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There is another way to take the Windows experience to the next level: run it on a Mac using Boot Camp.Apple's multi-boot utility – which has been included with the Mac operating system since OS X 10.5 Leopard – guides users through installing Windows on Intel-based Macs, and it's actually pretty easy to get started if all the necessary components are in place. Apple’s first commercial MacOS on ARM product is expected to be a MacBook Pro that will launch at the end of this year (developers already have access to a Mac mini powered by the iPad Pro’s.
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- Running Windows On Macbook Pro
Having a Mac means you can run almost any operating system. This is a major advantage when compared to a PC, which cannot run macOS, for example. But why would you even want install Windows on a Mac? Green apple animated. Are there any benefits or drawbacks of having the operating system on board sitting alongside macOS? Well as it happens there are plenty of reasons why you might want to install a different operating system, but there are some things you’ll need to know first.
The Advantages of Having Windows on a Mac
Let's face it, after making the switch to Apple the only reason why someone would install Windows on a Mac is for the specialty software, the programs where the only supporting platform is Windows. If these such tools are being used to get a certain job done, then it is a no-brainer to have them installed on the work machine. Or perhaps there’s an addictive game that’s only available on Windows, so the reasons for installing the OS can vary.
Having this platform on the Mac brings several benefits:
- Cuts down IT costs. Users don't need to invest in another computer just to run Windows.
- Eliminates the need to switch from one computer to another.
- Helps the user get the job done while still using familiar hardware, in this case the Mac.
The Downsides of Windows on a Mac
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What nobody wants to discuss, however, are the downsides of having a secondary operating system on a Mac. The biggest of these is the associated costs that need to be considered when hoping to run Windows on macOS.
Although running Windows on a Mac eliminates further hardware costs, you will still need to buy a Windows license. Now, such a license starts at $119.99 for Windows 10 Home and can go up to $309.00 for Windows 10 Pro for Workstations.
But once you have a Windows license you will still need to choose a way of installing Windows on a Mac. Depending on the solution chosen, this could add up to $150 in additional license costs since virtual machine software can come with its own fees. Of course, there are ways to eliminate that cost by using Boot Camp or VirtualBox, both of which are free solutions to this problem. But like with any freeware, they each have their own benefits and downsides.
If you pick Boot Camp, then it's perfectly fine – the most authentic Windows experience will be yours. But at the same time, you will need to sacrifice storage space on the limited capacity startup disk, which with Boot Camp is a minimum of 40GB. But while virtual machines are more flexible, the required storage can grow exponentially as you continue to use Windows.
Other Solutions for Running Windows Apps on a Mac
Fortunately, there is a way to address the overhead that installing Windows can generate: bottler software. This program acts like an interpreter on a Mac and allows users to run specific Windows apps without the storage cost of installing a Windows environment. These apps translate the Windows command into something a Mac can understand but aren't as widespread as virtual machines since they only support a handful of Windows programs (for example, CrossOver Mac supports 15,000 different apps) and their performance is inferior to VMs.
Instead of installing a bottler app or virtual machine, Mac users can install Microsoft's Remote Desktop app. However, this requires a connection to another PC that already has Windows installed and allows remote access.
Potential Issues When Running Windows on a Mac
Apple's macOS has utilities built-in to protect user data – XProtect, Gatekeeper, and the like – but when you run a guest operating system on a Mac you are exposing the partition used for storing that OS to viruses and malware targeting it. This applies to Windows, so it is highly recommended to install antivirus software.
While Windows viruses cannot infect macOS files, what happens is that the Mac becomes a host to the viruses and is able to infect PCs that are connected to the network. Also, in some cases, if a virtual machine running Windows gets infected, it may potentially render the content of the shared folders useless.
Run Windows On Macbook Pro
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
- 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
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.
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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.
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How to switch between Windows and macOS
Restart, then press and hold the Option (or Alt) ⌥ key during startup to switch between Windows and macOS.
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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 2017 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
Running Windows On Macbook Pro
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.