Apple is extremely well known for its Macbooks and iMac series. They have a clean and smooth user interface, and the performance of Macbooks is highly optimized.
However, there are times when you will need to use Windows. For example, some applications are not available for macOS. In such cases, you will need some other operating system.
Since buying a new laptop is not a practical solution, we are going to use a free software called Boot Camp to install Windows 10 on your PC so that you can get the best of both worlds.
The added benefit is that Apple officially supports this process as the latest macOS updates contain Boot Camp Assistant, so you can install Windows 10 without any issues.
What You Will Need
The first requirement to install Windows 10 is to ensure that your Mac comes with an Intel processor.
All MacBooks that are manufactured after 2015 and other Mac models that were available in the market after 2012 can support Windows 10 installation.
How to Check If Your Mac has an Intel Processor
If you are not sure what model of Mac you are using, you can follow the steps below
Step 1: Firstly, go to your desktop and click on the Apple icon.
Step 2: Next, click on About This Mac.
Step 3: A window will pop up. Check the Processor section. If it says Intel Core or something like that, it means that you have an Intel processor.
Next, you will need at least 64 GB of space free on your Mac startup partition. You can easily install Windows 10 with 64 GB storage, but to ensure that you do not run into any trouble, keep at least 128 GB free.
If you are using an iMac Pro or the other Mac Pro models that have 128 GB of RAM, you need to ensure that the free space in your root directory(the partition where you will install windows) is equal to or greater than your RAM capacity.
You can follow the steps given above to check the RAM capacity of your iMac.
Finally, download the 64-bit Windows 10/Pro installation file as a disk image (ISO) from the official Microsoft download site. Windows 10 Home is available for free.
Note: You may not see the Download button if you are visiting the site using a Mac computer. Scroll down a bit and open the drop-down menu to select Windows 10 (multi-edition ISO) and follow the on-screen instructions for downloading the ISO file.
If this is the first time you are installing Windows, make sure that you download the full installation file as upgrade files work only if you have Windows already installed on your Mac.
Installing Windows 10 on your Mac
Well, now that we have all the things we need, let us move on to the primary process of installing Windows 10 using Bootcamp on Mac.
Step 1: Launch Boot Camp Assistant on your Mac. This comes pre-installed on all mac.
Step 2: After Boot Camp Assistant opens up, click on Continue.
Step 3: Next, it will ask you to choose the Windows ISO file. Select the ISO file that you downloaded before.
Step 4: Boot Camp Assistant will also ask you to select how much space you want to allocate to your Windows installation.
You can use the slider to adjust the amount of space that you will give to the Windows partition.
Now, remember what we said before – allocate a minimum of 64 GB of free space, 128 GB for the best experience and if you have an iMac or Mac Pro, allocate the same size as your RAM capacity (128 GB or more).
Step 5: Wait for Boot Camp Assistant to create the partition for you. It generally takes about 10 minutes. But it can happen faster.
Step 6: Once Boot Camp Assistant creates the partition, wait for the PC to restart automatically. However, once your Mac boots up, you will not see the Apple logo. Instead, you will see the blue Windows logo.
Step 7: You will see that you are currently in the Windows Setup window. From there, select the language in which you want to install, the time and currency format, and the keyboard input method.
After selecting them, click on Next.
Step 8: In the next window, the Setup will ask for a product key. If you want to use the free version of Windows, simply click on I don’t have a product key and move on to the next window. If you have one, enter it and proceed to the next window.
Step 9: Next, select the version of Windows 10 that you will install.
Click on Next and go to the next window, where you need to read and accept the terms and conditions.
Step 10: The installation process will start after you have accepted the terms and conditions. The setup will show you that the Windows files are being copied and the features and updates are being installed.
The entire installation process takes about 10 minutes. After the installation is complete, your Mac will restart.
Step 11: Now, we will need to perform the initial Windows setup, as we do on a new Windows computer.
Follow the on-screen messages to complete the setup process.
Step 12: Once you have booted to Windows 10, download Boot Camp Assistant on Windows 10. This will be helpful if you want to change the partition size or encounter a problem during installation.
As soon as you complete your Windows setup, you may receive a notification to install Boot Camp on Windows. It takes about 5-10 minutes to complete and update.
Step 13: Congratulations! You have installed Windows 10 using Boot Camp on Mac. If you want to reboot to macOS, restart your PC.
As soon as the screen becomes dark, press and hold the Option key for five seconds.
The screen will display two partitions for macOS and Windows. Select your preferred operating system from there, and you are good to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Well, now that we have installed Windows 10, let us take a look at a few questions that may come to your mind.
Does Boot Camp still work on Mac?
Yes. Boot Camp Assistant comes built-in with the latest versions of macOS.
Is Boot Camp for Mac a good idea?
If you want to experience Windows 10 and macOS on a single device or want to use features that are exclusive to Windows 10, Boot Camp Assistant is the best tool you have, as it is supported by Apple.
Will my files get deleted if I install Windows using Boot Camp?
You will not lose any of your personal data that is stored in the macOS partition. However, if you have some files in the partition where you want to install Windows 10, they will get deleted as your Mac will format that partition to install Windows.
How long does it take to install Windows on a Mac?
This depends on the speed of your SSD. However, it generally takes about 10-20 minutes.
How can I get Windows 10 for free?
Windows 10 Home edition is free for everyone. That means you will not need any product key.
Wrapping Up
That’s how you install Windows 10 on your Mac using Boot Camp. First, make sure that you meet the minimum requirements. Then download Windows 10 ISO file (for free), select the file on Boot Camp Assistant, and allocate space for installation.
Follow the on-screen steps for the installation and setup to finish. Then, install Boot Camp in Windows 10 for adjusting partitions and troubleshooting purposes. And if you want to switch back to macOS, hold the option key after restarting the PC and select your preferred OS.
