2 Most Effective Methods to Install/Run Windows 10 on Mac (2024 Guide)

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Mac has released the latest operating system - macOS Ventura, and numerous Mac users are now enjoying the unique functionalities it offers. Users can delight in the new Weather app, Clock app, and various other enhancements. Nevertheless, there are still individuals who wish to run Windows 10 on their Mac. Here are some common reasons for this:

• Windows offers a larger selection of games and generally performs better compared to Mac.
• Certain programs and applications are not compatible with Mac devices.
• Macs are known for their superior hardware, which attracts Windows users.
• If you're a developer, you need to test projects on the Windows system.

By opting to run Windows on a Mac, users can still revert to macOS whenever necessary. Moreover, you can utilize your Mac to run Windows for gaming purposes with improved performance. Continue reading to learn how to run Windows 10 on your Mac.

First Aid: Recover Mac Data Before Installing Windows 10

Before installing Windows 10 on your Mac, there's an important consideration: the system installation process might result in data loss, as you may be prompted to erase data during the setup. Therefore, it's crucial to back up or restore your data to an external hard drive. The recommended data recovery software for this purpose is Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. This tool allows you to recover lost files after updating to macOS Ventura, and it enables you to restore and save your data to a Cloud drive or a local drive.

Download and run this Mac hard drive recovery software to retrieve and export Mac data to a secure location.

Step 1. Select the drive to be scanned In this first step, you need to choose the hard drive or storage device that you want to scan for any issues or lost data. This could be your primary system drive (usually labeled C:) or any external USB drive, memory card, or other storage media connected to your computer. To select the drive, simply click on its respective letter in the list provided by the scanning software. Make sure you choose the correct drive, as scanning the wrong one may lead to unintended results.

In the main interface of Data Recovery Wizard, you'll see a list of drives connected to your Mac. Choose the drive from which you need to recover lost or deleted files, and click the "Search for lost files" button.

Important: Before data recovery, it's recommended to click "Disk Backup" from the left panel to create a backup of your Mac to prevent further data loss. Once backed up, the software can retrieve data from the Mac backup, and your computer can then write new data again.

Step 2. Select the lost data/files

Tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will instantly scan the selected disk volume and display the scan results in the left pane. If you're searching for specific files, you can sort the results to locate them more easily.

Step 3. Recover Lost/Deleted Data

Once you've located the desired files, preview them and then click "Recover" to commence the retrieval of your deleted/lost Mac files.

2 Ways to Run Windows 10 on a Mac (with Pictures)

You've securely backed up your Mac data. Now it's time to install Windows 10 on your Mac. There are two practical methods to run Windows on a Mac:

• Method 1. Install Windows 10 on Mac using Boot Camp Assistant
• Method 2. Run Windows 10 on Mac with a Virtual Machine

Continue reading to learn more detailed information about running the Windows operating system on a Mac.

Method 1: Install Windows 10 on Mac using Boot Camp Assistant

Before the installation process begins, there are some preparations and requirements that you should be aware of.

Preparations

• A Mac with an Intel processor.
• 64 GB or more of free storage space on the Mac's startup disk.
• A USB flash drive with a storage capacity of at least 16GB.
• A 64-bit edition of Windows 10 (Windows 10 full version free).
• Backup your files using Time Machine to safeguard your data.

Requirements

• MacBook from 2015 or later
• MacBook Air from 2012 or later
• MacBook Pro from 2012 or later
• Mac mini from 2012 or later
• iMac from 2012 or later¹
• iMac Pro (all models)
• Mac Pro from 2013 or later

How to Install Windows 10 on a Mac

When ready to proceed with the installation, follow the steps below to install and run Windows 10 on your Mac. The process can be somewhat intricate, and it is recommended that you first watch the video on installing Windows 10 on a Mac using Boot Camp Assistant.

• 0:11 Download the Windows 10 ISO
• 1:08 Configure Boot Camp Assistant
• 2:49 Install Windows 10
• 5:17 Run Boot Camp Installer
• 6:24 Run Apple Software Update
• 7:11 Run Windows Update
• 7:38 Activate Windows

If you prefer a step-by-step guide, continue reading to install Windows 11/10/8/7 on your Mac.

Step 1. Download the Windows 10 ISO

Download the Windows 10 ISO file to a USB flash drive or external hard disk with at least 16GB of space using the link provided.

Step 2. Check for Software Updates

1. On your Mac, log in as an administrator, close all open applications, and log out any additional users. 2. Go to "Apple menu > System Preferences," and click "Software Update" to install all available macOS updates.

Step 3: Create a Windows Partition with Boot Camp Assistant

1. Navigate to /Applications/Utilities on your Mac to open Boot Camp Assistant. 2. Proceed with the on-screen instructions to create a Windows partition.

1. If prompted to insert a USB drive, connect your USB flash drive to your Mac. 2. If you're asked to set the size of the Windows partition, choose a size that suits your requirements since you won't be able to modify it later.

Step 4. Format the Windows (BOOTCAMP) Partition This step involves formatting the partition that has been designated for Windows installation, usually named "BOOTCAMP." Formatting will erase all data on the partition and prepare it for a fresh installation of Windows. Here's how to do it: 1. **Open Disk Utility**: On your Mac, go to the 'Applications' folder, then 'Utilities,' and launch 'Disk Utility.' 2. **Select the Partition**: In the Disk Utility window, locate the hard drive that contains the BOOTCAMP partition. It might be labeled as "Macintosh HD" or another name you've assigned. Click on the drive, then in the right panel, select the BOOTCAMP partition. 3. **Format the Partition**: Click the "Erase" button at the top of the Disk Utility window. A new window will appear. 4. **Enter Details**: In this window, give the partition a new name if desired (usually kept as "BOOTCAMP"). For the format, choose "MS-DOS (FAT)" as this is compatible with Windows. The scheme should be "Master Boot Record" for compatibility with Windows installations. 5. **Confirm Formatting**: Review your settings and click "Erase" to proceed. A warning will pop up, reminding you that all data will be erased. Click "Erase" again to confirm. 6. **Wait for Formatting**: Disk Utility will now format the partition. This process may take a few minutes depending on the size of the partition. Once completed, you can proceed with installing Windows on the formatted BOOTCAMP partition using the Boot Camp Assistant or a Windows installation media.

When Boot Camp Assistant is finished, your Mac restarts to the Windows installer. Typically, the installer automatically selects and formats the BOOTCAMP partition.

Step 5. Install Windows 10 on your Mac

Click "Next" and follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10 on your Mac. Once the installation is complete, your Mac will start up in Windows and display a "Welcome to the Boot Camp Installer" window. Proceed with the on-screen instructions.

After restarting, press and hold the Option key during startup to choose between Windows and macOS.

Method 2: Install and Run Windows 10 on Mac Using a Virtual Machine

Some users wish to install Windows 10 on their Mac without using Boot Camp. Therefore, utilizing a virtual machine (VM) becomes the optimal solution for installing Windows on a Mac. Many individuals prefer to use Parallels or VMware to create a VM on their Macs. However, VirtualBox is a free and efficient alternative. You can acquire this software and effortlessly run Windows on your Mac by following these steps:

< strong >Step 1. Install VirtualBox on macOS< /strong >

1. Download the most recent version of VirtualBox from its official website at this link. 2. Open the downloaded DMG file, then double-click "VirtualBox.pkg" to install VirtualBox on your Mac.

Step 2. Install Windows 10 on VirtualBox

Open VirtualBox, click "New", and set up your Windows 10 name, version, and type. (You'll need to have downloaded the Windows ISO file beforehand.)

1. Select "Create a new virtual hard drive" and then click "Continue." 2. Return to the main VirtualBox screen, and click "Start" to boot the new Windows 10 installation. 3. Since there is no drive or operating system installed, you'll be prompted to choose a virtual optical disk. Click on the Folder icon, select the Windows 10 ISO file that you downloaded earlier, and then click "Start."

Next, follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10 on your Mac using VirtualBox. Once the installation is finished, start the virtual machine and run Windows 10. Keep in mind that the VirtualBox application acts as a virtual PC over your existing Mac operating system. For a genuine native Windows experience on a Mac, you should refer to Method 1.

Conclusion

That concludes the guide on running Windows 10 on a Mac computer. There are alternative methods, such as using remote desktop software, Crossover, and Frame. However, if your primary aim is to have an authentic Windows experience on your Mac (BIOS system), it is recommended to install Windows 10 on your Mac using Boot Camp.

Incidentally, if you experience any data loss on your MacBook or iMac, utilize free data recovery software for Mac to effortlessly reclaim lost photos, documents, audio files, videos, and emails with just a few clicks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Installing Windows on a Mac PC

For further assistance, please review the frequently asked questions below. If you continue to experience issues after referring to the FAQs, don't hesitate to reach out to us via Live Chat or email.

< strong > 1. Does Boot Camp slow down Mac? < /strong > No, Boot Camp itself does not inherently slow down your Mac. Boot Camp is an official utility by Apple that allows you to install and run Windows on your Mac using a separate partition of your hard drive. When you're using macOS, it doesn't impact the performance since Windows is not loaded. Similarly, when you boot into Windows, your Mac's performance will be determined by the resources utilized by Windows and the applications running within it. If those are optimized for the Mac hardware, performance should be acceptable. However, running a virtual machine or dual-booting with another operating system can use more resources, which might lead to slightly slower performance in either OS compared to using only macOS.

BootCamp does not slow down the system. It necessitates partitioning your hard drive into separate sections for Windows and macOS. However, it does not hinder the performance of your Mac.

2. Windows 10 installation failed; how to resolve it?

"To resolve the issue of unable to install Windows 10:"

• Free up disk space
• Run Windows 10 update
• Inspect third-party drivers
• Review Device Manager
• Repair hard drive errors...

3. How to Install Windows 10 on Mac using a USB Drive?

To install Windows 10 on Mac using a USB drive:

1. Install the OS2Go tool on your Windows computer. 2. Plug in a USB drive and click "Next." 3. OS2Go will then begin creating the portable USB drive. 4. Connect the USB to your Mac and boot from it.