[Guide] Dual Booting Windows 11 + Omarchy using Limine (Dual Drive, Secure, Clean Setup)

[lostatgrac3]

🪟 + 🐧 Dual Boot: Windows 11 & Omarchy with Limine Bootloader

This guide documents my personal setup for dual booting Windows 11 and Omarchy (Arch-based Linux) using the minimalist and blazing-fast Limine bootloader.

It builds upon this discussion on Omarchy’s GitHub, but adjusts the process for a clean EFI chainload to Windows using Limine, with both OSes installed on separate drives.

---

🧰 System Setup Overview

Component	Description
nvme1n1 - Drive 1	Windows 11 + EFI partition
nvme0n1 - Drive 2	Omarchy + Limine bootloader
Boot Mode	UEFI (Secure Boot disabled)
Bootloader Used	Limine (on Omarchy's /boot/EFI)

---

🔐 Requirements

• Windows 11 already installed on its own drive
• Omarchy (or any Arch-based Linux) installed on a separate drive
• Limine installed and working (limine-install)
• Secure Boot disabled in UEFI firmware

---

🧭 Step-by-Step Guide

1. Identify the Windows EFI System Partition

Boot into your Omarchy system and run:

lsblk -f

Look for a small (100–500MB) vfat partition on your Windows drive, typically labeled SYSTEM or EFI.

Example output:

nvme1n1p1 vfat  SYSTEM  82BE-0D2A

✅ This is the Windows EFI partition you want to chainload.

---

2. Mount the Windows EFI Partition

sudo mkdir /mnt/winboot
sudo mount /dev/nvme1n1p1 /mnt/winboot

Confirm:

ls /mnt/winboot/EFI/Microsoft/Boot

You should see bootmgfw.efi.

---

3. Copy Windows Bootloader to Limine’s ESP

sudo cp -r /mnt/winboot/EFI/Microsoft /boot/EFI/

This makes the Windows bootloader available on the same EFI partition Limine uses.

---

4. Edit limine.cfg

sudo nano /boot/limine.cfg

Insert this at the top:

/Windows 11
    protocol: efi
    path: boot():/EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
    comment: Boot into Windows 11

✅ boot(): tells Limine to load from its own ESP.

---

5. Make Windows the Default (Optional)

Move the block above other entries and set:

default_entry=0

Now Limine will boot into Windows by default unless you interrupt.

---

6. Disable Windows Fast Startup (Important)

In Windows:

1. Open Control Panel → Power Options
2. Click Choose what the power buttons do
3. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable
4. Uncheck: Turn on fast startup (recommended)

✅ Prevents hibernation and filesystem corruption on NTFS.

---

7. Reboot and Test

You should now see:

Windows 11
Omarchy
Snapshots
EFI fallback

---

✅ Boot Menu Screenshot

Here’s how the final bootloader menu looks:

---

🛡️ Security Notes

• Limine does not support Secure Boot — keep it disabled.
• Omarchy uses LUKS encryption and Btrfs snapshots.
• Windows updates (e.g., 24H2) do not break Limine config if UEFI boot order remains.

---

📦 Backup Before Updates

Before running a major Windows update:

sudo cp -r /boot/EFI /boot/EFI_backup_$(date +%F)
sudo cp /boot/limine.cfg /boot/limine.cfg.bak

Also shut down Windows cleanly:

shutdown /s /t 0

---

🧾 limine.cfg Snippet

timeout=3
default_entry=0

/Windows 11
    protocol: efi
    path: boot():/EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
    comment: Boot into Windows 11

/Omarchy
    comment: Omarchy
    ...

---

🗣️ Feedback

Fork, comment, or improve this method.

---

🧾 My limine.cfg (Redacted for Publishing)

### limine.cfg
### Read more at: https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/blob/trunk/CONFIG.md

timeout: 30
default_entry: 0
interface_branding: Omarchy Bootloader
interface_branding_color: 2
hash_mismatch_panic: no

term_background: 1a1b26
backdrop: 1a1b26

# Terminal colors (Tokyo Night palette)
term_palette: 15161e;f7768e;9ece6a;e0af68;7aa2f7;bb9af7;7dcfff;a9b1d6
term_palette_bright: 414868;f7768e;9ece6a;e0af68;7aa2f7;bb9af7;7dcfff;c0caf5

# Text colors
term_foreground: c0caf5
term_foreground_bright: c0caf5
term_background_bright: 24283b


/Windows 11
    comment: Boot into Windows 11
    protocol: efi
    path: boot():/EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi


/+Omarchy
    comment: Omarchy
    comment: machine-id=<hidden> order-priority=50
    //linux
    comment: 6.16.5-arch1-1
    protocol: efi_chainload
    image_path: boot():/EFI/Linux/<machine-id>_linux.efi#<sha256>
    kernel_cmdline: quiet splash cryptdevice=PARTUUID=<redacted>:root root=/dev/mapper/root zswap.enabled=0 rootflags=subvol=@ rw rootfstype=btrfs

    //Snapshots
    comment: Selecting any snapshot to boot into it.

    ///2025-09-10 20:19:55
    comment: v2.1.2
    ////linux
    comment: 6.16.5-arch1-1
    protocol: efi_chainload
    image_path: boot():/limine_history/..._linux.efi_sha256_<hash>#<sha256>
    kernel_cmdline: quiet splash cryptdevice=PARTUUID=<redacted>:root root=/dev/mapper/root zswap.enabled=0 rootflags=subvol=/@/.snapshots/3/snapshot rw rootfstype=btrfs

    ///2025-09-10 18:13:21
    comment: v2.1.1
    ////linux
    comment: 6.16.5-arch1-1
    protocol: efi_chainload
    image_path: boot():/limine_history/..._linux.efi_sha256_<hash>#<sha256>
    kernel_cmdline: quiet splash cryptdevice=PARTUUID=<redacted>:root root=/dev/mapper/root              zswap.enabled=0 rootflags=subvol=/@/.snapshots/2/snapshot rw rootfstype=btrfs

    ///2025-09-10 15:59:35
    comment: v2.1.1
    ////linux
    comment: 6.16.5-arch1-1
    protocol: efi_chainload
    image_path: boot():/limine_history/..._linux.efi_sha256_<hash>#<sha256>
    kernel_cmdline: quiet splash cryptdevice=PARTUUID=<redacted>:root root=/dev/mapper/root zswap.enabled=0 rootflags=subvol=/@/.snapshots/1/snapshot rw rootfstype=btrfs


/EFI fallback
    comment: Default EFI loader
    comment: order-priority=10
    protocol: efi_chainload
    image_path: boot():/EFI/BOOT/BOOTX64.EFI

[ransudev]

Whats the difference in using just sudo limine-entry-tool --scan so that limine will find the windowsboot loader and mount it? Is the method you used more safe or there is hardly any difference?

[Prajwal-Prathiksh]

I used the limine-entry-tool method and it worked perfectly fine for me. Been using for close to a month without any issues.

[netrusov]

+1 on limine-entry-tool --scan: worked on the first try, spent 10 seconds choosing the right boot entry to add. thanks @ransudev for a hint!

[curtisspendlove]

This option worked well for me as well. It seems to automate a lot of the process outlined. However, it's always nice (especially with arch) to know what's happening in the background.

[carterchris43]

I unknowingly had intel RST enabled in my bios peripherals configuration, that blocked limine from chaining the windows boot EFI when selected in limine scan (exit code 32). After I flipped it to AHCI with a fresh win11 install, all is well

[brnielsen]

This helped me a lot. I'm brand new to anything Linux.

For other newbies. I needed to use the Omarchy AUR menu to install limine-entry-tool .

[knothhe]

I know very little about boot menu related issues. I was wondering if anyone could help me out. I installed using manual configuration here. After installation, the UEFI only has Windows Boot Manager and no archlinux or limine boot menu items.
I think the premise of this discussion is that one can access the archlinux system after installation? I'm stuck here and don't know if it's a hardware issue or a configuration problem when using archinstall.

[netrusov]

try to rearrange boot entries via bios. if you're unable to find them, check your setup and partitioning layout - you can do so using the same usb stick you've used to install arch

[knothhe]

I finally found it in the UEFI Hard Disk Drive BSS Priorities, not in FIXED BOOT ORDER Priorities. Just put Limine as the first option(Boot Option #1). Not familiar with the UEFI boot options causing problem. thx.

[knothhe]

limine-entry-tool is great, it only takes two steps to add a Windows boot entry to Limine.

1. Installed from AUR. yay -S limine-entry-tool.
2. Interactive scanning. sudo limine-entry-tool --scan will find the appropriate loader items and select the ones you need.

[ukiyo-studio]

I used sudo limine-scan to add my windows ssd to the Limine boot loader and it worked a charm!

[zakura1x]

I am gonna try installing omarchy with using only 1 ssd drive. I created partition and will use the new partition for omarchy. Will this work for dual boot using limine?

[sravioli]

Yes! I just installed Omarchy following the manual install method. Just be careful when installing Arch, make a windows system backup in case you accidentally wipe your drive (happened to me). Other than that, just follow the steps here and Limine now picks up windows boot loader

[lostatgrac3]

Omarchy points strictly out that it will wipe your entire disk so be careful and backup before doing anything!

[sravioli]

Omarchy points strictly out that it will wipe your entire disk so be careful and backup before doing anything!

It won't if you do the manual installation. It consists of first installing Arch, then running the Omarchy installer, you do not actually use the Omarchy ISO.

[felipe-linares]

Thanks for this guide. Worked great.

One small note: this also works with secure boot. I was able to get it working based on something that was recommended in the discord from CachyOS which also uses Limine.

Original post is here: https://discuss.cachyos.org/t/is-there-a-solution-for-making-secure-boot-work-with-limine-snapshots/8148/24 (can skip step where it removes cachyos stuff from /boot/*)

I followed the steps here to add Windows to Limine + followed the steps in that link to get secure boot working.
Just had to put BIOS into setup mode by clearing existing secure boot keys and go into setup mode. Now secure boot working with Limine booting into both Windows & Omarchy. Thanks again.

[AnonymousCoderArtist]

if windows is in gbr then?

[cloudtx]

I followed the steps above exactly. Same two drive setup. Secure boot is disabled. I see Windows 11 in my Limine menu, but when selecting I get a windows blue screen error saying "A required device isn't connected or can't be accessed". I am able to enter the bios to boot windows from there. Have I missed something here?

[podium868909]

I am also experiencing this issue, there seems to be a workaround by chainloading limine -> grub -> windows instead.
Limine-Bootloader/Limine#426

[siayu18]

What happens if you turn on secure boot again to access windows again? I assume your windows partition is encrypted, and can't be access without secure boot. Would be best if you decrypt the partition in the windows settings and then turning off secure boot once the partition has been fully decrypted. That's the work around I found to perform best.

[darianjason]

I'm also getting the same blue screen error when trying to boot Windows 11 which is in a different partition in the same drive :(

Have you found a solution?

[Drew-1771]

I don't have secure boot or an encrypted windows partition. Fresh install of windows 10 (version 22H2) would boot into recovery mode, even after following this guide. I fixed this issue by disabling fast boot in my motherboard BIOS, and disabling fast startup in windows:

• ensure fast boot in motherboard BIOS is disabled
• boot into windows (booting straight from BIOS worked for me)
• run command prompt as administrator
• run:
  powercfg /h off
• reboot and try through limine

I didn't notice a difference in startup times with fast boot on vs fast boot off, even with an nvme ssd

[kle91203]

Great guide. Saved my butt. Thank you.

[siayu18]

Curious to know if limine is better than grub. I got my grub setup working perfectly, but what's the difference with using limine?

[AnonymousCoderArtist]

How did u setup using grub? mine it is not showing the windows one as it is on the other drive

[siayu18]

I setup this a while back, forgot some specific steps. I followed the arch wiki (https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GRUB, section 4), configured the grub configs in /etc/default/grub. Then for the windows not showing up part, what i did was:

menuentry 'Windows 11' {
	savedefault
    search --fs-uuid --no-floppy --set=root 1AA2-C15A
    chainloader (${root})/EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
 }

inside of /etc/grub.d/40_custom, which defines the menu entry in grub. Not sure if that answers your question.

[kfnx]

if i follow this guide meaning it wont have full disk encryption? or its still possible with two disk, without partition

[mkoo7mk]

I followed this guide and worked like a charm, but I updated omarchy using the integrated update menu and now my pc will always boot into omarchy without giving me a choice

[ylaung-gh]

I have the same issue. I fixed this by changing the boot sequence in Bios.

[mkoo7mk]

Yes, fixed by doing the same. I got little confused, because I have new keyboard and for some reason I can't get to BIOS with the new keyboard. Had to switch to my old one to press delete 😄 . What a weird issue

[bruhmux]

For anyone who wants to attempt Secure Boot as well, there are a couple threads as well as this link. I was able to get it to work fine, though I was affected by issue #3315 and was able to fix it with this #3236
It is possible to have both OSs on the same drive, though my windows partition isn't encrypted

[IshpreetSingh8264]

Did you get this issue ever again till now after you followed the above two threads? (The secure boot guide and the black screen fix)
I had secure boot on but i recently got black screen after booting so I had to disable it but i wanna turn it back on sooooo yea.....

[MarkusMaal]

Here's the solution I use instead:

To boot from Linux to Windows (with elevated shell):
efibootmgr -o <Windows Boot Manager entry ID>,<Limine entry ID> (e.g. sudo efibootmgr -o 0000,0002)
reboot now

To find entry IDs:
efibootmgr

To boot back from Windows to Linux (with elevated cmd):
bcdedit /set {fwbootmgr} displayorder <Limine GUID \w curly brackets> {bootmgr}
shutdown /r /t 0

To find Limine GUID (with elevated cmd):
bcdedit /enum FIRMWARE

And you can add these commands to an alias/bind/waybar/etc. in Linux and a desktop shortcut on Windows. And what it basically does is that it changes the EFI boot order and then reboots the computer to the other operating system, so that you don't have to deal with the boot manager non-sense.

It even works if you have direct boot enabled on Omarchy side (though you need to find the Omarchy entry in the boot menu instead of Limine).

Note that editing the order of EFI entries is not possible for every system, so you may still have to settle for solutions listed above.

[Aftonone]

Dude you are a lifesaver, thank you. I could not get limine-scan to add it no matter what I did due to Windows drive being ntfs3. And copying over the bootloader files worked like a charm.