Want to dual-boot Linux next to Windows without editing GRUB files in a terminal? Grub2Win is a free, open-source installer that sets up a GRUB2 boot menu from inside Windows, where you can also change its order, look and default system with a few clicks.
How does Grub2Win manage a dual-boot setup?
Grub2Win installs GRUB2 into the existing Windows boot setup, with no repartitioning, and shows a menu of every system on the PC. After setup, choose an entry from that menu when the PC starts. The program lets you set the order in which systems appear and start, with those choices managed from Windows.
The boot menu can include more than one installation of Windows or Linux. Grub2Win supports drives partitioned with GPT or MBR and filesystems including NTFS, HFS, ext4, and Btrfs.
Which operating systems can appear in the boot menu?
Grub2Win supports Windows and a range of Linux-based systems. The supported distribution examples include Ubuntu, Debian, SUSE, Fedora, Manjaro, and Mint, as well as PhoenixOS, Android, and Clover.
After configuring the setup, restart the computer to reach Grub2Win’s menu and select the system to boot. The menu provides a single place to choose among the installed systems.
Does it work with UEFI and BIOS systems?
Grub2Win supports both UEFI and BIOS firmware. Its support for GPT and MBR partitioning covers common disk layouts, while the listed filesystem support includes NTFS, HFS, ext4, and Btrfs.
Pros
- Set the boot order from Windows
- Supports GPT and MBR partitioned drives
- Works with NTFS, HFS, ext4, and Btrfs
- Boot multiple Windows or Linux installations from one menu
Cons
- Changing boot settings carries some risk; back up first
- Secure Boot may need to be adjusted on some PCs
System requirements: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11 · UEFI or BIOS firmware
Can Grub2Win boot more than one Linux installation?
Yes. Its boot menu can include multiple Linux installations, including different distributions.
Can the boot order be changed from Windows?
Yes. Grub2Win lets you manage the startup order from Windows.
Does Grub2Win support both UEFI and BIOS?
Yes. It supports both firmware types.