Requirements and Preparations Compatible Mac: Intel-based MacBook (Boot Camp does not support Apple Silicon Macs like M1 or M2 for native Windows installation). Windows 10 ISO: Download the 64-bit Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft’s official website. USB Drive: For older Mac models, a USB flash drive (16 GB or larger) is needed to create the bootable Windows installer. Newer Macs often do not require a USB drive. Disk Space: At least 64 GB of free space recommended, although more is better, especially if you plan to install many programs or games. Backup: It’s highly recommended to back up your important Mac files before starting, using Time Machine or other backup solutions. macOS Updates: Make sure your macOS is fully updated before starting the installation to avoid compatibility issues.
Step-by-Step Installation Guide Download Windows ISO Visit Microsoft’s website and download the Windows 10 64-bit ISO file.
Open Boot Camp Assistant Launch Boot Camp Assistant from Finder > Applications > Utilities.
Click Continue on the introduction screen. Create Bootable USB (if required) On older Macs, insert your USB flash drive and select it along with the Windows ISO file. Boot Camp will create a bootable USB installer.
Partition Your Disk for Windows Boot Camp Assistant will display a slider to allocate space between macOS and Windows partitions. Drag the slider to define how much storage space you want for Windows. Remember this is non-reversible later without wiping Windows. Click Install to begin partitioning.
Install Windows Your Mac will reboot into the Windows installer. When prompted to select a destination, choose the partition labeled BOOTCAMP. Format it as NTFS if required (click Format in the Windows installer). Follow the on-screen prompts to complete Windows installation, including language, region, and account setup.
Install Boot Camp Drivers After Windows installation, the Boot Camp installer should launch automatically. Install all required drivers that allow Windows to work smoothly with Mac hardware (graphics, audio, keyboard, trackpad, networking, etc.). If the installer does not launch automatically, run the setup manually from the USB flash drive or download the Boot Camp support software via Boot Camp Assistant. Follow prompts to restart your Mac once driver installation completes.
Switching Between macOS and Windows Hold down the Option (⌥) key immediately after restarting or powering on your Mac to choose the operating system (macOS or Windows) to boot into. To set a default OS, use the Startup Disk pane in System Preferences (macOS) or Boot Camp Control Panel (Windows).
Additional Tips and Considerations Compatibility: Boot Camp only supports Intel Macs; Apple Silicon (M1, M2) Macs cannot use Boot Camp and require virtualization tools like Parallels Desktop for Windows. Windows Version: Only Windows 10 is fully supported; Windows 7/8 may work on older Macs, while Windows 11 is not officially supported via Boot Camp. Backups: Always back up your data before repartitioning disks. Performance: Boot Camp runs Windows natively for the best performance compared to virtualization solutions.