How to remove Linux from a dual boot with Windows

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Linux is a fantastic open-source operating system that is designed to run on all kinds of hardware. What we also love about Linux is that it comes in many different flavors and distributions, like Ubuntu and Linux Mint, which can run alongside Windows 11. Setting up a dual boot with Linux and Windows is pretty easy and the whole process only takes a few minutes. However, removing Linux from the dual boot can be a bit of a challenge as there is no easy way to do it.




That's right, there are no uninstallers to remove Linux from a dual boot configuration, and your only option is to go through some tedious steps and rebuild your bootloader to go back to running only Windows on your PC. If you don't know what you're doing and are wondering how to get started, here's a step-by-step guide detailing how to remove Linux from a dual boot.

Back up all files of your Linux installation before proceeding. Removing Linux from dual boot will result in data loss. You will also need a Windows recovery drive or create one to rebuild your bootloader later.


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Step 1: Create a Windows 11 recovery drive

An important prerequisite

Before you do anything, you should boot into Windows 11 or earlier and create a recovery drive that you can boot from later. Windows 11 has a built-in tool that allows you to create a recovery driver and installer. We will need this later when you remove your Linux partitions. Here's how to do it:

  1. Plug in USB drive You can save the file you want to use for recovery to your PC.
  2. Open the Windows 11 Start Menu.
  3. Search for Recovery drive.
    A screenshot of a search for the Recovery Drive app in the Windows 11 Start menu

  4. Click on the top result for Creating a recovery drive.
  5. Select your USB drive.
    A screenshot of the Recovery Drive app on Windows 11 with the option to select a drive

  6. Check the box for Back up system files to the recovery drive.
  7. Wait for Windows to load the required files. Select the USB drive and click Next.
  8. Click Create and wait until the installation is complete.


Step 2: Move Windows up in your BIOS boot order

A decisive step

This next step is extremely important. In this step, you will need to change the priority of Windows in your boot order. Linux also adds its own bootloader known as GRUB. We want to change some settings to restore Windows in the correct order. If you cannot reach these settings, don't worry, your Windows installation is still safe. Skip to the last section!

  1. Start Windows 11 as usual.
  2. Sign out of your account and go to the lock screen.
  3. Press the Power button and hold down the Shift key. Then select Restart.
    A photo of the restart button in Windows 11 showing the restart button

  4. On the recovery screen, go to Troubleshooting > Advanced options: UEFI firmware settings.
    A photo of the Windows 11 troubleshooting screen showing where to click to get to the advanced options

    A photo of the Windows 11 troubleshooting screen with advanced UEFI options

  5. In your BIOS, navigate to the Authentication, Boot, or Security tab.
  6. In the BIOS under the Boots Menu, drag and move the drive Windows Boot Manager as the first boot option. This will boot your PC straight back into Windows and avoid GRUB and Linux.


A photo of changing the boot menu options on an Asus laptop showing where the boot order can be changed

If you are still having problems booting Windows, you can proceed to. Fix any Windows bootloader issues Section.

Step 3: Delete the Linux partitions

Remove Linux

Next, you can delete all Linux partitions from your Windows PC. You will know which partitions are Linux because they may be marked as Other under the Disk Management tool. Also pay attention to the partition size so you don't accidentally delete a Windows partition. Linux partitions usually have no file system or drive letter and are only labeled as NTFS or FAT.


  1. Open the Windows 11 Start menu.
  2. Search for Hard disk partition.
    A screenshot of opening the dskpart tool from the search box in Windows 11 and how to launch it

  3. Select the option to Create and format hard disk partitions.
  4. Using the steps above, find your active Linux partitions. There are usually three of them: one for swap, root, and home. You'll know which is which based on the size you set during the initial installation.
  5. Right-click on each and select Delete volume.
    A screenshot of deleting an Ubuntu volume in Windows 11 and how to delete it

  6. Click Yes.

Once all Linux partitions are deleted, right-click on the newly created free space. Click on your main volume and select Expand, so You can increase the free space. You can now restart your Windows PC. Next, we need to go into the BIOS to change a few settings.


Step 4: Fix any Windows bootloader issues

Make sure everything is OK

Are you still having trouble logging into Windows after uninstalling Linux? The Windows recovery drive you installed earlier will help you.

  1. Insert the created USB drive into your computer.
  2. Some PCs may prompt you Select boot device or Booting from a USB drive. When you see this prompt, press the corresponding key (Esc in our case) directly into the Windows installer on your USB drive. If not, proceed to the next step.
    A photo of the USB boot menu on an Asus laptop and how to boot it from a USB drive

  3. While your PC is booting, press the key to boot into the BIOS loading screen. For most PCs, this can be Escape, F1, F2, F8, F10, F11, F12, or Del. Ask your PC manufacturer which key you need to press. In our example, it is F2.
  4. In the BIOS under the Boots Drag or move your USB drive to the top of the menu so that it is the first boot option. This will immediately boot your PC from the USB drive. Don't worry, you won't need to change this later as this is just a USB installer.
    A photo of changing the boot menu options on an Asus laptop showing where the boot order can be changed

  5. Click Save and exit.

  1. Reboot from the USB drive.
  2. Choose Repair your computer.
  3. Choose Troubleshooting.
    A photo of the repair option in Windows 11 and how to click to further menus including troubleshooting

  4. Choose Advanced options.
    A photo of the Windows 11 advanced options list in Windows 11 Settings and how to get to Startup Repair

  5. Choose Command prompt.
  6. Type the following command and press Enter: 
    bootrec.exe /fixmbr
    A photo of the command used to repair the boot record in Windows 11


Once the command prompt appears, close the opened command prompt window. You can choose Turn off your PC and then remove the connected USB drive from your laptop.

Your PC is now free of Linux

And that's it! You have successfully removed Linux from a dual boot if you carefully followed all the steps highlighted above. Installing Linux or dual booting it alongside your Windows operating system is pretty easy, so you can get it working again in the future if you need to. However, if you just want to try out Linux without affecting your Windows 11 or Windows 10 installation and don't want to go through the hassle of removing it later, consider running Linux on a virtual machine instead. Not only is it easier to set up and use at any time, but you can also get rid of it pretty easily without having to go through the tedious steps highlighted above in this tutorial.


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