Boot Camp Mac Faq

What you need to install Windows 10 on Mac

  • MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
  • MacBook Air introduced in 2012 or later
  • MacBook Pro introduced in 2012 or later
  • Mac mini introduced in 2012 or later

Explore the frequently asked questions about UR Boot Camps. To learn more about how this cutting-edge online boot camp format can help. Laptops can be Mac. Set the default operating system to either macOS or Windows to have your Mac start up with that operating system every time you turn it on. To browse the Boot Camp Control Panel User Guide, click Table of Contents at the top of the page. If you need more help, visit the Boot Camp Support website.

  • iMac introduced in 2012 or later1
  • iMac Pro (all models)
  • Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later

The latest macOS updates, which can include updates to Boot Camp Assistant. You will use Boot Camp Assistant to install Windows 10.

64GB or more free storage space on your Mac startup disk:

  • Your Mac can have as little as 64GB of free storage space, but at least 128GB of free storage space provides the best experience. Automatic Windows updates require that much space or more.
  • If you have an iMac Pro or Mac Pro with 128GB of memory (RAM) or more, your startup disk needs at least as much free storage space as your Mac has memory.2

An external USB flash drive with a storage capacity of 16GB or more, unless you're using a Mac that doesn't need a flash drive to install Windows.

A 64-bit version of Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro on a disk image (ISO) or other installation media. If installing Windows on your Mac for the first time, this must be a full version of Windows, not an upgrade.

  • If your copy of Windows came on a USB flash drive, or you have a Windows product key and no installation disc, download a Windows 10 disk image from Microsoft.
  • If your copy of Windows came on a DVD, you might need to create a disk image of that DVD.

How to install Windows 10 on Mac

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To install Windows, use Boot Camp Assistant, which is included with your Mac.

1. Use Boot Camp Assistant to create a Windows partition

Open Boot Camp Assistant, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder. Then follow the onscreen instructions.

  • If you're asked to insert a USB drive, plug your USB flash drive into your Mac. Boot Camp Assistant will use it to create a bootable USB drive for Windows installation.
  • When Boot Camp Assistant asks you to set the size of the Windows partition, remember the minimum storage-space requirements in the previous section. Set a partition size that meets your needs, because you can't change its size later.

2. Format the Windows (BOOTCAMP) partition

When Boot Camp Assistant finishes, your Mac restarts to the Windows installer. If the installer asks where to install Windows, select the BOOTCAMP partition and click Format. In most cases, the installer selects and formats the BOOTCAMP partition automatically.

3. Install Windows

Unplug any external devices that aren't necessary during installation. Then click Next and follow the onscreen instructions to begin installing Windows.

4. Use the Boot Camp installer in Windows

After Windows installation completes, your Mac starts up in Windows and opens a ”Welcome to the Boot Camp installer” window. Follow the onscreen instructions to install Boot Camp and Windows support software (drivers). You will be asked to restart when done.

  • If the Boot Camp installer never opens, open the Boot Camp installer manually and use it to complete Boot Camp installation.
  • If you have an external display connected to a Thunderbolt 3 port on your Mac, the display will be blank (black, gray, or blue) for up to 2 minutes during installation.

How to switch between Windows and macOS

Free

Restart, then press and hold the Option (or Alt) ⌥ key during startup to switch between Windows and macOS.

Learn more

If you have one of these Mac models using OS X El Capitan 10.11 or later, you don't need a USB flash drive to install Windows:

  • MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
  • MacBook Air introduced in 2015 or later3
  • MacBook Pro introduced in 2015 or later3
  • iMac introduced in 2015 or later
  • iMac Pro (all models)
  • Mac Pro introduced in late 2013

To remove Windows from your Mac, use Boot Camp Assistant, not any other utility.

For more information about using Windows on your Mac, open Boot Camp Assistant and click the Open Boot Camp Help button.

1. If you're using an iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) or iMac (27-inch, Late 2013) or iMac (27-inch, Late 2012) with a 3TB hard drive and macOS Mojave or later, learn about an alert you might see during installation.

2. For example, if your Mac has 128GB of memory, its startup disk must have at least 128GB of storage space available for Windows. To see how much memory your Mac has, choose Apple menu  > About This Mac. To see how much storage space is available, click the Storage tab in the same window.

3. These Mac models were offered with 128GB hard drives as an option. Apple recommends 256GB or larger hard drives so that you can create a Boot Camp partition of at least 128GB.

For detailed installation instructions, software updates, and more, visit the Boot Camp Support page and consult Boot Camp Help.

Install or remove Windows

Which versions of Windows work with Boot Camp 5.1?
Boot Camp 5.1 supports 64-bit, non-Enterprise versions of Windows 7, Windows 8.0, and Windows 8.1. This version of Boot Camp doesn't support Windows XP, Windows Vista, or any 32-bit version of Windows. Depending on your Mac, you may be able to use an earlier version of Boot Camp to work with other versions of Windows. For details, see the Boot Camp system requirements for Microsoft Windows.

Can I perform an upgrade install from Windows 7 to Windows 8?
See Boot Camp: Frequently asked questions about installing Windows 8.

How do I create the Windows partition and install Windows?
Use Boot Camp Assistant, as described in How to install Windows using Boot Camp. Don't partition your hard drive with a third-party utility before using Boot Camp Assistant, or your hard drive could be erased.

How do I format the Windows partition during Windows installation?
See Set up a Windows partition on your Mac.

Can I perform an upgrade install from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows?
It's not possible to upgrade a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows. Back up your important files, then perform a new install of the 64-bit version of Windows.

Can I resize the Windows partition after installing Windows?
No. Back up your important files, then use Boot Camp Assistant to delete the old partition and create a new one.

Can I install Windows from an ISO image?
To find out if your Mac supports that feature, open Boot Camp Assistant, then click the Continue button. If you see a checkbox labeled “Create a Windows 7 or later install disk,” your Mac can install Windows from an ISO image.

Do Macs that have a Fusion Drive support Boot Camp?
Yes. Boot Camp Assistant creates the Windows partition on the disk drive instead of the flash drive (SSD). If you're installing Windows 8 on an iMac with a 3TB hard drive, make sure the iMac is using OS X v10.8.3 or later.

Can I install Windows on an external drive?
No, Boot Camp requires that Windows be installed on your internal hard disk.

Can I install Windows on a Mac that's using RAID?
No, Boot Camp won't work if your Mac is using software RAID or a Mac Pro RAID card.

What languages does Boot Camp 5.1 support?
Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, English, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.

How do I remove Windows from my Mac?
Follow the removal steps in Set up a Windows partition on your Mac.

Start up in Windows

Which drivers are included with the Windows support software downloaded by Boot Camp Assistant?
Boot Camp Assistant downloads these Mac drivers for Windows:

  • Apple Bluetooth

  • Apple Keyboard Support

  • Apple Remote Driver

  • Apple Trackpad

  • Atheros 802.11 Wireless

  • ATI Graphics

  • Boot Camp Control Panel for Microsoft Windows

  • Boot Camp System Task Notification item (System Tray)

  • Broadcom Wireless

  • Intel Chipset Software

  • Intel Integrated Graphics

  • iSight Camera

  • Marvel Yukon Ethernet

  • nVidia Graphics

  • Cirrus Logic Audio

  • Realtek Audio

  • SigmaTel Audio

  • Startup Disk control panel for Microsoft Windows

  • Thunderbolt

  • USB 3

Do I need to authorize my Mac in Windows to play music and videos purchased from the iTunes Store?
If you want to play your purchased music or videos in Windows, you must authorize your Mac in Windows.

How do the keys on my keyboard function in Windows?
See Boot Camp: About keyboards and key assignment for Microsoft Windows.

  • If CDs and DVDs don't eject when using the Eject key on your keyboard, make sure that you installed the necessary Windows support software (drivers). See the installation instructions in Boot Camp Help for details.

  • If your numeric keypad doesn't work, press the Num Lock key. If there is no key labeled Num Lock, try pressing the Clear key.

Why does Windows show more resolutions for my display than OS X shows?
OS X shows only the recommended display resolutions.

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Are SDXC and other SD cards supported by Boot Camp 5.1?
Yes. If you installed the Windows support software (drivers), Boot Camp works with SD cards on Macs that have an SD or SDXC card slot.

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Is Thunderbolt supported by Boot Camp 5.1?
Yes. See Thunderbolt ports and displays.

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Is USB 3 supported by Boot Camp 5.1?
Yes. See Using USB 3 devices on Mac computers.

Mac Os X Boot Camp

Get help

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  • Apple offers phone-based assistance for Boot Camp for 90 days after the purchase of an eligible Apple hardware product. You can extend this period by purchasing an AppleCare Protection Plan.

  • Support articles and discussions are available on Apple's support website. Apple does not provide technical phone support for installing, using, or recovering Microsoft Windows.

  • If you need help with Boot Camp Setup Assistant, including installing or restoring Boot Camp software while started up in Windows, contact Apple Support.