3 Free Ways to Install Ubuntu on a Windows 11 PC
Ubuntu is one of the most popular Linux distro on earth. And it is a great way to learn Linux and server management. In the past, installing Linux on Windows was chaos. You have to either run Linux in a virtual machine or dual boot Windows and Linux, which is very dangerous and tricky!
Now, it has gotten even better ever since Microsoft launched WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)in Windows 11. Now you can run Linux apps directly as native windows apps with the help of WSL. How cool is that? In this post, you are going to learn three different ways to install Ubuntu on Windows 11 PC.
Method 1: Install Ubuntu on Windows 11 via WSL
Step 1. Install WSL and Ubuntu Together
Open and run Command Prompt utility on Windows 11 as administrator and type the below command install Ubuntu and WSL.
wsl –install
What does the above command do?
1. Install Virtual Machine Platform: The moment you execute the command, it’s going to enable the virtual machine platform at first. By default, virtual machine platform is a feature that is disabled in Windows 11.
2. Install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL): The second step is to install Windows Subsystem for Linux. WSL is also a part of windows features too. However, its components most likely will be downloaded through the Internet, so a fast and reliable Internet connection is required here. The components that will be downloaded are WSL kernel and GUI app support.
3. Downloading and Installing Ubuntu: finally, it is going to download and install the latest version of Ubuntu in the CMD window.
Step 2. Configure Username and Password
The next step is to reboot Windows 11 and configure the username and password inside Ubuntu. One thing I almost forgot, after your computer restarted, your PC is going to install Ubuntu. Basically, you will see a CMD-like panel but at the top Ubuntu is written. That Window is installing Ubuntu on your Windows 11 machine. If it did not open automatically, you have to open it manually from the Start menu.
Once the installation is done, it will ask for a username and password. You have to enter them.
Note: Using WSL, you cannot use the graphical interface of Ubuntu, however, you can use the applications of it directly into windows 11. All you have to do is type the command inside Ubuntu and press enter.
For example, I will be installing Ubuntu text editor in windows 11. gedit is the name of the app, you have to replace it with the app that you want in Windows.
sudo apt-get install gedit -y
Method 2. Install Ubuntu on Windows 11 via VMWare Workstation Player
WSL is a text-based environment for running Ubuntu. If you favored the graphical interface of Ubuntu, then VMWare workstation player is good to go. It is one of best virtualization software you could find.
To get started with a Ubuntu virtual machine, you have to download and install VMware Workstation Player software. After that, you have to make sure to download the ISO of Ubuntu too.
For now, I’m assuming that you have gotten everything prepared.
Step 1. Create New Ubuntu Virtual Machine
To begin the process of creating a virtual machine, you have to open the VMWare Workstation Player. In our example, it is VMware Workstation 16 Player.
The process of creating a virtual machine is really simple, that’s why I will guide you through the bullet points below. In the meantime, in the end, you will see all of these screenshots in the slideshow mode.
- Upon the launch of the VMWare workstation 16 player click on Create a New Virtual Machine.
2. This will launch New Virtual Machine Wizard from a new window. In here you have to locate the ISO of Ubuntu. But for now, I recommend you to choose the last option (I will install the operating system later) and click Next.
3. Under Guest operating system menu, please choose Linux and select Ubuntu 64-bit under Version tab.
4. You have to provide a name for this virtual machine and save it in any place on your computer that you want.
5. You have to specify the disk size for your virtual machine, although 20 GB is recommended for Ubuntu VM. If you want to divide the virtual disk into multiple files, choose the Split virtual disk into multiple files. In my case, I prefer to save it in a single file so I am going to choose Store virtual disk as a single file.
6. At the moment you are on the last Window, simply click Finish.
7. Once the virtual machine for Ubuntu is created, we have to add the ISO to it too. Click on Edit Virtual Machine Settings > CD/DVD (SATA) > Use ISO image file, then click on Browse… button to import Ubuntu ISO.
Step 2. Install Ubuntu VM on Windows 11 PC
Finally, we can begin installing open to on virtual machine on windows 11. So, click on Play virtual machine at the low section.
Once the installer started, you will be on the GNU GRUB version window, from here you have to choose Ubuntu or let it be there for 30 seconds it will choose by default the first option.
You are on the installer page of Ubuntu, click on Install Ubuntu.
Select the keyboard layout, language, then click Continue.
Choose Normal installation and click Continue. This will skip downloading and installing software updates, which takes much time.
This is the partition page of Ubuntu, since we are installing Ubuntu for the first time choose the first option to erase disk and install Ubuntu.
For confirmation Ubuntu will ask that everything is going to be formatted and instead there will be two partitions will be created, you have to select Continue. From the new screen, choose the current location.
Now, you have to enter a username and create a password for Ubuntu running inside a virtual machine.
After that, you have to wait until Ubuntu should download the packages and install Ubuntu operating system inside the VM.
After the installation is completed, you have to remove the ISO from the virtual machine. To remove it, click on the arrow icon, go to Removable Devices > CD/DVD (SATA) > Settings. Then go to the CD/DVD (SATA) and remove the ISO image.
Enter your password and log in inside Ubuntu. Now enjoy using Ubuntu on Windows 11 PC.
Method 3. Install Ubuntu on Windows 11 as Dual Boot
Virtual machine is a great way to test out a guest OS. However, it can not fully utilize the hardware potential. This means you will encounter lags or slow performance when working with a virtual machine.
If you are using Ubuntu heavily on a Windows 11 PC, then installing Ubuntu on the same drive and preparing for a dual boot is more practical.
Before getting into the dual boot process you need to get an 8 GB USB and download Ubuntu ISO Image. Aside from these two, you need to create a separate partition specifically for Ubuntu OS. Basically, Ubuntu requires at least 25 GB of storage, but it depends on which application you are installing on it. In any case, the first step for you is to create a separate drive for Ubuntu in a windows 11 machine.
Step 1. Create New Partition for Ubuntu
Right-click on the start menu and choose Disk Management. After that, select the drive that has a lot of free storage. In my case, I will be choosing drive E so right-click on it and choose Shrink volume. You will see that free storage is unallocated in black color.
Step 2. Create Ubuntu Bootable USB from ISO
The second step kicks off with creating a bootable USB of Ubuntu. The simplest method to create Ubuntu bootable USB is to use Rufus. At this point, I am assuming that you have downloaded the Ubuntu ISO image too. Simply attach the USB to the computer, launch Rufus, select the ISO of Ubuntu and configure the partition style depending on your settings and click start.
Step 3. Boot Windows 11 from USB and Start Installing Ubuntu
Power off Windows 11 computer then press the boot key and choose USB from Boot Menu. This will load Ubuntu installation page, click Install now.
If you are using a laptop, In the next section you have the option to connect your computer to the Internet. Select any Wi-Fi and connect to it. If you are using a wired connection then by default it is connected.
It is the partition time.Select the free space and click on the plus icon. After that enter the amount of size for the Ubuntu (make at least 2 GB of free storage). And make sure that the Logical and the beginning of the space are selected. Meanwhile, In front of Mount Point select /, and click on OK.
Note: If you do not select the correct storage, then you can delete everything inside the internal hard drive. Please be careful!
The free space that reminded must be set as swap storage, so select the free storage. Once Again click on the plus icon, in front of “Use as” select SWAP Area and click OK.
Now select the First drive that you created and click Install Now. Click Continue to format the selected drive. The rest of steps are the same in Method 2.
Conclusion:
With the speed of improvements that we are seeing with WSL, I am not recommending dual boot Windows 11 with Ubuntu, which is too risky. However, if you are still interested in running Ubuntu under graphical interface, then create a Ubuntu virtual machine instead.
