Almost every owner of an Apple computer has ever thought about how install Windows as secondary operating system; perhaps to do a test, to run a program that is not compatible with macOS, or to play games.
In this article we will see how to do it in the most optimal way, without botches or paid subscriptions. All free and as native as possible with respect to the device.
To begin we must know some of the most common forms to perform this installation.
How to install Windows on Mac incorrectly
Before going into detail in the guide on how to install Windows on Mac in the best way, we will look at some cases of installations that, although they work on theory, They have many cons.
clean installation of windows
Have a Mac and installing a Windows operating system as the main system is directly sacrilege. There are some, fortunately few, users who opt for this option. The number of cons is overwhelming of course, apart from the fact that buying a device like a Mac to put an operating system like Windows on it would be something similar to buy you a sports bike and put some rock-hard tires on it. It will walk and can take you places, but forget about its sporty side because you would end up on the ground, literally.
As with iPhones and iPads, one of the biggest strengths is the operating system, with all that that entails, so we completely rule out this option.
Emulation applications
Many users use a subscription to the Parallels app, For example. This is a case of paid subscription, as it allows you to install Windows on the macOS operating system. This means that In reality what you are using is Windows as if it were an application.
We also have free alternatives such as the popular VirtualBox, or VMWare. All of the above, and many other existing options, despite being free, unlike the first case we mentioned, They still have the same problem.
Running an emulator or application that emulates an operating system has the main disadvantage that all the processes and the source operating system itself, which would be macOS in this case, continue to run. In the end It would be using a Windows with a smaller capacity than the equipment can provide because it has to maintain the operating system of the original equipment at the same time. This is completely unfeasible for games, in addition to problems and a lot of configurations to do so that the drivers work properly.
How to install Windows on Mac like a pro
After seeing some of the functional but incorrect alternatives, we move on to see how to install windows on mac the right way. We will not lose the original operating system, We will have both available to choose from. In addition, we will use them entirely and through a native installer, so performance and full compatibility are a given.
For this we will use a tool that has been prepared for years to carry out exactly this operation, this is called Bootcamp. You can find it in the Tools folder in your Mac applications.
What is Bootcamp?
This tool It is simply an installation wizard for a Windows operating system in a different partition on our disk. In this way we will have both separate operating systems. Its operation is quite simplified so that Any user can do it. One of the few difficulties we may encounter will be getting the Windows installer in an ISO format, but don't worry, that's on us.
Download the Windows installer
Getting the Windows installer is actually simple. Years ago it could have been a more difficult task, we even had to resort to illegal downloads. Now what Microsoft has made it accessible to everyone A Google search would be enough to find it. Don't worry, we leave you the link so you can download it directly.
Download Windows 10 ISO Download Tool
Download Windows 11 ISO Download Tool
In both links, the only thing we will have to do is Click and a very light file will be downloaded. It will probably download in a second. This is not the ISO, You must run it and select that what you want is to download the ISO image. This download will come directly from Microsoft's official servers. The process this time may take a few minutes, it will depend on our internet connection.
How to install Windows on Mac using Bootcamp
Our last step will be to open the tool that we mentioned before, Bootcamp. When you open it, a wizard will open that may take a few seconds to open, since it briefly prepares for something like an operating system installation.
When we have it open it will be enough for us to follow the simple steps that the wizard shows us, among them, the size of the partition dedicated to the Windows operating system.
We have to Take into account in this step the volume of data that we want to leave dedicated to the Windows partition. First of all, because it will be storage that we will not have on our macOS. Secondly, because it will be the storage that our Windows operating system has. We will have to discount what the system itself occupies, and the applications that we want to install depending on the use that we are going to give to this secondary system. If we want to play, it is more than advisable to be generous at this point.
It is also important to know that we will not be able to change the capacity or distribution of participation later, so choose wisely. If you would like to change this, although there are ways to achieve this, despite being risky for the integrity of the data that would be in macOS, we would almost certainly have to format and repeat this entire process to return from zero, let's say.
Finally, know that it is not possible to have more than one additional operating system with Bootcamp and it cannot be different from Windows. Everything is already designed to be used to have a secondary Windows system, but not several or other types of software.
How to switch from one operating system to another
Once we finish the Bootcamp installation process, which will take a few minutes, We will find the Windows startup wizard. As if we had bought a Windows computer and had to configure it from the beginning.
The big question in this case that may arise when you see that when you restart or shut down the Windows operating system starts again is how to get back to your macOS.
This change is two ways to do it, through the native graphical interface of Bootcamp and macOS, or through the Mac's boot disk selector.
Change operating system from the graphical interface
The easiest way to switch between the two operating systems is without a doubt this. a few clicks will be enough to achieve it. Despite being simple, depending on what operating system you are on, you will find the option in a different place.
Switch to macOS if you're on Windows
To restart your macOS operating system if you are on Windows, what you will have to do is simply look at the taskbar. There you will find a Bootcamp icon, you can click on it and select restart in macOS. That easy.
Switch to Windows if you're on macOS
To carry out the process in reverse, it is not as simple as in the previous point, but you can do it in 4 clicks.
The first thing would be to go to Settings. Once there we will have a section called Boot disk. We will only have to click on said settings section and select our Windows disk. Later we click on restart and that's it, our Windows will start again.
Change operating system from the boot disk selector
This method is much more similar to the way of selecting which operating system you want to boot on devices from other manufacturers. It is popular to see computers that integrate Windows natively have a Linux operating system as a secondary one. In other manufacturers there is no Bootcamp tool, nor the utilities that it gives us natively, such as that icon in the taskbar that launches macOS again. This being the case, they have to go through the BIOS, select the boot disk, or indicate a boot order.
Luckily, you have a Mac. You will not have to go through the BIOS or configure anything. It will only be enough for you to Turn on your Mac by holding down the Option key. This will show you all the bootable partitions present on your Mac. Here you can therefore select both your macOS operating system and your new secondary Windows system.
This can also be a way of boot portable systems, or ISO installers. Something that doesn't hurt to know, in case you need it one day.
As an additional point, macOS has much more notable security than Windows. A Windows login password is surprisingly easy for an experienced computer user to bypass.. For this reason, and so that you do not leave your device exposed with that bootable Windows partition, we recommend Set a firmware password on your Mac.
