How to install Windows 10 on your Mac while keeping OS X / macOS?

If it is possible to install OS X in a configuration originally designed to fit Windows, you can imagine that it is also possible to do the opposite, that is, to install Windows on a Mac.

Boot Camp, Apple’s official solution

The solution in question is called Boot Camp and is presented as a way to help you install Windows 10 on compatible Mac models that will be equipped with the Yosemite version of OS X, at a minimum.

Please note that before embarking on such an operation, we can only invite you to take a look at your Mac’s settings, on the pain of having to endure a Windows 10 experience that not only lacks fluidity, but also lacks fluidity. it is not very lively either. Admit that it would be unfortunate.

Also remember, as before every heavy manipulation, to make a backup of your most important data. It’s better to prevent than to cure. Normally, you risk absolutely nothing, but we are never immune to any failure.

Windows and macOS coexist for free in a dual boot

Fortunately, the list of compatible Macs is as long as an arm, for example, from the 15-inch MacBook Pro (Mid 2012) to the new 15-inch MacBook Pro released in late 2016, by the way. 2012 MacBook Air to 2012 iMac and Mac mini, minimum.

However, before you start installing Windows 10 via Boot Camp, you will need to make sure you have a valid copy of Microsoft’s operating system, either in the form of an ISO file (corresponding to the 64-bit version of Windows 10) or a USB key. .

Finally, keep in mind that in case you plan to install an ISO file of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update using a USB key, you will first need to make sure it is USB 2, not USB 3, not supported. Finally, you will need to make sure you have at least 25GB of free storage space on your Mac to install the Windows 10 files.

A relatively simple installation

If all the prerequisites are met, you will first need to connect a blank 16GB USB key (recommended) that will be used to create a bootable USB key, then launch the Boot Camp utility in your OS X / mac sessions. .

From there, you will be offered to create a Windows 10 installation disk. Mount your Windows 10 ISO and validate the creation of a partition on your hard drive or SSD that will be used to host your Windows installation as well as all necessary programs.

The Windows 10 installation USB key will then be created. Wait for the process to complete. Your Mac will boot into Windows 10, if all went well. Validate the installation on the new partition named Boot Camp, click next.

Once the installation is complete, go to your installation USB key, then to the “Wininstall” folder, in which you will find another “BootCamp” folder, and a “Setup.exe” file to run absolutely so that the necessary drivers can be downloaded. There you have it, now you have a Mac on both OS X / mac OS and Windows 10!

When you turn on your machine, all you have to do is choose the operating system that you want to use to use it. A solution that works very well, with very interesting features, since the entire machine is dedicated to one or the other. But if you have to use Windows in your Mac environment, you will have to go through the virtualization box.

Windows emulator and virtualization on Mac

If you want to enjoy Windows on your Mac, you can go through virtualization. Now there are several software programs that can do this very well. We will mention in particular Parallels Desktop, which offers a very interesting performance and an interface that will allow you to use Windows applications in your macOS interface without realizing the difference. Your Windows files are also easily accessible. However, the investment is quite important, the license still costs € 80.

The downside to this solution remains that it is quite greedy at the machine level. You will need a good processor, a good amount of RAM and enough free disk space to be able to enjoy your virtual machine in good condition.

If so, using Windows, or your favorite Linux distribution, directly on macOS is extremely easy and the experience is very smooth. So much so that it quickly becomes very difficult to do without it, if you have to use Windows for this or that software, of course.