If you’re interested in installing Windows 10 on your Mac’s
internal drive, you can easily do so by means of Microsoft’s Windows 10 ISO
download and the macOS Boot Camp Assistant. The installation can be a little
time consuming, but it is by no means difficult. Check out our full video
walkthrough inside for the details.
Note: Before you do anything, back up your Mac.
This is always a good idea anytime you’re modifying the partition table.
Macs that
support Windows 10
MacBook Pro
- MacBook Pro
(15-inch, Late 2016)
- MacBook Pro
(13-inch, Late 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro
(13-inch, Late 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro
(Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
- MacBook Pro
(Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
- MacBook Pro
(Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)
- MacBook Pro
(Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014)
- MacBook Pro
(Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)
- MacBook Pro
(Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013)
- MacBook Pro
(Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013)
- MacBook Pro
(Retina, 13-inch, Early 2013)
- MacBook Pro
(Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012)
- MacBook Pro
(Retina, Mid 2012)
- MacBook Pro
(13-inch, Mid 2012)
- MacBook Pro
(15-inch, Mid 2012)
MacBook Air
- MacBook Air
(13-inch, Early 2015)
- MacBook Air
(11-inch, Early 2015)
- MacBook Air
(13-inch, Early 2014)
- MacBook Air
(11-inch, Early 2014)
- MacBook Air
(13-inch, Mid 2013)
- MacBook Air
(11-inch, Mid 2013)
- MacBook Air
(13-inch, Mid 2012)
- MacBook Air
(11-inch, Mid 2012)
MacBook
- MacBook (Retina,
12-inch, Early 2016)
- MacBook (Retina,
12-inch, Early 2015)
iMac
- iMac (Retina 5K,
27-inch, Late 2015)
- iMac (Retina 4K,
21.5-inch, Late 2015)
- iMac (21.5-inch,
Late 2015)
- iMac (Retina 5k,
27-inch, Mid 2015)
- iMac (Retina 5K,
27-inch, Late 2014)
- iMac (21.5-inch,
Mid 2014)
- iMac (27-inch,
Late 2013)
- iMac (21.5-inch,
Late 2013)
- iMac (27-inch,
Late 2012)
- iMac (21.5-inch,
Late 2012)
Mac mini
- Mac mini (Late
2014)
- Mac mini Server
(Late 2012)
- Mac mini (Late
2012)
Mac Pro
Download
the Windows 10 ISO
Step 1: Visit Microsoft’s Download Windows 10 Disc Image (ISO File) page.
For Edition, choose Windows 10, and click Confirm. Next, select the desired
language, and click Confirm. Finally, click the 64-bit Download button
to begin the Windows 10 ISO download.
Run Boot
Camp Assistant
Step 2: Once the ISO download is completed, launch Boot Camp
Assistant in Applications → Utilitiesand
click Continue.
Step 3: Click the Choose button next to the ISO image box, and
select the ISO file downloaded in step 1.
Step 4: Adjust the Boot Camp partition size by moving the Windows
partition to the desired amount of space. You’ll want to leave enough room
for your macOS installation, but you’ll also want to allocate enough storage
space for the Windows 10 partition. A lot will depend on how much space you
have, and how you plan on utilizing the Windows 10 installation. If you plan on
installing a large amount of Windows 10 applications and games, then
you’ll need to take that into consideration.
Step 5: After selecting the ISO file and adjusting the
partition sizes, click Install. The Boot Camp Assistant will download Windows
support software, partition the disk, and copy the necessary Windows files to
get started. You will then be prompted to enter your administrator password,
and shortly thereafter, macOS will reboot into Windows Setup.
Install
Windows 10
Step 6: Upon reboot you’ll see the Windows logo followed
by the Windows Setup screen. Select the desired language, time and country
format, along with keyboard or input method, and click Next.
Step 7: You’ll now arrive at the Activate Windows box. If you
already have a Windows 10 product key, enter it and click Next. Otherwise,
click I don’t have a product key at the bottom of the box.
Step 8: Select either Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Home.
If you plan on buying Windows, the Home version is the more economical of the
two at $99, and chances are you may not need the features offered in the
Pro edition anyway. However, if you plan on taking advantage of the Windows
Insider Program, which allows you to essentially beta test Windows 10 using
Microsoft-provided activation keys, then you might decide to go with the
Pro version. You can compare each version of Windows 10 here. Click Next
after choosing the desired version.
Step 9: On the Applicable notices and license terms screen, check
the I accept the license terms box in the bottom left-hand
corner, and click Next.
Step 10: The installation process will now commence. Windows Setup
will copy needed files, and install features and updates. The installation
process should only take a few minutes. Once it’s complete, your Mac will
automatically reboot after 10 seconds.
Step 11: Upon rebooting, the Windows logo will appear again, and the
setup process will continue and reboot again. Eventually. You’ll see the
blue Get going fast screen. You can opt to use express
settings, but I recommend clicking the Customize button and disabling most, if
not all of the switches. Click Next to proceed to the next pages and
repeat the process.
Step 12: You’ll now be asked to create an account. An
account name is required, but a password is not. Click Next once you select the
desired user name and password combination.
Step 13: On the Meet Cortana screen, you can choose to enable the
Cortana personal assistant. I recommend keeping it disabled by clicking
the Not now button.
Step 14: Windows will now finish up the setup process,
and you’ll eventually be taken to the Windows 10 desktop. On the Welcome
to Boot Camp installer box, click Next and accept the terms of the
license agreement. Click Install to proceed with the installation. If any
additional driver installation boxes appear, be sure to Install those as well.
Once the installer completes, make sure the Restart Systembox is
checked, and click Finish to reboot your machine.
Step 16: Upon rebooting, click the Wi-Fi icon in the
system tray and connect to your local Wi-Fi network.
Apple
Software Update
Note: This next step is very important, because it
updates to the latest sound driver. The initial driver is known to cause
speaker problems, so it’s important that you update.
Step 17: Click the Start Button and select Apple Software
Update. Select any of the updates that appear, and click
the Install items button in the bottom right-hand corner.
Click Yes on the User Account Control pop up windows that appears, and click Install on
any additional related software installations.
Step 18: Ensure that any in-progress installations
complete, and then click Yes on the Apple Software Update
Restart pop up window that appears. Your Mac will reboot back into Windows 10.
Step 19: Finally, go to Start → Settings → Update
& security, and click the Check for updates button.
Windows will download any needed updates, and prompt you to restart after doing
so. Click Restart now to complete the installation and
reboot.
Activate
Windows or join the Windows Insider Program
You have two (actually three) choices from here. You can purchase
a Windows 10 Activation key and activate Windows, or you can sign up to the
Windows Insider Program. The downside of joining the Windows Insider program is
that you’ll be running prerelease versions of Windows 10, which could
possibly come with stability issues. Activating the Windows Insider
Program on your installation also means that you’re willing to deliver usage
data to Microsoft and its partners. The upside of the Windows Insider Program
is that it provides you with a genuine activation without having to pay out of
pocket.
The “third” choice is to not Activate Windows at all, but that’s
not a choice I recommended. You can still use Windows 10 even if it’s not
activated, but Microsoft will bug you with a watermark, and restrict the amount
of personalization that you can make to the OS. So the moral to the story is
this: Activate it, by paying or joining Windows Insider Program, if you use it.
If you wish to activate with a purchased key, click Start
→ Settings → Update & security → Activation, and click
Change product key.
If you wish to join the Windows Insider Program, click Start
→ Settings → Update & security → Windows Insider
Program, and wait until the Get Insider Preview builds page
loads. Click the Get started button to begin. You’ll need to
sign in with your Microsoft account to get started. Once you’re signed in,
click the Get started button again to confirm your enrollment.
Rebooting
into macOS or Windows
You can easily switch between macOS or Windows by holding the
Option key on your keyboard while rebooting. When you do, you’ll be able to
select between the Windows and macOS installations.
You can also choose to reboot directly into macOS or Windows from
either operating system. On macOS you simply go to System Preferences → Startup
Disk, and choose BOOTCAMP Windows. On Windows, you click the System Tray →
Boot Camp, and choose Restart in macOS.