How to install Windows on your Mac with Boot Camp

Boot Camp helps you install Microsoft Windows on your Mac. After you install, restart your Mac to switch between macOS and Windows.

Before you begin, make sure you have everything you need:

• An Intel-based Mac


• A Microsoft Windows installation media or disk image (ISO) containing a 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows 8 or later

Read more about system requirements to find out whether your Mac supports installing a specific version of Windows, or to learn about installing older versions of Windows. If you're installing Windows for the first time, use a full installation (not an upgrade) disc or disk image.

An Apple keyboard, mouse, or trackpad, or a USB keyboard and mouse

At least 55GB of free disk space on your startup drive

A blank 16GB or larger USB 2 flash drive

If you have one of these Mac models, you don't need a flash drive.

Check System Requirements

Some versions of Windows require a certain processor and more hard drive space and memory (RAM) than others. Check the documentation that came with your copy of Windows to find out what you need. Then use System Information to see what your Mac currently has.

Get a Windows disk image

When you buy Windows, it comes as a disk image file (ISO) that you download, or as an installation disc or USB flash drive. If your copy of Windows came on a DVD, you might need to create a disk image of it to work with Boot Camp. If your version of Windows came on a USB flash drive, you can download an ISO from Microsoft.

Open Boot Camp Assistant

Boot Camp Assistant guides you through installing Windows on your Mac. Open this app from the Utilities folder inside the Applications folder. Then follow the onscreen instructions to repartition your startup disk and download related software drivers for Windows. If you're prompted during installation, connect a blank USB 2 flash drive.

Format your Windows partition

When you complete the assistant, your Mac restarts to the Windows installer. When you're asked where you want to install Windows, select the BOOTCAMP partition, then click Format.

This step is only required if you're using a flash drive or optical drive to install Windows. In all other cases, the correct partition is selected and automatically formatted for you.

Install Windows

Follow the onscreen prompts to finish your Windows installation.

Restart your Mac

After Windows is installed, restart when you want to switch between macOS and Windows. Use the Startup Disk preference pane in macOS or the Boot Camp system tray item in Windows to select your startup disk, then restart your computer.

Learn more

With OS X El Capitan 10.11 or later, these models use the internal drive to temporarily store what you need to install Windows, so you don't need a USB flash drive:

• MacBook Pro (2015 and later)


• MacBook Air (2015 and later)


• MacBook (2015 and later)


• iMac (2015 and later)


• Mac Pro (Late 2013)

For more information about using Windows on your Mac, click the Open Boot Camp Help button in Boot Camp Assistant. These resources also contain helpful information:

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