The idea of running two operating systems on one PC is tempting, with the most popular combination being Windows and Linux. Dual-booting is the most common way to achieve this, but it's not necessarily the best option, as it can cause issues. For example, if you have both Windows and Linux installed, Windows may sometimes prevent you from booting into Linux. Using a virtual machine (VM) can, in fact, be a more suitable alternative, especially for those who need to run specific applications or test new operating systems.

4 Test out an OS without the hassle

And separate work and personal environments

VMs provide unmatched flexibility compared to dual-booting. If you need to test multiple operating systems, a VM lets you run Windows, Linux, and even macOS side by side without any complex partitioning or rebooting. This is particularly useful for developers who need to test software across different platforms.

Plus, VMs make it easy to manage different environments for work and personal use. You can create separate VMs for development, testing, or secure browsing without affecting your main OS. If a VM gets cluttered or compromised, you can delete and recreate it effortlessly. Dual-booting locks you into a rigid setup where switching OS requires a full reboot and can lead to conflicts between operating systems.

VMs also shine when you need to run an OS for a single task. Say you primarily use Linux but often need to use Adobe Lightroom to edit photos, or you're on macOS but need Windows to run a finance tool that only works on that platform. Instead of rebooting every time, you can fire up a VM, get the job done, and close it without interrupting your workflow. Tools like Parallels for macOS even let you run Windows apps as if they were native.

3 Avoid Windows tantrums

Windows loves to assume it's the only OS on your machine

Dual-booting isn’t rocket science, but it can definitely throw some tantrums if you're not careful. For example, if you don’t install Windows first and Linux second, things can go sideways. Windows loves to assume it's the only OS on your machine and will overwrite Linux’s boot manager (GRUB) without asking. So, if you put Linux on first and then install Windows, you’ll end up with a system that boots straight into Windows with no way to access your Linux installation. Fixing this can be a real pain.

Another issue arises from Windows' Fast Startup feature. This feature, designed to speed up boot times, doesn’t allow Windows to fully shut down. Instead, it enters a hybrid hibernation state, saving certain system files in memory. Unfortunately, this can prevent GRUB and even the BIOS boot menu from being accessed on startup, forcing you straight into Windows, even if you want to boot into Linux.

Also, while Linux can easily read and write to Windows partitions, Windows doesn’t natively support Linux file systems. You’ll need third-party tools to get that working, which just adds unnecessary hassle. So, if you don’t want to deal with these issues, a VM might be your best bet.

2 Get extra security against malware

Simulate malware infections without fear

Since VMs are sandboxed, an operating system runs in a completely isolated environment. For the most part, nothing within the virtualized operating system can affect the native operating system. If you're testing for security vulnerabilities or checking the efficacy of a security suite, you can do it inside a VM.

You can freely test new software or even intentionally simulate malware infections without fear of damaging your primary setup. If something goes wrong, you can simply delete the VM and start fresh.

Some types of malware can still break out of a VM and infect the host system. To reduce this risk, avoid enabling shared folders, clipboard sharing, or drag-and-drop between the host and VM when handling suspicious files. Plus, the VM’s network should be set to Network Address Translation (NAT) to keep it isolated and block direct connections to the host.

1 VMs offer portability

Since it's not tied to hardware

Another big advantage of VMs is portability. Unlike a dual-boot setup, which is tied to a specific machine, a VM can be packaged into a single file and moved to another computer with ease. This means you can take your entire virtual OS and all its installed software, settings, and files and run it on a different system without reinstalling everything from scratch.

Plus, VMs support snapshots. These allow you to save the exact state of your virtual machine at any moment. You can roll back to a previous snapshot instantly if something goes wrong, whether it's a botched update, a misconfigured setting, or a software conflict.

VMs are great

Virtual machines have a wide range of use cases, but if you're unsure where to start, take a look at some interesting ways to use them on Windows 11. If you need help setting one up, refer to our guide on creating a virtual machine on Windows. And if you're still on the fence, check out these five reasons why using a VM might be the right choice for you.