Windows 10 Mac OS Big Sur

Boot Camp Assistant prepares your Mac by creating a new partition for Windows named BOOTCAMP and downloading the Boot Camp support software.

Important: If you’re using a Mac notebook computer, connect it to a power source before continuing.

1. On your Mac, open Boot Camp Assistant

   
   , located in /Applications/Utilities.

2. At the Introduction screen, click Continue.

   The system is checked for total available disk space. Older Time Machine snapshots and cached iCloud files are removed to make space for Boot Camp. This process may take a long time to complete (you can click the Stop button to skip this process).

3. If you have only one internal disk, choose the Windows ISO image, specify the partition size by dragging the divider between the macOS and Windows partitions, then click Install.

   Important: You can’t resize the partition later.

4. If you have multiple internal disks, follow the onscreen instructions to select and format the disk you want to install Windows on and to choose the Windows ISO image.

   • If you select your startup disk: You can create an additional partition for Windows. Specify the partition size by dragging the divider between the macOS and Windows partitions.

   • If you select an APFS-formatted disk: You can either create an additional partition on the disk for Windows, or erase the entire disk and create a partition for Windows. If you choose to create an additional partition, specify the partition size by dragging the divider between the macOS and Windows partitions.

   • If you select a non-APFS-formatted disk: You can erase the entire disk and create a partition for Windows.

   If Boot Camp is already present on the disk you select, you also have the option to uninstall it.

   Important: You can’t resize the partition later.

When this step is complete, the Windows installer starts.

After installing Windows, you can set the default operating system to either macOS or Windows. The default operating system is the one you want to use when you turn on or restart your Mac.

1. In macOS, choose Apple menu

   
    > System Settings, click General
   
   in the sidebar, then click Startup Disk on the right. (You may need to scroll down.)

2. Click the startup disk that has the default operating system you want to use.

3. Click Use Password, enter an administrator name and password, then click Unlock (or use Touch ID).

4. If you want to start up using the default operating system now, click Restart.

The next time you turn on or restart your Mac, it starts up using the default operating system.

On this page:

• Overview
• Pre-installation notes
• Installation guide
  • Step 1: Check for macOS updates
  • Step 2: Confirm your macOS version and processor
  • Step 3: Turn off FileVault
  • Step 4: Download Windows 10
  • Step 5: Use Boot Camp Assistant
  • Step 6: Install Windows 10
  • Step 7: Configure Windows 10
  • Step 8: Create your Windows administrator account
  • Step 9: Install support software
  • Step 10: Configure Windows Wi-Fi settings
  • Step 11: Configure the default boot operating system
• Switch operating systems
• Get help

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.

Important:

Partitioning your system's hard drive with Boot Camp Assistant may erase all your data. Before proceeding, back up/copy all personal files (documents, pictures, music, videos) to a flash drive, external hard drive, or cloud storage. Alternatively, you can use Time Machine with an external hard drive to back up your entire Mac computer; for instructions, see Mac Basics: Time Machine backs up your Mac. If you need assistance setting up Time Machine, contact your campus Support Center.

Pre-installation notes

Notes:

• This guide is written for macOS Big Sur, version 11.x or newer. If your computer cannot run macOS High Sierra version 10.13.x or newer, you will need to follow Apple's Boot Camp Help: Install Windows on your Mac.
• If you don't have access to the online guide via a different device, print a copy of the Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide.
• Determine whether your computer can run Windows 10; refer to Apple's System requirements to install Windows on your Mac using Boot Camp.
• To determine if your Mac supports this feature, open Boot Camp Assistant (Go > Utilities > Boot Camp Assistant), and then click . If you see a "Create a Windows 10 or later install disk" checkbox, your Mac supports this feature.
• Windows 11 is not supported.

• 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

Notes:

• These instructions are intended strictly as a guide for installing a fully updated 64-bit version of Windows 10 on an Intel-based macOS Big Sur 11.x or newer computer at IU. If your computer cannot run macOS High Sierra 10.13.x or newer, you'll need to follow Apple's Boot Camp Help: Install Windows on your Mac.
• Boot Camp requires an Intel processor. Macs with Apple Silicon (M1) processors cannot install Windows.
• Perform these steps in order.

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 menu, click .
2. On the left, go to .
3. If there are updates for your computer, in the upper right corner of the window, click .

   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 menu, click . 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 menu, click .
2. Click .

3. Click . 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 . To confirm, click .

   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

Note:

The version of Windows 10 on IUware will not work with Boot Camp; you'll need to download Windows directly from Microsoft, and use a product key you get from IUware.

Downloading Windows 10 Education takes some time, depending on the speed of your internet connection. Do not attempt the download on a metered connection, such as a tethered cell phone.

1. Get a product key:
   1. Go to IUware.
   2. On the left, click .
   3. Click Windows 10 Education, and choose the 64-bit version.
   4. Click . 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 .
   2. In the drop-down list, choose , and click .
   3. Select the appropriate language, and click .

Step 5: Use Boot Camp Assistant

Important:

Back up your files if you haven't yet done so. Partitioning your system's hard drive with Boot Camp Assistant may erase all files. To learn more, see Back up your Mac. For details about backing up your documents and content using cloud services at IU, see Store and share your individual files at IU.

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 .
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 .
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 .
4. To select the installation tasks to complete, make sure , , and 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 .
6. To confirm that the drive will be overwritten, click .

   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 .

   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 .
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 .
4. Read and accept the license terms, and click .
5. Choose the partition on which Windows will be installed, called "BOOTCAMP". Click .
6. To confirm that you wish to format the partition, click . To continue, click .
7. The installer will copy Windows files and install any features and updates required. When prompted, click 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.

Note:

Microsoft's digital assistant, Cortana, will help guide you through this process. If you are wearing headphones, remove them while your computer is restarting. Until you can install the Boot Camp support software, you may not be able to control the volume of Cortana with the volume keys on your computer.

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

Step 8: Create your Windows administrator account

Note:

The Windows administrator account you create should not be an account you use for general use of this computer.

1. To create your account, type your name and click .
2. Type a password and click . Do not use your IU network passphrase.
3. Confirm your password by typing it again, and click .
4. Select a series of three security questions, clicking 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 .

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 .
2. Read and accept the license agreement, and click . All the Apple-specific software you need to run Windows efficiently on your computer will be installed.
3. When the installer finishes, click .
4. To restart the computer, click .
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

Note:

eduroam is replacing IU Secure as the default wireless network for students, faculty, staff, and affiliates on all IU campuses. As of May 26, 2021, IU Secure is no longer available in the residence halls, and will fully retire in the near future. All new wireless connections should use eduroam; see Connect to eduroam.

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 menu, click the button, and then click .
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 (you'll select the default boot operating system momentarily).
4. From the Startup Disk control panel, click the menu. Click , and then .
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 ; for Windows, choose . If you would like to boot into the selected operating system now, click .

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 ; for Windows, choose .

This is document bewm in the Knowledge Base.
Last modified on 2022-10-18 11:41:07.

Can macOS Big Sur run Windows?

How can I get Windows on my Mac with Big Sur?

Can I install Windows 10 on a Mac?

Is Big Sur the best macOS?