Install Windows 10 on your macOS computer using Boot Camp Assistant

Overview

If you wish to run both macOS and Windows on a single Mac computer, UITS recommends using Apple's Boot Camp utility to install Windows 10 on your Intel-based Mac. In macOS, the Boot Camp Assistant app will help you partition your Mac hard drive to accommodate both operating systems, so you can install Windows from an installation disk or an ISO image stored on a USB flash drive.

Pre-installation notes

• Make sure your computer meets these requirements:
  • At least 80 GB of free hard drive space
  • You have either the keyboard and mouse (or trackpad) that came with your Mac, or a USB keyboard and mouse
• Obtain a USB flash drive (at least 16 GB).
• During installation, you will be prompted to enter an account name and password; this is for the administrator account, and should not be the one you generally use. You also will be prompted to enter your time zone.
• Ensure that the computer is plugged into a power source, as the entire process may take several hours.

Installation guide

Step 1: Check for macOS updates

Before configuring Boot Camp, it is critical to make sure that your Mac's software is up to date, which lessens the risk of encountering problems during installation:

1. In the menu bar, from the Apple menu, click System Preferences.
2. On the left, go to Software Center.
3. If there are updates for your computer, in the upper right corner of the window, click Update All.

   If you're prompted, enter an administrator's username and password, and if prompted, allow your computer to restart.

When your computer restarts, check for additional updates by repeating the steps above. Repeat the process until there are no new updates in System Preferences.

Step 2: Confirm your macOS version and processor

In the menu bar, from the Apple menu, click About This Mac. The window will display the version of macOS on your computer. If you aren't running macOS High Sierra 10.13.x or newer, you need to follow Apple's Boot Camp Help: Install Windows on your Mac. If your processor or chip name doesn't include "Intel", you cannot install Windows with Boot Camp.

Step 3: Turn off FileVault

To proceed, you need to divide your Mac's hard drive into a section for macOS and a section for Windows. This process is called partitioning a disk, and requires that you disable FileVault (whole-disk encryption provided by Apple):

1. In the menu bar, from the Apple menu, click System Preferences.
2. Click Security & Privacy.

   

3. Click FileVault. The FileVault control panel will open, locked by default.

   

4. Before you can disable FileVault, it requires you to unlock the control panel to show that you're an administrator on your computer. To do so, click the lock icon. Enter your administrator username (if required) and your password.
5. You'll then be able to click Turn Off FileVault.... To confirm, click Turn Off Encryption.

   Decrypting an encrypted drive can take some time, the exact time being determined by how much data is on your disk, the disk size, and your computer's hardware capabilities.

Step 4: Download Windows 10

1. Get a product key:
   1. Go to IUware.
   2. On the left, click PC.
   3. Click Windows 10 Education, and choose the 64-bit version.
   4. Click Log in. If prompted, log in with your IU username and passphrase.
   5. Write the product key (a series of letters and numbers that resembles "XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX") on paper, since you won't be able to open anything on your Mac while Windows is being installed.
2. Download Windows 10:
   1. Navigate to Microsoft's Software Download page, and click Windows 10.
   2. In the Select edition drop-down list, choose Windows 10, and click Confirm.
   3. Select the appropriate language, and click Confirm.

Step 5: Use Boot Camp Assistant

The Boot Camp Assistant will help guide you through the process of adding Windows to your Mac.

1. For an easy way to begin, click , the Spotlight icon. In the search bar, type boot camp assistant, and press Enter.
2. The next screen describes what Boot Camp Assistant does, and warns you to back up your disk if you haven't already done so. Click Continue.
3. Boot Camp Assistant will automatically remove older Time Machine snapshots and cached iCloud to make space for Boot Camp. This process may take a long time to complete. If you wish to skip this process, click Stop.
4. To select the installation tasks to complete, make sure Create a Windows 10 or later version install disk, Download the latest Windows support software from Apple, and Install Windows 10 or later version are all selected.

   Before continuing, make sure a USB drive (at least 16 GB) is connected to the system, and be aware that the entire contents of that flash drive will be erased.

5. On the next screen, make sure the ISO file you just downloaded from Microsoft and the appropriate flash drive are both selected. Click Continue.
6. To confirm that the drive will be overwritten, click Continue.

   This step will take some time, depending on your computer's hardware capabilities and your internet connection speed. Make sure your computer remains plugged into an AC outlet during this process.

7. To begin creating a partition on your Mac's hard disk to hold Windows, authenticate with your administrator password.
8. Use the slider between the Mac and Windows icons to select a size for the Windows partition.

   UITS recommends that you use 80 GB for just Windows, and 90 GB for Windows plus Microsoft Office.

9. Click Install.

   This process will take several minutes to complete. Once the partition is created, your Mac will restart and begin installing Windows 10. You may be prompted several times for your administrator password.

Step 6: Install Windows 10

Follow the Windows installation wizard to begin installing Windows. You'll be prompted with several questions about how to configure Windows for your needs.

These steps will take some time, depending on your computer's hardware capabilities. Make sure your computer remains plugged into an AC outlet during this process.

1. Select the language, time and currency format, and keyboard or input method for Windows. Click Next.
2. On the next screen, enter the product key you got from IUWare.
3. Choose the version of Windows that the product key unlocks (Windows 10 Education) and click Next.
4. Read and accept the license terms, and click Next.
5. Choose the partition on which Windows will be installed, called "BOOTCAMP". Click Format.
6. To confirm that you wish to format the partition, click OK. To continue, click Next.
7. The installer will copy Windows files and install any features and updates required. When prompted, click Restart Now to restart your Mac and continue the Windows Installation process.

Step 7: Configure Windows 10

After Windows restarts, you'll need to do some configuration.

1. To select the appropriate region, choose United States, and click Yes.
2. To select the keyboard layout, make sure US is selected, and click Yes.
3. If you would like to add a secondary keyboard layout, use the next screen to do so; otherwise, click Skip.
4. On the "Let's connect you to a network "screen, click Skip for Now.

Step 8: Create your Windows administrator account

1. To create your account, type your name and click Next.
2. Type a password and click Next. Do not use your IU network passphrase.
3. Confirm your password by typing it again, and click Next.
4. Select a series of three security questions, clicking Next after each one.
5. Decide whether or not you want to use Cortana in Windows. Decide what privacy settings you would like to enable or disable, and click Accept.

Windows will do its final configurations. This step will take some time, depending on your computer's hardware capabilities. Make sure your computer remains plugged in to an AC outlet during this process.

Step 9: Install support software

Once Windows has started (may take some time), the Boot Camp installer will walk you through installing Apple's support software.

1. To begin the process, click Next.
2. Read and accept the license agreement, and click Install. All the Apple-specific software you need to run Windows efficiently on your computer will be installed.
3. When the installer finishes, click Finish.
4. To restart the computer, click Yes.
5. When the computer restarts, click the trackpad or press any key to display the login field. Log in with the password you created earlier in the configuration process.

Step 10: Configure Windows Wi-Fi settings

You have finished installing Windows on your Mac. If you need to install Microsoft Office, see About Microsoft 365 at IU.

Step 11: Configure the default boot operating system

You have the option to boot to either Windows or macOS when starting your Mac. You can also select one operating system for the computer to start by default.

1. To shut down your Mac while you're in Windows, from the Start menu, click the Power button, and then click Shutdown.
2. To boot into macOS, with the power off, press and hold the Option key and power on your Mac.
3. Hold the Option key until you see two hard disk icons and a Wi-Fi network selector. Boot into macOS by clicking Macintosh HD (you'll select the default boot operating system momentarily).
4. From the Startup Disk control panel, click the Apple menu. Click System Preferences, and then Startup Disk.
5. To unlock the settings, click the Lock icon, and then type your administrator passphrase.
6. To select the default boot operating system, click the disk that correlates to the operating system you would like to select. For macOS, choose Macintosh HD; for Windows, choose Bootcamp. If you would like to boot into the selected operating system now, click Restart.

Switch operating systems

Whenever you would like to switch operating systems:

1. Shut down the computer.
2. Press and hold the option key and power on your computer by pressing and releasing the power button.
3. When you see two hard disk icons, release the option key.
4. Click the hard disk icon that corresponds with the operating system you would like to boot. For macOS, choose Macintosh HD; for Windows, choose Bootcamp.

Get help

For help, contact your campus Support Center.