How to Install Windows on Your Mac

Posted By Volodymyr Chubei | 19 Mar 2026

It’s obvious that many people need to use Windows for work, study, or simply to run a specific app — sometimes even a game. And here Mac users encounter the problem of using Windows, what should they do in this case? Is there a way to install Windows on a Mac and avoid buying a second laptop for these specific purposes? In this article, we’ll walk you through, step by step, how to install Windows on a Mac using two different methods: Boot Camp and a virtual machine.

What You Need Before Installing Windows on Mac

For a painless installation of Windows on a Mac, you will need:

An Intel-based or Apple Silicon-based Mac
At least 60 GB of free disk space
An ISO file with your preferred version of Windows
A blank USB drive (required for installing Windows from an external drive).

Also: How to Use Sidecar on Mac

How to Install Windows on Mac Using Boot Camp

Boot Camp is an official App that allows you to install Windows on your Intel-based mac as a second operating system, providing you a choice of two different types of software during start-up. Please note that it only works for Intel-based Macs, if you are looking for an installation method for your Apple Silicon machine — please scroll down to the Virtual Machine part.

Look up “bootcamp” in your finder
Select the .iso copy of Windows you are looking for to install. It can be downloaded here.
Choose the partition size and click “Install”. Bootcamp will start creating partitions and copying files.
Your laptop will restart to the Windows installation screen. Choose the version you want to install. At the partition window choose “bootcamp”.

Install Windows on Mac Using Virtual Machine (Parallels or VMware)

Bootcamp can only be used for Intel-based Macs; however, there is an alternative for Apple Silicon-based machines. Since dual boot is not available, the only option is to install Windows on a virtual machine and have it running in a window, thus you do not have to restart your Mac. Windows runs simultaneously with macOS, so that you can open, close, or minimize it at any time. In this blog, we will review Parallels — a virtual machine that is well suited and properly adapted to install and run Windows.

Download and install Parallels.
After Parallels is installed, open the App and choose “Install Windows”. Windows will be downloaded and installed automatically.
Enjoy using Windows! There is nothing more you need to do. Parallels makes it as simple as possible.

Comparing Boot Camp and Virtual Machine

Below we will review the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

Boot Camp

Pros: High Performance, no need to install any extra apps in MacOS.
Cons: The restart is necessary while switching OS, your hard drive needs to be partitioned.

Virtual Machine

Pros: fast switch between OS, provides the possibility to work in both systems at the same time, easier to install and run.
Cons: Requires more RAM, since both systems run at the same time.

Also: Mac Disk Utility Not Loading: How to Fix the Problem

Running Windows Apps On Mac: Common Issues And How To Fix Them

Boot Camp doesn’t recognize the drive: First of all, ensure that your drive is mounted by booting into macOS and running Disk Utility. Second, make sure your drive is properly formatted, since Windows and macOS use different file systems. Third, you might need to install additional drivers.
ISO is not opening: Make sure your Windows image is downloaded from Microsoft.com, and the internet connection was not integrated during download.
Bootcamp driver error: Delete and reinstall the driver in Device Manager. The drivers can be found here.
VM is freezing or not loading. You must be sure you have enough memory. Restart the Virtual Machine, or the Mac itself if the problem persists. Monitor how much memory Windows uses while running.

Start Windows on Mac: Tips for Better Performance

Allocate enough RAM and CPU. This helps Windows run smoothly and prevents slowdowns when using apps.
Use an SSD for faster performance. Windows will start quicker, apps will load faster, and the system will be responsive.
Enable macOS integration features. This makes it easier to copy files, share folders, and work using both macOS and Windows.

Conclusion

Today, we have reviewed two ways to install Windows on your Mac — through Bootcamp for Intel-based Macs, and Parallels for Apple Silicon-based machines. Both options have their pros and cons; however, we can’t choose between them as they suit two different types of Macs.

If you’re looking to buy a used Mac, upgrade your laptop, or fix it, TechToro.io is the perfect place to do it. Our experienced technicians will make sure your laptop runs smoothly and that all your requirements are met. Customer satisfaction is our top priority — try us out today!

FAQ

1. Can I run Windows apps on Mac?

Yes, you can use Bootcamp for Intel-based Macs, and Parallels for Silicon-based Macs.

2. How do I install Windows on MacBook Pro?

Bootcamp allows you to install Windows as a second operating system, while Parallels allows you to install Windows directly within macOS using a virtual machine.

3. How to remove Windows from Mac?

Open the Disk Utility app and format the Bootcamp partition. In case you use Parallels, close the virtual machine, open the Control Center, right-click the Windows virtual machine, and select “Remove.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Volodymyr Chubei
Computer Repair Specialist at TechToro.io

Volodymyr was born in Ukraine and has found his passion for electronics from his childhood. At the age of 13, he was capable of soldering some basic elements of a logic board and today he is one of the co-founders of TechToro.io