Install Windows On Mac Using Boot Camp

21-05-2021
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Set the default operating system. In Windows on your Mac, click in the right side of the taskbar, click the Boot Camp icon, then choose Boot Camp Control Panel. If a User Account Control dialog appears, click Yes. Select the startup disk that has the default operating system you want to use. Boot Camp is an assistant in Mac which allows users to install and use Windows or any other operating systems in a Mac. Boot Camp is a default Mac program inside Mac. Just like Windows or Linux users use Virtualbox to run more than one operating system inside their computer.

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Boot Camp Assistant User Guide

Newer Mac computers use a streamlined method to install Windows on your Mac. To find out whether your Mac uses this method, see the Apple Support article Install Windows 10 on your Mac with Boot Camp Assistant. If your Mac is an older model, follow the instructions in Install Windows on your older Mac using Boot Camp instead.

What you need

  • The keyboard and mouse or trackpad that came with your Mac. If they aren’t available, use a USB keyboard and mouse.

  • A full-installation, 64-bit version of Windows 10 on a disk image (ISO file) or other installation media.

    You can download a Windows 10 Disc Image (ISO File) from Microsoft.

  • Sufficient free storage space on your startup drive. For information about the amount of free space needed, see the Apple Support Article Install Windows 10 on your Mac with Boot Camp Assistant.

Before you begin

Before you install Windows, make sure you back up important files.

You can use Time Machine or any other method to back up your files. For information about backing up files, see Back up your files with Time Machine and Ways to back up or protect your files.

Perform the installation

On your Mac, do the following steps in order.

Step 1: Check for software updates

Before you install Windows, install all macOS updates.

  1. On your Mac, log in as an administrator, quit all open apps, then log out any other users.

  2. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Software Update, then install all available macOS updates.

    If your Mac restarts after installing an update, open Software Update again to install any additional updates.

Step 2: Prepare your Mac for Windows

Boot Camp Assistant prepares your Mac by creating a new partition for Windows named BOOTCAMP and downloading the Boot Camp support software.

Important: If you’re using a portable Mac, connect it to a power source before continuing.

  1. On your Mac, open Boot Camp Assistant , located in /Applications/Utilities.

  2. At the Introduction screen, click Continue.

    The system is checked for total available disk space. Older Time Machine snapshots and cached iCloud files are removed to make space for Boot Camp. This process may take a long time to complete (you can click the Stop button to skip this process).

  3. At the Install Windows step, click Choose, then select the Windows ISO image.

  4. Specify a partition size by dragging the divider between the macOS and Windows partitions.

  5. Click Install.

When this step is complete, the Windows installer starts.

Step 3: Install Windows

  1. In the Windows installer, follow the onscreen instructions.

    When the installation is finished, your Mac automatically restarts using Windows.

  2. Follow the onscreen instructions to set up Windows.

Step 4: Install Boot Camp on Windows

After installing Windows, Boot Camp drivers that support your Mac hardware start installing.

Note: If the support software doesn’t install automatically, you need to install it manually. For instructions, see the Apple Support article If the Boot Camp installer doesn't open after using Boot Camp Assistant.

  1. In the Boot Camp installer in Windows, follow the onscreen instructions.

    Important: Do not click the Cancel button in any of the installer dialogs.

    If a message appears that says the software you’re installing has not passed Windows Logo testing, click Continue Anyway.

    You don’t need to respond to installer dialogs that appear only briefly during installation, but if a dialog asks you to install device software, click Install.

    If nothing appears to be happening, there may be a hidden window that you must respond to. Look behind open windows.

  2. When the installation is complete, click Finish.

  3. After your Mac restarts, follow the instructions for any other installers that appear.

See alsoGet started with Boot Camp on MacTroubleshoot Boot Camp Assistant problems on MacApple Support website: Boot Camp Support

If you're looking to install Windows on your Mac, Boot Camp is the best way to go. Whether it's for a great gaming experience or you just want to try out Windows 10 on Apple's svelte hardware, here's how to get it all set up.

What you'll need before you install Windows 10 on your Mac

Before starting anything else, be sure you have a Mac that supports Windows 10. Straight from Apple, these are the compatible models:

  • MacBook Pro (2012 and later)
  • MacBook Air (2012 and later)
  • MacBook (2015 and later)
  • iMac Pro (2017)
  • iMac (2012 and later)*
  • Mac mini (2012 and later)
  • Mac mini Server (Late 2012)
  • Mac Pro (Late 2013)

If you own an iMac with 3TB or more, check out this Apple Support document for more information on installing Windows 10 on your machine through Boot Camp.

Do you have a Mac that can run Windows 10? Good! Make sure you have at least 64GB of free space on your hard drive for the Windows installation. During the installation process, you can set the Windows partition to whatever size you want, as long as the drive has enough storage.

Finally, update your Mac's OS to ensure there are no compatibility problems. You'll also want to perform a backup of your Mac in the (rare) case that something goes wrong.

How to download the Windows 10 ISO file

To start, we need to grab a Windows 10 ISO file from the Microsoft website. You can download it straight to your internal hard drive.

Install windows on mac with boot camp
  1. Navigate to the Microsoft Windows 10 ISO download page.
  2. Click the dropdown menu below Select edition.

  3. Click Windows 10 in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update section. You can download the Creators Update through Windows once it is installed.

  4. Click Confirm.

  5. Click the dropdown menu below Select the product language.

  6. Click your language of choice.

  7. Click Confirm.

  8. Click 64-bit Download.

  9. Click Save. The ISO file will now be downloaded.

Once the file has finished downloading, continue on to the next set of steps.

How to install Windows 10 with Boot Camp

Once you've downloaded a Windows 10 ISO, you can complete the following steps.

  1. Launch Boot Camp Assistant from the Utilities folder in Applications.

  2. Click Continue. Boot Camp should automatically locate the ISO file on your system.

  3. Click and drag the slider in the partition section. It will be set to 48GB by default, but you can add as much storage as you want within the limits of the drive.

  4. Click Install. Windows support software will now be downloaded.

  5. Type your password.

  6. Click OK. Your Mac will restart and you will see the Windows 10 setup screen.

  7. Choose your language.
  8. Click Install Now.
  9. Type your product key or click I don't have a key. You can enter it after the installation.
  10. Click either Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Pro based on your preference.
  11. Click Next.
  12. Click Custom: Install Windows Only.
  13. Click Drive 0 Partition X: BOOTCAMP. Do not choose anything else.
  14. Click Next. Windows 10 will now be installed. Your Mac will restart several times during the process.
  15. Click Use Express Settings or Customize Your Installation when the Windows 10 setup screen appears. In this case, we use express settings, as all can be changed after the installation.
  16. Type a username. You can also add a password.
  17. Click Next.
  18. Choose to use or not to use Cortana.

Windows 10 will now boot fully, and you'll be able to use Windows normally.

How to install Boot Camp software on your Windows 10 partition

When Windows 10 loads for the first time on your Mac, a Boot Camp software installer will automatically pop up.

  1. Click Install.
  2. Click I accept the terms in the license agreement.
  3. Click Install.
  4. Click Finish when the installation is complete.

This is an important process, as it installs a bunch of drivers and software that will help make your Windows 10 experience as good as possible on your Mac.

How to return to macOS from Windows 10

One of the best parts of Boot Camp is how easy it is to switch back and forth between operating systems.

Install Windows On Mac Using Boot Camp
  1. Click the Show hidden icons button in the Windows 10 taskbar.
  2. Click the Boot Camp button.

  3. Click Restart in OS X.

Your Mac will now restart, and you'll be brought right back to macOS. To get back to Windows 10, and indeed another way to switch from Windows 10 to macOS, is to restart your Mac and hold down the Option key on your keyboard until a boot menu appears. From here, you can choose which OS to load.

Updating Windows 10 and more

Now that you have Windows 10 installed on your Mac, you can update it to the Creators Update.

The easiest way to do so is to use Windows Update.

  1. Click the Start button.

  2. Click the Settings button. It looks like a gear.

  3. Click Update & security.

  4. Click Check for updates.

Install Windows On Your Mac Using Boot Camp

The Creators Update should begin downloading and will install. Follow the steps on screen, and you'll be up to date in no time.

Looking for more Windows 10 Creators Update help? Check out the ultimate guide over on Windows Central.

Updated March 22, 2019: Updated for macOS Mojave.

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