This article describes the process to install latest version Android x86 as a Dual Boot Host Operating System on a Computer by creating a bootable Android x86 USB Flash Drive on an existing Windows System. Android x86 will be installed alongside the existing Windows operating system. Both the operating systems will exist in your PC but you can boot into one of them at a time. You can use a Flash Drive of 2 GB or more to make it bootable.To create an Android x86 bootable Flash Drive on a Windows system and install it as a dual boot host operating system alongside Windows, follow the six easy steps below:
Step 1: Download Android x86 ISO File
Login to your Windows System, open a web browser and navigate to official website of Android x86 Operating System. On the Home Page, click on “Download” button to navigate to download mirror page of latest release of Android x86 Operating System.
Choose one of the given mirrors either “Fosshub” or “OSDN” to get ISO download link. On OSDN ISO download page click on “android-x86-9.0-r2.iso” file name link to download 64-bit Android x86 ISO file. Whereas, on Fosshub ISO download page click on “Android-x86 64-bit ISO file” file name link to download 64-bit Android x86 ISO file. Both these mirrors will provide you the same ISO file. The browser will prompt to save the ISO file. Save the ISO file to your computer. Wait for the download to finish.
Step 2: Download Rufus Flashing tool
In the meantime, while the Android x86 ISO file is downloading, navigate to official web site of Rufus to download Rufus flashing Software tool for creating a bootable Flash Drive. Scroll down the page and click on the link to download latest version of Rufus tool under download section. Wait for the download to finish and close the web browser.
Step 3: Flash Android x86 ISO to USB Flash Drive
Go to the download location and open Rufus tool by executing downloaded Rufus file. The “Device” dropdown box will be empty. Insert a Flash Drive in the USB slot of your computer. Rufus will detect the Flash and display in “Device” dropdown box. Now browse and select the Android x86 ISO file from download location by clicking on “Select” button. Type in Label for the flash drive of your choice such as “Android x86 Flash Drive” or continue with default label. Keep other options with default values and click on “Start”. Click “Yes” to allow Rufus to download additional system files for compatibility with the given ISO file. Click “OK” and continue with recommended option to “Write in ISO Image mode”. Ensure that there is no important data on the Flash Drive (as it will be erased) and click “Ok” to continue flashing the drive. Wait for the flashing to finish. Click “Close” when Rufus window display “Ready” as status to close the Rufus Tool on successful flashing of Flash Drive.
Step 4: Resize Windows Partition to free up disk space
Open “Computer Management” application by searching from Start Menu or selecting “Manage” from context menu while right clicking on “This PC” in File Explorer. In Computer Management, click on “Disk Management” under “Storage” category. Right Click on an existing partition and use “shrink” option to free up disk space. The free disk space will appear as unallocated space in Disk Management.
Step 5: Set and Boot from bootable Flash Drive
Restart your system. On system boot, press a designated key (F10, F12, F2, Del, Esc, F9) to enter BIOS or UEFI Setup. It could be different on different make and model. Try other keys as per Make and Model of your computer. Search for the booting device settings and select USB Drive as the Booting Device. Save and Exit BIOS / UEFI setup. The system will restart. While booting, press the designated key (F9, F10, F12, F2, Del, Esc) to display Boot Menu. It will display the list of booting devices. Select USB Drive as Boot Device and Hit Enter.
Step 6: Install Android x86 on PC
If the system will boot from the flash drive, it will display Android x86 splash screen on your computer screen. Press “Enter” on “Installation – Install Android-x86 to harddisk” option to begin installation of Android x86 operating system. The setup will display a list of partitions existing on your computer. Move to “Create/ Modify Partitions” and hit Enter to open cfdisk utility. Move to “Free Space” under FS type, move cursor to [New] and hit Enter. Select [Primary] → keep default size → Select [Write] → type “yes” and hit ENTER. cfdisk utility will write the new partition table to disk. Select [Quit] and hit ENTER.
Choose the new created partition and hit “Enter”. The setup will ask the filesystem for formatting. Select “ext4” and continue. After formatting, setup ask whether you want to install boot loader GRUB. Press “Yes”. The installer will ask if you want a boot item for Windows in the Grub boot Loader. Press “Yes” as we are installing Android alongside Windows. Continue further with the default settings. The installation will begin.
Wait till installation process is on-going. Upon completion, installation setup will provide the option to “Run Android-x86” or “Reboot”. Remove the Flash Drive and click on “Reboot”. The system will reboot. Wait while system is rebooting.
Upon reboot, boot loader will display options to boot into Android x86 or Windows operating system. You may select either Windows (generally last item on list) or Android x86 (generally first item on list) to boot into and use as per your requirements.
Watch the practical demonstration of the above process in following video:
Also Read: Install Android x86 on Windows PC
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