Two Ways to Install Windows 10 on Mac: Boot Camp and Virtualization Software

install windows 10 on mac

To install Windows 10 on a MacBook Pro, iMac or even Mac Mini is relatively simple. Using Boot Camp is possibly the most commonly known method, but there are also several virtualization software tools that can accomplish the same thing, as well as some interesting open-source options.

Which Mac Devices Can Run Windows 10?

If you have a Mac device that was purchased in late 2012 or after, it should be able to run Windows 10. For a full list, go to Apple’s support page here.

First, Let’s cover the Boot Camp method of installing Windows 10 on Mac. OS X Yosemite and higher versions of macOS support Windows 10 installation using Boot Camp, but only for the 64-bit versions of Windows 10.

Install Windows 10 on Mac Using Boot Camp

The first thing you need is Boot Camp Assistant, which is preloaded on your Mac. You will also need an ISO image for Windows 10. You can download the appropriate file directly from Microsoft’s site here.

Boot Camp Assistant works by creating a partition on your drive where Windows 10 can run, and then initiate the Windows Installer on your Mac. The application will take you through the entire process of setting up Windows 10 on your Mac, so all you need to do is launch it and follow the step-by-step instructions.

Apple warns that some features may not work the first time you start your Mac from Windows 10. In such cases, it suggests that you download the latest Windows support software from Apple before attempting a reinstallation. You should be able to do that from within Boot Camp Assistant.

Please note, whenever you do a major update like an OS installation or upgrade, we advise that you first take a full backup of your device so you don’t lose any of your data.




With this method you won’t have to worry about additional load on your Mac because Boot Camp is built right into macOS. That means your Mac’s hardware will be completely dedicated to running either Windows 10 or macOS at any given time. Switching between the two requires a restart, which is not the case when you use virtualization software.

The virtualization software method of installing Windows 10 is a little more complex to set up, but it allows your Mac to run two different operating systems and switch easily between the two. However, because of this functionality, you may experience a slowdown in performance.

Install Windows 10 on Mac Using VMWare or Parallels

Using virtualization software, you can create a virtual machine inside your Mac, which then runs the Windows 10 operating system. In fact, you can even install other operating systems like Linux using this method.




There are currently two popular virtualization software applications for this: Parallels Desktop 12 and VMWare Fusion 8.5.3. Both are now updated to support macOS Sierra and the latest version of Windows 10.

Both applications work in pretty much the same way. With Parallels, you can even purchase Windows 10 directly from the setup menu. In addition, you can either use a DVD or ISO image file to install Windows 10, or even migrate it from another PC.

The virtualization software costs under $100, and offer free trial periods so you can evaluate them before you purchase. There’s also a pro version for both applications, which offer additional features and user-based licensing for business users.




One of the best features in these software applications is that they allow you to assign a specific memory limit and a specific number of processors to the virtual machine. On a high-end Mac with four, eight or twelve cores this is a useful feature because it can help your device deliver great performance despite the additional load.

In addition to these two, there are also free open-source applications such as VirtualBox that do the same thing. Another paid application called CrossOver actually allows you to run specific Windows applications on Mac, such as Microsoft Outlook. Another one called Wine works by installing a “compatibility layer” between the Windows apps and macOS. That means you won’t have to actually install Windows 10 for those apps to work.

Some of these are a little hard to set up unless you have some technical knowledge, so if you’re okay with having to restart your Mac when you want to switch OSes, then Boot Camp is probably the best way to go.

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