Install Windows on your Mac with Boot Camp

Boot Camp helps you install Microsoft Windows on your Mac. After you install, you can restart your Mac to switch between macOS and Windows.

Before you begin

Make sure that you have what you need:

• Enough free disk space to create a Boot Camp disk partition* with a minimum size of 64GB. 128GB is recommended for the best experience.
• An external keyboard and mouse or trackpad (if you're using a Mac desktop computer).
• A blank 16GB or larger USB 2 flash drive. If you have one of these Mac models, you don't need a flash drive.

* On Mac computers with APFS-formatted disks, Boot Camp requires a partition rather than a volume.

⇒ Find out if your Mac supports Windows 10

These Mac models support the 64-bit version of Windows 10 Home or Pro edition installed with Boot Camp. Use About This Mac to find out which Mac you have, then see if it's on this list:

    ⇲    MacBook Pro (2012 and later)

    ⇲    MacBook Air (2012 and later)

    ⇲    MacBook (2015 and later)

    ⇲    iMac Pro (2017)

    ⇲    iMac (2012 and later)*

    ⇲    Mac mini (2012 and later)

    ⇲    Mac mini Server (Late 2012)

    ⇲    Mac Pro (Late 2013)

⇒ Get a Windows disk image

You need a Microsoft Windows disk image (ISO) or installation media containing a 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows 10 Home or Pro edition. If you're installing Windows for the first time, use a full version, not an upgrade.
When you buy Windows, it comes as a disk image file (ISO) that you download, or as an installation disc or USB flash drive. If you download Windows, make sure that you do so only from the Microsoft Software Download page. If your copy of Windows came on a DVD, you might need to create a disk image of it to work with Boot Camp. If your version of Windows came on a USB flash drive, you can download an ISO from Microsoft.


⇒ Open Boot Camp Assistant

Boot Camp Assistant guides you through installing Windows on your Mac. Open this app from the Utilities folder inside the Applications folder. Then follow the onscreen instructions to repartition your startup disk and download related software drivers for Windows.
If you're prompted during installation, connect a blank USB 2 flash drive.


⇒ Format your Windows partition

When you complete the assistant, your Mac restarts to the Windows installer. If you're using a flash drive or optical drive to install Windows, you're asked where you want to install Windows. Select the BOOTCAMP partition, then click Format. If you're not using a flash drive or optical drive, the correct partition is selected and formatted for you automatically. 


⇒ Install Windows and Windows Support Software

Unplug any external devices, such as displays and disks, that aren't necessary during installation. Then follow the onscreen prompts to install Windows.
When installation is complete, your Mac starts up in Windows and launches an installer for Windows Support Software. If the screen that says "Welcome to the Boot Camp installer" doesn't appear automatically, you can install Windows Support Software manually.


⇒ Switch between macOS and Windows

After installing both Windows and Windows Support Software, you can switch back to macOS using the Boot Camp system tray item in Windows. Select the macOS volume, then restart your Mac.
To switch from macOS to Windows, use the Startup Disk preference pane to select the Boot Camp volume, then restart your Mac. You can also hold down the Option key after restarting your Mac to choose between macOS and Windows.