.
BitLocker, TPM, and Windows recovery prompts
BitLocker protects the Windows volume but does not make dual boot impossible. Its presence changes the consequences of boot and partition changes. Microsoft states that two partitions are required because pre-startup authentication and system-integrity verification must be separate from the encrypted operating-system drive.
- Save the recovery key before installation, firmware changes, or bootloader repair.
- Do not format the small partitions used by Windows for EFI boot files, recovery, or BitLocker-related startup functions.
- Expect Windows to request the recovery key if its measured boot state changes.
- If the key is unavailable, do not proceed with partition or firmware changes that could make the Windows volume inaccessible.
The TPM records platform state used by Windows security features. Its status is visible in Windows Security under device-security details, but the exact wording varies by edition and hardware. Record the recovery information rather than assuming TPM or BitLocker will silently accommodate every bootloader change.
Secure Boot: keep it or turn it off?
| Choice | When it makes sense | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Keep Secure Boot enabled | You want the existing firmware security policy and Mint starts without a violation. | Third-party graphics, Wi-Fi, or media software selected during installation can contribute to compatibility problems on some hardware. |
| Disable Secure Boot | Mint reports a Secure Boot Violation and the documented connected-installation path does not resolve it. | Disabling it changes firmware protection. Record the original setting so you can restore it, and be prepared for Windows to request its BitLocker recovery key after firmware changes. |
There is no single setting that is correct for every model. Follow the firmware manufacturer’s menu labels and Mint’s current EFI instructions for the release you are installing.
Common failure modes and fixes
The installer does not offer “install alongside Windows”
- Confirm that Windows is actually installed and that its partition is visible in the live session.
- Check that the USB and Windows were booted in the same UEFI or legacy mode.
- Make sure Windows was fully shut down rather than left in a hibernated or fast-start state; do not force a Linux write to a Windows volume that Windows has left locked.
- If encryption or an unusual storage controller hides the layout, stop before selecting manual partitions and verify the manufacturer’s storage and firmware settings.
Mint starts, but Windows is missing from the menu
Boot Mint and check that the Windows partition and EFI partition are still present. If the firmware entry exists but the menu is stale, refresh or repair the Mint boot configuration using the current Mint troubleshooting procedure. Do not delete Windows partitions to “fix” a missing menu entry.
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Inspect the persistent UEFI order rather than relying only on the one-time boot key. Use sudo efibootmgr from a Mint live session to see the entries and set the order with the actual numbers reported by that computer.
A Secure Boot Violation appears
Use Mint’s documented reinstall path while connected to the internet and leave third-party graphics, Wi-Fi, and media options unchecked. If the violation persists, disable Secure Boot in firmware only after saving the BitLocker recovery key and understanding the security trade-off.
The machine asks for a BitLocker recovery key
Enter the saved key and allow Windows to start. This prompt can follow a legitimate boot-order or firmware change because BitLocker checks startup integrity. If you do not have the key, avoid repeated partition or firmware experiments and recover the key through the Microsoft account or organizational recovery process associated with that Windows installation.
Choosing between automatic and manual partitioning
| Installer approach | Best for | Risk profile |
|---|---|---|
| Install alongside Windows | Most users whose Windows installation and free space are correctly detected. | Lower selection risk because the installer handles the normal layout, but the final disk summary still needs review. |
| Something else | Experienced users who need a specific root, swap, or multi-drive arrangement and can identify EFI and Windows partitions. | More control and more opportunity to format the wrong partition or place boot files on an unintended disk. |
Automatic partitioning is not a substitute for a backup. Manual partitioning is not inherently better; it is appropriate only when the extra control solves a real layout requirement.
Daily use after installation
- Choose an operating system from the Mint/GRUB menu at startup. Set the default in Mint’s boot settings only after both entries have been tested.
- Restart when moving between systems; dual boot does not merge running sessions or application installations.
- Keep personal files in a backed-up location. A file visible from both systems is not automatically protected from deletion or filesystem damage.
- Leave adequate free space on both the Windows volume and Mint’s root partition so updates can complete.
- Retain the Mint USB, Windows recovery options, and BitLocker key for future bootloader or firmware changes.
Bottom line for a Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer
Linux Mint is a practical dual-boot companion to Windows 10 and Windows 11 when the disk is prepared conservatively. Install Windows first, shrink only its main volume, preserve EFI and recovery partitions, boot the Mint USB in the same UEFI mode, and let the alongside-Windows installer use the unallocated space when it detects the system correctly. Plan on roughly 15 GB for the base Mint installation but, following Mint’s guidance, target a root partition of 100 GB or more for comfortable everyday use. Treat BitLocker recovery information, Secure Boot behavior, and firmware boot order as part of the installation—not as afterthoughts.
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