How to Set Up Dual Boot on Android with Linux and Windows

Updated on by Admin

Ever thought it would be nice to switch between different operating systems on your phone? Maybe you want to try out a new Android ROM but keep your current one safe. Or perhaps you’d like to experiment with Linux on your phone. Well, here’s some good news: It’s possible, and I’m going to walk you through how to set it up step by step. Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Prerequisites

  • Device Compatibility: Dual booting works best on devices that can handle custom recovery, such as TWRP. This method has been tested on devices like the OnePlus 8, LG V30, and Samsung Galaxy S3 Neo. However, not all devices support this, especially some lower-end models.
  • TWRP Recovery: You’ll need TWRP installed on your device. If you don’t have it yet, download the correct version for your device from this link.
  • ADB & Fastboot: Install ADB & Fastboot tools on your computer. You’ll need these to send commands to your device.
  • Parted Tool: To manage your device’s storage, you’ll need the Parted tool. You can download it from here.
  • Backup: Make sure you back up everything. This process could erase your data.

Dual Boot Android with Multiple ROMs

Let’s say you want to use two different versions of Android on your phone. You can do this by setting up separate storage spaces for each ROM. Here’s how to do it.

Install TWRP Recovery

First, you need TWRP to help manage everything. Here’s how to install it:

  1. Turn off your device and then boot into fastboot mode by holding down Volume Down + Power button until the fastboot screen shows up.
  2. Connect your device to your computer with a USB cable.
  3. Open your terminal or command prompt on your computer and type this command: 
    fastboot flash recovery path/to/twrp.img

    Be sure to replace path/to/twrp.img with the location where you downloaded the TWRP file.

Partition Your Storage

Now that TWRP is installed, it’s time to set up different sections of your phone’s storage for each operating system.

  1. Boot into TWRP by holding Volume Up + Power button as your phone powers on.
  2. In TWRP, open the terminal and push the Parted tool: 
    adb push /path/to/parted /sbin/parted
adb shell
chmod 777 /sbin/parted
parted /dev/block/mmcblk0
  3. Check your partitions: 
    p free

    This will list all partitions. Make note of your “userdata” partition.

  4. Remove the userdata partition: 
    rm 59

    Replace 59 with your userdata partition number.

  5. Create a new system partition: 
    mkpart system-b ext4 7153MB 11153MB
set 59 msftdata on

Flash the ROMs

Once your storage is set, you can install a second operating system.

  1. Boot into TWRP and install the secondary ROM. Select the new system partition you created.
  2. To switch between the systems, rename the partitions: 
    parted /dev/block/mmcblk0 name 59 system-b

Now, you can switch between the two systems by rebooting and choosing the one you want.

Dual Boot Android and Linux

Want to run Linux on your phone alongside Android? Here’s how to set it up.

Prepare Your Device for Linux

Like with dual Android setups, you’ll need to make space for Linux. Start by creating a new partition in TWRP using the steps from the first method.

Install Linux

  1. Download a Linux distribution that works on your device, like Ubuntu Touch, from here.
  2. Follow the installer instructions to put the Linux operating system onto the new partition.

Switching Between Android and Linux

To switch between Android and Linux, simply reboot into your custom recovery (like TWRP) and select the operating system you want to boot.

Dual Boot Android and Windows

Now that your device is set up and ready, let’s install Windows on the new partition.

  1. Download a Windows ARM Image: Windows has a version for ARM devices, which you can download from the Windows Insider Program. Make sure to get the version that works for your device.
  2. Flash the Windows Image: To install the Windows operating system on the new partition, you can use tools like WoA Installer (Windows on ARM Installer) or QFIL (Qualcomm Flash Image Loader).
    If you’re using WoA Installer, here’s how to do it:

    • Download WoA Installer to your computer.
    • Connect your Android device to your computer with a USB cable.
    • Open WoA Installer and select the Windows image you downloaded earlier.
    • Choose the NTFS partition you created for Windows.
    • Click Install and wait for the process to complete.
  3. Finishing Up: After the installation is complete, restart your device. You’ll see a new screen asking you to choose which operating system you want to boot into (either Android or Windows).

Switching Between Android and Windows

Now that both operating systems are installed, you can switch between Android and Windows whenever you want.

  • Booting into Windows: To load Windows, restart your device, and select the Windows partition from the bootloader screen. This is the new bootloader we installed earlier (UEFI).
  • Booting into Android: If you want to switch back to Android, simply restart your device again and choose Android from the bootloader menu.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

  • Driver Support: Some features, like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or the camera, may not work right away in Windows. This is because Windows ARM doesn’t always have drivers (software that helps your hardware work) for all Android devices. You might need to search for drivers or check the community for help.
  • Performance: Running Windows on a phone or tablet may not be as smooth as running Android. If you have a higher-end device with more RAM and storage, things should go better, but lower-end devices might struggle a bit.
  • Updates: Both Android and Windows will get updates separately, so you’ll need to update each system on its own when needed.

That’s it! You’re now ready to switch between operating systems on your phone whenever you want. It may seem a bit technical, but once you follow these steps, it all falls into place.

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