How to install Windows 10 on a MacBook
- For software development: you need to switch between environments to test a multi-platform software, such as cross-platform mobile apps.
- For studying: many students have to study C/C++ in their first year, Visual Studio for Mac doesn’t support Microsoft C++.
- For gaming: you like Windows games, such as Forza Horizon, you like the Windows experiences than macOS.
There is no harm to your current macOS, because this is a built-in feature in macOS that supports Windows 10. Running a Windows 10 virtual machine inside macOS is slow and hurts the performance.
Don’t be a programmer who works with computers but always has to call service desks and pay for re-installing the OS.
[Update 213/2021] I’ll try to be as specific as possible, so you can finish the installation of Windows 10 on a MacBook without googling anywhere else.
Hardware requirements
- A MacBook with an Intel processor:
- MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
- MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, introduced in 2012 or later
- iMac Pro (all models)
- Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
I used the MacBook Pro 13 inch touch bar late 2016.
2. A 8Gb USB (memory stick) that can be plugged into the MacBook (mind the supported ports: USB-3 or USB-C).
Software requirements
- Update macOS to the latest version (System Preferences from the Apple menu, then click Software Update to check for updates). If your macOS is later than 10.4 Tiger (2007), it should have Boot Camp Assistant available already.
- A Windows 10 ISO. You can download it officially here. I also put it here (expire in 1 year). Copy this ISO file to the USB without (no need to uncompress or extract this file).
Put your hat on
First things first: backup your data to cloud storage or portable drivers.
Partitioning
If you have only one partition for the disk, just skip this step, because Boot Camp Assistant will support you creating a new partition for Windows.
Otherwise, you can manually prepare a new partition. On your Mac, open Disk Utility, select the disk and click “Partition” button. Press “+” or “-” to add/merge partitions, or change partition size by the Size field.
If you want 100GB for Windows, create a 146Gb partition because Boot Camp Assistant reserves 46Gb for another macOS on that partition (even there is another partition with macOS already).
Prepare for installation with Boot Camp Assistant
Open Boot Camp Assistant in Applications > Utilities (or Command + space then enter the app name). Continue.
Select the partition size by clicking on the OS icon or drag their divider. Then click Install.
Wait for the preparation process.
Install Windows
After that, Mac restarts to the Windows installer. Select BOOTCAMP partition if the installer asks for a partition.
For some cases, the BOOTCAMP partition is wrongly detected, you’ll see an error if continuing the installation. Restart the Mac and keep pressing Option/Alt key when it is booting up, select the Windows partition, it will take you to continue the installation as usual.
Unplug the USB and any other external devices, click Next, and follow the Windows 10 installation instruction.
Post-installation
After successfully installed and logged in to Windows, a ”Welcome to the Boot Camp installer” is shown, follow its instruction to install Boot Camp on Windows. This is necessary for some hardware to work properly.
You will find a Boot Camp icon on the task tray, use it to configure some hardware (track pad, keyboard,…).
Note: “Restart in macOS” doesn’t work for me. I still have to use the old way (holding Option/Alt key) to switch between macOS — Windows.
It’s a good idea to run Apple Software Update application on Windows to get the latest Boot Camp version and drivers, etc.
Hope it helps! Cheers!
26/3/2021 updates: after update Windows and the latest version of Boot Camp on Windows, I’m able to use the Restart in MacOS option.
New finding: Pressing Option/Alt key also allows booting to a Ubuntu installation USB, then Ubuntu can be installed from there.
