What you need to install Windows 10 on Mac
Jul 30, 2020.
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- 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.
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
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 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
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.
It's Apple's Worldwide Development Conference (WWDC) day today, and the company is widely expected to announce the start of transition from Intel processors to its own, ARM architecture-based chips for laptops and desktop computers.
But while previous reports suggested a fairly timid transition, a new report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is far more exciting.
New Mac From Apple Pro
Kuo (via 9to5Mac) claims that Apple will launch an ARM-based, 13.3-inch MacBook Pro as early as the last quarter of 2020 or the first quarter of 2021. He also expects Apple to launch a 24-inch iMac with an ARM-based processor in this timeframe.
Kuo's report has a notable difference from Bloomberg's report from April, which said Apple would introduce its ARM-based chips into laptops first, as it would be hard for them to rival the performance of Intel chips in the iMac and Mac Pro. Kuo, however, expects the ARM-based chips to offer a massive, 50-100% performance improvement over their Intel-based predecessors. Details are scarce, but if Apple could achieve that with the iMac, the company could transition to the new chips pretty quickly, and Kuo thinks all new Macs will run on Apple chips starting in 2021.
Kuo also expects Apple to launch a new-form MacBook to go into production in mid-2021, also with an ARM-based chip. Apple should also launch a MacBook with a mini-LED display in the first half of 2021.
New Mac From Apple Store
SEE ALSO: How to watch Apple's WWDC 2020 event
There was also some potentially disappointing news for everyone who expected new hardware at this year's WWDC. Several leakers, including Jon Prosser and Max Weinbach, say Apple probably won't launch any hardware, and Bloomberg's analyst Mark Gurman seems to agree as well. It's unclear whether this was planned all along or if Apple scrapped the launch at the last minute.
I had two sources tell me no hardware for WWDC tomorrow. They aren’t on WWDC related teams but heard it through the Apple grapevine. I’d take this with a grain of salt, but thought it was worth mentioning.
New Mac From Apple To Tv
— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) June 21, 2020
Don't get us wrong: If Apple announces ARM-based chips, there will be a lot of hardware talk at the event, but if these recent reports are true, there will be no fixed-date hardware launches.
New Apple Laptop 2020
Previous rumors suggested Apple would be launching a new iMac with a new design language similar to the iPad Pro. And Kuo did say in his latest report that a new iMac launch is imminent (to avoid confusion, Kuo was referring to an Intel-based iMac, which should be Apple's last new Mac before the company transitions to ARM chips).
As for software, there should be a ton of new stuff across all of Apple's platforms; check out our overview of possible new features here.
We'll find out who's right and who's wrong soon enough, as the WWDC – which is a special, virtual event this year – starts today (Monday) at 10 a.m. PDT/1 p.m. EDT. Here's how to tune in.