How To Switch From Windows To Mac In Boot Camp

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There are multiple ways to switch between Mac and Windows on your Apple Computer. You can go from Windows to Mac, Mac to Windows, or switch with restarting your computer. Click one of the headings below to jump to that portion of the answer. Windows to Mac; Mac to Windows; Switch with Restart. Jan 23, 2017  How to install Windows 10 on a Mac using Boot Camp Assistant. Mac running macOS Sierra is super-easy using Boot Camp Assistant. In this tutorial, we show you how to download the Windows 10 ISO. Start up your Mac in Windows or macOS with Boot Camp. You can set the default operating system to either macOS or Windows. The default operating system is the.

Once you've set up Boot Camp, you have three different ways to make the switch between partitions. Let's look at these based on their starting points.

If you're in Windows, you can switch to the Mac OS X partition using the Boot Camp icon in the System Tray. Click the gray diamond-shaped icon, and click 'Restart in Mac OS' from the pop-up menu. Then, confirm your choice to reboot to Mac OS X and give the computer about a minute to make the switch.

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If you're in Mac OS X, you can switch to the Windows partition using the Startup Disk utility within System Preferences. In the Startup Disk, choose the 'Windows on BOOTCAMP' partition, and click 'Restart.' Then, confirm your choice to reboot to Windows and give the computer about a minute to make the switch.

If the Mac was powered off, you can choose which partition to boot before the Mac selects for you. To do this, press the Option key on the Mac while it's on the blank white boot screen. Within a couple of seconds, the Mac should present the two partitions to you on the screen. Use the arrow keys to select a partition, and press Enter to boot to it. This Option key feature is available either when booting from a powered-off state or if you're rebooting from Windows.

Ready for lots more information about Boot Camp? Switch on over to the next page.

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Sources

  • Apple. 'Apple to Use Intel Microprocessors Beginning in 2006.' Apple, Inc. Jun. 6, 2005. (Feb. 13, 2012) http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/06/06Apple-to-Use-Intel-Microprocessors-Beginning-in-2006.html
  • Apple. 'Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide.' Apple, Inc. 2011. (Feb. 13, 2012) http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/boot_camp_install-setup_10.7.pdf
  • Buchanan, Matt. 'Cheetahs, Pumas and Tigers, Oh My: The Two-Minute OS X History Primer.' Gizmodo. 2007. (Feb. 13, 2012) http://gizmodo.com/267621/cheetahs-pumas-and-tigers-oh-my-the-two+minute-os-x-history-primer
  • Diederen, Jeroen. 'Linux on Your Apple Mac | iLinux.' (Feb. 13, 2012) http://mac.linux.be/
  • Microsoft Corporation. 'Windows 7 system requirements.' 2012. (Feb. 13, 2012) http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/system-requirements

If you're looking to install Windows on your Mac, Boot Camp is the best way to go. Whether it's for a great gaming experience or you just want to try out Windows 10 on Apple's svelte hardware, here's how to get it all set up.

How To Switch From Windows To Mac In Bootcamp

What you'll need before you install Windows 10 on your Mac

Before starting anything else, be sure you have a Mac that supports Windows 10. Straight from Apple, these are the compatible models:

  • MacBook Pro (2012 and later)
  • MacBook Air (2012 and later)
  • MacBook (2015 and later)
  • iMac Pro (2017)
  • iMac (2012 and later)*
  • Mac mini (2012 and later)
  • Mac mini Server (Late 2012)
  • Mac Pro (Late 2013)

If you own an iMac with 3TB or more, check out this Apple Support document for more information on installing Windows 10 on your machine through Boot Camp.

Do you have a Mac that can run Windows 10? Good! Make sure you have at least 64GB of free space on your hard drive for the Windows installation. During the installation process, you can set the Windows partition to whatever size you want, as long as the drive has enough storage.

Finally, update your Mac's OS to ensure there are no compatibility problems. You'll also want to perform a backup of your Mac in the (rare) case that something goes wrong.

How to download the Windows 10 ISO file

To start, we need to grab a Windows 10 ISO file from the Microsoft website. You can download it straight to your internal hard drive.

  1. Navigate to the Microsoft Windows 10 ISO download page.
  2. Click the dropdown menu below Select edition.

  3. Click Windows 10 in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update section. You can download the Creators Update through Windows once it is installed.

  4. Click Confirm.

  5. Click the dropdown menu below Select the product language.

  6. Click your language of choice.

  7. Click Confirm.

  8. Click 64-bit Download.

  9. Click Save. The ISO file will now be downloaded.

Once the file has finished downloading, continue on to the next set of steps.

How to install Windows 10 with Boot Camp

Once you've downloaded a Windows 10 ISO, you can complete the following steps.

  1. Launch Boot Camp Assistant from the Utilities folder in Applications.

  2. Click Continue. Boot Camp should automatically locate the ISO file on your system.

  3. Click and drag the slider in the partition section. It will be set to 48GB by default, but you can add as much storage as you want within the limits of the drive.

  4. Click Install. Windows support software will now be downloaded.

  5. Type your password.

  6. Click OK. Your Mac will restart and you will see the Windows 10 setup screen.

  7. Choose your language.
  8. Click Install Now.
  9. Type your product key or click I don't have a key. You can enter it after the installation.
  10. Click either Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Pro based on your preference.
  11. Click Next.
  12. Click Custom: Install Windows Only.
  13. Click Drive 0 Partition X: BOOTCAMP. Do not choose anything else.
  14. Click Next. Windows 10 will now be installed. Your Mac will restart several times during the process.
  15. Click Use Express Settings or Customize Your Installation when the Windows 10 setup screen appears. In this case, we use express settings, as all can be changed after the installation.
  16. Type a username. You can also add a password.
  17. Click Next.
  18. Choose to use or not to use Cortana.

Windows 10 will now boot fully, and you'll be able to use Windows normally.

How to install Boot Camp software on your Windows 10 partition

When Windows 10 loads for the first time on your Mac, a Boot Camp software installer will automatically pop up.

  1. Click Install.
  2. Click I accept the terms in the license agreement.
  3. Click Install.
  4. Click Finish when the installation is complete.

This is an important process, as it installs a bunch of drivers and software that will help make your Windows 10 experience as good as possible on your Mac.

How to return to macOS from Windows 10

One of the best parts of Boot Camp is how easy it is to switch back and forth between operating systems.

  1. Click the Show hidden icons button in the Windows 10 taskbar.
  2. Click the Boot Camp button.

  3. Click Restart in OS X.

How To Switch From Windows To Mac In Bootcamp

Your Mac will now restart, and you'll be brought right back to macOS. To get back to Windows 10, and indeed another way to switch from Windows 10 to macOS, is to restart your Mac and hold down the Option key on your keyboard until a boot menu appears. From here, you can choose which OS to load.

Updating Windows 10 and more

Now that you have Windows 10 installed on your Mac, you can update it to the Creators Update.

The easiest way to do so is to use Windows Update.

  1. Click the Start button.

  2. Click the Settings button. It looks like a gear.

  3. Click Update & security.

  4. Click Check for updates.

How To Switch From Windows To Mac In Boot Camp

The Creators Update should begin downloading and will install. Follow the steps on screen, and you'll be up to date in no time.

Looking for more Windows 10 Creators Update help? Check out the ultimate guide over on Windows Central.

Updated March 22, 2019: Updated for macOS Mojave.

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