Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsYou can install Ubuntu alongside Windows and choose between them at startup, but the safest route depends on whether Windows uses BitLocker and what the Ubuntu installer can detect. Back up your files, make sure you have the Windows BitLocker recovery key, and use the installer’s guided “Install Ubuntu alongside” option only when it identifies the correct disk and offers that choice. Do not select an erase-disk option if you need to keep Windows.
Before you start: protect your files and recovery options
Changing disk partitions or firmware boot settings carries risk. Back up important files to storage separate from the disk you plan to repartition. Ubuntu recommends backing up before installing on a computer already in use; its Desktop installation guide does not prescribe a particular backup device or capacity.
Check whether BitLocker or Windows device encryption is enabled, and make sure you can access the Windows recovery key before changing boot settings. Ubuntu notes that boot-order changes, Secure Boot changes, and firmware updates can prompt for that key. Keep it somewhere accessible without relying on the computer you are configuring.
Check whether BitLocker blocks an alongside install
Boot the Ubuntu installer and pay attention to any warning about BitLocker. Ubuntu explains that when BitLocker is active, the installer cannot correctly map the encrypted Windows installation, so it cannot safely install Ubuntu alongside it. Its BitLocker installation guidance describes the encrypted disk contents as inaccessible to the installer.
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If you see that warning, stop. Do not continue to partition or erase the Windows disk. Ubuntu documents turning off BitLocker before retrying, or installing to a separate unencrypted disk, as possible routes. Turning off encryption can have consequences: some Windows versions may not let you re-enable BitLocker afterward. Do not disable it casually, and do not assume it can always be restored.
Prepare Ubuntu installation media and boot it
- Get the Ubuntu Desktop image and create a USB installer. Follow Ubuntu’s current installation-media instructions for the release you intend to install. USB capacity recommendations can change by release, so check the current requirements rather than relying on older figures.
- Open your computer’s firmware boot menu and choose the USB. The key and menu vary by manufacturer. Start the installer in the computer’s normal firmware mode and avoid changing firmware settings unless you have a specific reason.
- Keep Secure Boot enabled by default. Ubuntu’s supported signed boot chain uses a Microsoft-signed shim that validates Canonical-signed GRUB and kernel components. The Ubuntu Secure Boot documentation describes this chain. Custom kernels or unsigned modules may need additional signing or setup; disabling Secure Boot is not the default fix.
Choose the installation route that matches your disk
Guided alongside installation
If the installer offers “Install Ubuntu alongside” Windows, verify the target drive and review the space allocation before proceeding. Ubuntu’s installation guide describes this option as a way to allocate space for Ubuntu while preserving existing files. The screens and available choices can differ by Ubuntu release and hardware, so confirm that the displayed Windows installation and disk match your intent.
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Separate unencrypted disk
If BitLocker prevents the installer from mapping the Windows disk, a separate unencrypted disk is one possible target. Identify the disk carefully in the installer before making any partitioning or erase choice; selecting the wrong disk can destroy data. The BitLocker warning and options are covered in Ubuntu’s official guidance.
Manual partitioning
Manual partitioning is intended for people who already understand the disk layout and required configuration. If you are unsure which partitions belong to Windows or what the installer will change, do not use this route; return to the guided alongside option if it is available and appropriate.
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Options to avoid when keeping Windows
- Do not choose “Erase disk” or another option that says it will remove the existing operating system or data.
- Do not proceed past a BitLocker warning as though the installer can safely work around it.
- Do not make firmware or partition changes without the recovery key and a separate backup.
Test that both operating systems still start
When installation finishes, restart and use the startup menu presented by the computer or select an operating system through firmware boot selection. Test Ubuntu and Windows separately. The available menu and navigation vary by machine; there is no single boot screen or key sequence that applies to every computer.
If Windows asks for its BitLocker recovery key after a boot-order or firmware change, enter the key you saved before installation. Ubuntu’s recovery-key guidance explains why encrypted systems may request it after boot or Secure Boot changes.
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Which approach should you use?
| Situation | Safer route to consider |
|---|---|
| The installer detects Windows and offers “Install Ubuntu alongside” | Use the guided option after confirming the target disk and space allocation. |
| The installer says BitLocker prevents disk mapping | Stop. Review Ubuntu’s documented options: turn off BitLocker only after considering whether Windows will let you re-enable it, or use a separate unencrypted disk. |
| You are considering manual partitioning | Proceed only if you understand the existing layout and the configuration required. |
| You plan to use standard Ubuntu boot components | Leave Secure Boot enabled unless a documented device-specific issue requires another approach. |
| You need a custom kernel or unsigned module | Expect additional signing or setup work under Secure Boot rather than assuming it must be disabled. |
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