Installing Ubuntu on a Windows computer is no different from dual-booting any operating system. In fact, it’s easier than most, because Ubuntu is designed to be one of the most straight forward of Linux distributions, and it shows. It’s one of the most popular distro options out there, making Linux repositories easy to use – even letting you download apps directly from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. It’s also entirely free.
Difficulty
What You Need
WIndows PC or laptop with at least 256GB of space
USB flash drive
Stable internet connection
There are three installation types to choose from, so you need to know how you want to use Ubuntu. For example, you can use it inside a Windows virtual machine, or you can use Bash features directly from Windows. But those are for very specific use cases. For our purposes, we’re going to assume you want to download a fresh copy of Ubuntu directly onto your computer for everyday use. Here’s how you can do that.
Backup your data
Before you do anything big on your PC, you should always back up your most important data. That may mean just confirming yourexisting cloud backup solutionsare working correctly and have all your precious data stored safely, or it might mean performing amanual backup to an external drive.
However you choose to backup your data, ensure it’s done before you begin installing Ubuntu on your Windows PC.
Meet Ubuntu
The world’s most popular Linux distro is created by Canonical, a South Africa-based company. While Ubuntu is free to install and use for individuals, organizations can pay for support and for a host of other Ubuntu-based products, such as server software.
Ubuntu gets regular updates every six months and major overhauls every two years. These overhauls, called LTS (for long-term support), introduce new Ubuntu versions and usually a silly animal name. For example, the latest LTS is Ubuntu 22.04 “Jammy Jellyfish.” It was released in spring 2022, and so there should be another major LTS update in 2024.
There have been smaller, interim releases since then, including 23.04 Lunar Lobster, and 23.10 Mantic Minotaur.
Ubuntu uses the GNOME desktop environment, which is the underlying user interface you see when you use Ubuntu. GNOME keeps the desktop clean and uncluttered and allows you to launch applications simply by clicking on an icon rather than inputting code into the terminal. GNOME gives you a Mac-like taskbar along the top of your screen where you can see the date and time, access app-specific files and options, and use other useful features.
However, if you want to get more nerdy, you can. After all, Ubuntu is a Linux distro, which means the terminal is never too far away. This will also allow you to tweak settings and opens up the full power of Linux. For instance, you can use the terminal to convert a bunch of images into PDFs at once, or you can create nested file directories deep in the system.
Whether you want to deep-dive into using Linux for greater system control, or just want to see what gaming on Linux is about, Ubuntu is still the best distro to begin with.Even for gaming.
Download Ubuntu
The first step to installing Ubuntu is to download Ubuntu. It comes as a single ISO image and is 2GB in size.
Step 1:Head to theUbuntu desktop siteonyour favorite browser.
Step 2:SelectDownload.
Step 3:You will find the downloaded ISO in your downloads folder.
Format your USB stick
Once you’ve downloaded Ubuntu to your computer, you’ll need to create a live USB stick. This is what your computer will use to install and run Ubuntu the first time around.
You’ll need to install a free third-party USB formatting program to do this, but don’t worry, these are small applications and they’re extremely easy to use. You can delete it afterward if you don’t want to keep it.
Don’t have a USB drive to hand? You can useany external drivefor this process, too. Just be aware before you format it that you might want to backup any existing data on the drive if it’s important.
Step 1:Download and installRufus.
Step 2:Launch Rufus once it is installed.
Step 3:Choose your USB drive from theDevicemenu if it hasn’t auto-populated.
Step 4:ChooseSelect, to the right of the Boot Selection menu
Step 5:Select the Ubuntu ISO file you downloaded.
Step 6:The Volume Label menu will update to show your version of Ubuntu. Leave the other settings as is.
Step 7:SelectStart.
Step 8:Wait while Rufus writes the Ubuntu ISO to your USB. You can see the progress in the status bar at the bottom. It should take 10 minutes or less.
Step 9:Your USB is ready when the Status bar is green and displays “Ready.”
Replace your OS with Ubuntu
Next, you’re going to install Ubuntu on the computer or laptop of your choice. you’re able to choose to partition your hard drive and dual-boot Ubuntu or to completely overwrite your current operating system and use only Ubuntu.
Step 1:Insert the USB thumb drive with your live Ubuntu ISO into the computer.
Step 2:Restart the device.
The computer should recognize the USB thumb drive and boot from it immediately. However, if this doesn’t happen, you will need to boot your computer.
With the thumb drive inserted, restart your computer. Then hold downF12during the startup and select your USB device from theDevicemenu.
Step 3:ChooseInstall Ubuntu.
you may test-drive Ubuntu direct from the USB. However, this is a limited version of Ubuntu and will not save anything.
Step 4:Choose your language, and selectContinue.
Step 5:Select your preferred installation setup.
We recommend choosingNormal installationunless you are using an extremely limited computer.
SelectDownload updates while installing UbuntuandInstall third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi hardware and additional media formats.
SelectContinue.
Step 6:The Installation Type menu allows you to choose between overwriting your current system with Ubuntu and dual-booting Ubuntu from a partitioned drive.
SelectErase disk and install Ubuntu, followed byInstall Now.
Step 7:Choose your location.
PressContinue.
Step 8:Input your details. Add your name, your computer name (make this up), and pick a username. You’ll also need to create a password for logging into Ubuntu and some Ubuntu services. Keep it secure but easy to remember.
You can then select to log in to your computer automatically or require a password each time you use it. Ignore the Use Active Directory option for now.
Step 9:Ubuntu will now complete the installation.
Step 10:SelectRestart nowwhen the installation is finished.
Step 11:Congratulation! You just installed Ubuntu!
Install Ubuntu alongside your operating system
If you don’t want to completely erase your current OS, be it Windows, Mac OS, or another Linux distro, you’ll need to install Ubuntu on a partitioned drive. Thankfully, the Ubuntu installer makes it easy to do this.
For starters, you’ll need to go through steps one to six in the “Replace your OS with Ubuntu” section above. However, when you get to the Installation Type menu, you can jump down to here and we’ll walk you through the rest.
Step 1:From theInstallation typemenu, selectSomething elseand clickInstall now.
Step 2:SelectNew partition tableon the next screen.
Step 3:SelectContinueon the pop-up.
Step 4:Double-click onFree spaceto create a new partition.
A new partition window pop-up will appear.
Step 5:In theCreate partitionmenu, set the size to1024MB.
Set the type for new partitions toPrimary.
Set the location for the new partitions toBeginning of this space.
In theUse asmenu, selectExt4 Journaling file system.
In theMount pointmenu, select/boot.
Step 6:Double-click onFree spaceto create a home partition.
Leave the free space as is.
In theUse asmenu, selectXFS journaling file system.
In theMount pointmenu, select/home.
Step 7:Double-click onFree spaceto create a root file system.
In theMount pointmenu, select/.
Step 8:Double-click onFree spaceto create a swap partition to help when RAM fills up.
Set size to4096.
In theUse asmenu, selectSwap area.
Step 9:Now that you’ve got a partition scheme set up, you can complete your Ubuntu install.
Step 10:Choose your location.
Step 11:Input your details.
Add your name, your computer name (make this up), and pick a user name.
You’ll also need to create a password for logging into Ubuntu and some Ubuntu services. Keep it secure but easy to remember.
You can then select to log in to your computer automatically or require a password each time you use it.
Ignore the Use Active Directory option for now.
Step 12:Ubuntu will now complete the installation. HitRestart nowwhen the installation is complete.
Installing Ubuntu on a Windows PC FAQ
How long does it take to install Ubuntu on Windows?
This depends on your own technical ability and how ready you are before you begin. If you’ve done all the preliminary file backing up, have the Ubuntu ISO ready to use and you’ve done this once or twice before, you might get it done in an hour or so. If this is your first time and you’re following these steps one and a time to be sure, it’ll probably take you a few hours. Don’t be disheartened, though. This process gets a lot quicker and easier the more times you do it.
What’s the latest distribution of Ubuntu?
At the time of writing in early 2024, the latest release version of Ubuntu is 23.10 (Mantic Minotaur), release in October 2023. The latest LTS release is from Aril 2022, and is version 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish).
