Is it possible to run Linux alongside Windows 11?

You can definitely dual boot! I recommend using either Fedora or Linux Mint since they come with the GRUB bootloader. This will allow you to choose between Windows 11 and Linux each time you start your computer. Just a heads up, you can’t run both operating systems at the same time like multiple user accounts, but dual booting gives you a good way to try Linux alongside Windows.

To get started with Linux, use the Drive Management tool in Windows 11 to create a partition for Linux. Download a Linux Mint live image to a USB drive and set it as the first boot device in your UEFI/BIOS. In the Linux live environment, you’ll find an option to install Linux on that new partition. You might also be able to choose how much space you want to allocate for Linux during installation. That's how I managed it!

While it’s technically possible to set up a MacOS alongside Windows, focusing on Linux might be more beneficial for you in terms of privacy and control. If you are considering Linux specifically, aim for a Virtual Machine first to ease into the experience before diving into a dual boot setup.

You have two main options: Virtual Machines or Dual Booting. A Virtual Machine allows you to run Linux within your Windows environment, similar to opening a program. This provides flexibility, but it can be slow and requires enough system resources. On the other hand, Dual Booting involves setting up Linux directly on your computer, which offers better performance but requires resizing your Windows partition. Both are viable, so it depends on what you’re comfortable with. Check out guides for each method to help you with the setup!