For Mac Users - How to Install Windows on Mac Without Using Boot Camp

Typically, a single computer runs only one operating system. However, there are instances where users might need two operating systems on the same machine, and this is particularly common among Mac users.

On Mac computers, the built-in Boot Camp has long served as an official method for users to partition the hard drive and install Windows. Nevertheless, numerous individuals continue seeking alternatives to install Windows 10 on a Mac without using Boot Camp. This is because Boot Camp often doesn't function smoothly, proving to be cumbersome, prone to errors, and它 can hinder installation efficiency.

Fortunately, there are numerous third-party utilities that allow users to install Windows systems without using Boot Camp. In this article, we will demonstrate how Mac users can utilize a tool called OS2Go to install Windows. Additionally, virtualization software like VMware and VirtualBox are also excellent options for running Windows on macOS.

Preparations

Before beginning the installation of Windows 10 on your Mac, make sure you have the following preparations in place:

• A USB flash drive with at least 64 GB or more capacity.
• A copy of the Windows 10 ISO image file or a computer running Windows 10.
• A valid Windows 10 license that can legally and properly activate the operating system.
• Download the Boot Camp Drivers.

If you don't want to use Boot Camp, the simplest method is to create a portable Windows USB so that you can use it on your Mac computer. There are numerous third-party tools available to assist users in creating a portable Windows USB, one such tool being OS2Go. All you need to do is prepare a large enough USB drive, and then let OS2Go handle the rest.

Procedure 1. Create a Windows Portable USB

First, you need to download and install the tool OS2Go on your computer. Then follow the detailed guide below to create a portable Windows USB.

Step 1. Install OS2Go on your Windows computer. It will show the used space on your system drive. Insert a USB drive with a capacity larger than the used space on the system drive. Select the target USB drive and click Next to proceed.

Step 2. OS2Go will warn you that the following action will erase all data on your drive. Make sure you've backed up all important data. Click Continue to proceed.

Step 3. Adjust disk layout. The default disk layout on the target drive will be identical to the source drive. You can also customize the layout to suit your needs. Check the option provided if you're using a Solid State Drive as the Windows boot drive. Then, click Proceed.

Step 4. Then, OS2Go will begin creating the portable USB drive. This process may take some time, depending on your operating system and network conditions. Once the progress reaches 100%, the USB drive should be bootable.

Step 5. Insert the portable Windows USB and start your Mac. Press the Option/Alt key. Select the yellow EFI Boot icon to boot from the USB drive. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to boot your Mac.

Procedure 2: Partition Mac Drives

If you still wish to install Windows on your Mac, you can first create a bootable Windows USB using ISO files. Next, you'll need to partition the Mac drive and boot the Mac from the USB. Here are the detailed steps for both processes. Since the Windows operating system should be installed on a separate partition, partitioning your drive is a crucial step. On Mac computers, you can utilize the Disk Utility for this purpose.

Step 1. Launch Disk Utility, select your local drive (SSD or HDD) on the left, and click on Partition.

Step 2. Click on the small "+", then choose the size of the partition, which should be at least 30 GB. You can name it anything you like, and ensure the format is set to MS-DOS (FAT). Then, click Apply. Now, you'll see two separate partitions.

Procedure 3: Boot Your Mac from a Bootable USB Drive

Now it's the final step, boot your Mac from the created bootable USB drive.

Step 1. Insert the USB drive into your Mac.

Step 2. Restart your Mac and hold the Option key to access the installation screen.

Step 3. Select EFI Boot, and your Mac should properly boot from the USB drive. Follow the Windows setup wizard to install the Windows operating system on the created partition. This process may take some time, so please be patient. During the installation, your Mac will automatically restart several times.

Step 4. If you created a portable USB using an activated Windows computer, simply wait for the booting process to complete. If you created the portable USB with Windows ISO files, you'll need to activate the Windows system. Enter your Windows product key. If you've lost the key, you can click the 'Do it later' button.

Step 5. You may find that the keyboard or mouse doesn't work in the Windows system. This is because the bootable USB only contains basic drivers. You'll need to download and install the Windows support drivers.

Step 6. Download and launch Boot Camp on your Mac. In File Explorer, navigate to the USB drive, then go to WindowsSupport > BootCamp. Double-click the setup.exe file.

Step 7. Follow the setup wizard and wait until it prompts you to restart your Mac to complete the installation. Your Mac computer now has a dual-boot system.

If you want to switch from the Windows system to macOS or vice versa, restart your Mac and hold down the Option key to enter the booting page. Choose the corresponding drive, and you can switch between Windows and macOS.

How to Create a Bootable Windows 11/10 USB for Mac?

Download the tool OS2Go to easily create a portable version of Windows 11 or Windows 10 and use it on a Mac.

Conclusion

Indeed, installing the Windows operating system on a Mac can seem a bit intricate. However, with the assistance of OS2GO, you've already tackled the most challenging part - creating a bootable USB drive. Now, you can simply follow our step-by-step guide to complete the remaining steps.