Can I dual-boot Windows 11 and Linux with a shared data partition?

You can also keep the files on the Windows partition because Linux can generally read NTFS. A separate shared partition is cleaner, though, since it keeps personal data independent from either operating system. Windows has more limited filesystem support than Linux, so choose a format Windows can reliably mount.

Install Windows first, then Linux, so the Linux bootloader can detect the existing Windows installation. Back up your files before resizing partitions, and only shrink the Windows partition using a tool that reports the operation is safe. Also disable Windows Fast Startup or hibernation if you plan to access the Windows partition from Linux, since leaving it hibernated can cause filesystem problems.

Yes, this is a common setup. You can create a separate data partition and access it from both systems. exFAT is broadly supported by Windows and Linux, while NTFS is also usable from Linux with modern drivers. The shared partition is best for documents, media, and other ordinary files—not for installing programs that need to run natively in both operating systems.