Boot Camp Assistant is Apple’s utility for installing Windows on a separate partition of an Intel Mac. It allows Windows to run directly on the Mac’s hardware, although you must restart whenever you want to switch between Windows and macOS.
However, Boot Camp is now a legacy option rather than the best way to run Windows on a Mac.
It only works on certain Intel Macs and Apple’s officially documented Boot Camp installation process is still based on Windows 10. Boot Camp is not available on any Apple Silicon Mac.
There is another important limitation in 2026: Microsoft ended normal support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025.
Windows 10 will continue to work, but it no longer receives normal security updates unless the installation is enrolled in Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates program.
For these reasons, we only recommend Boot Camp if you already own a compatible Intel Mac and specifically need Windows to run natively.
For most other users, a virtual machine is now the best way to run Windows on a Mac and there are some that even allow you to run Windows on a Mac for free.
Can You Still Use Boot Camp in 2026?
Yes, Boot Camp still works on the Intel Mac models supported by Apple.
Apple also continues to provide Boot Camp Assistant documentation for Intel Macs running macOS Tahoe 26 and earlier versions of macOS.
However, what you can install depends on the type of Mac you have.
| Mac | Boot Camp support | Best Windows option |
|---|---|---|
| Compatible Intel Mac | Yes | Windows 10 is Apple’s officially documented Boot Camp configuration |
| Unsupported or older Intel Mac | Not officially | A virtual machine or remote Windows PC |
| Apple Silicon Mac | No | Windows 11 ARM in Parallels, VMware Fusion or another virtual machine |
If you have an Apple Silicon Mac, see our guide to installing Windows 11 on a Mac instead.
Should You Install Windows 10 With Boot Camp?
Boot Camp still has one major advantage: performance.
Because Windows runs directly on the Intel processor and graphics hardware, Boot Camp can provide better raw performance than running Windows inside a virtual machine. This can be useful for older Windows games, engineering applications and other software that needs direct access to the Mac’s hardware.
However, Boot Camp also has some significant disadvantages:
- It only works on Intel Macs.
- You must restart to switch between Windows and macOS.
- Windows occupies a fixed partition on your internal drive.
- Apple officially supports Windows 10 rather than Windows 11 through Boot Camp.
- Windows 10 is now beyond normal support.
- Some newer applications and games no longer support Windows 10.
- Modern games may not support the ageing GPUs and Boot Camp drivers in Intel Macs.
- The Windows partition cannot easily be resized after it has been created.
If you only need to run one or two Windows applications, Boot Camp is probably more trouble than it is worth. A virtual machine such as Parallels Desktop or the free VMware Fusion Pro allows you to use Windows and macOS simultaneously.
Boot Camp is most useful when you need native Windows performance on an Intel Mac and have confirmed that the application or game you want to use still supports Windows 10 and your Mac’s hardware.
Windows 10 Support in 2026
Microsoft ended normal Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. This means Windows 10 no longer receives free feature updates, technical support or standard security fixes.
However, Microsoft currently allows eligible personal Windows 10 computers to enrol in its Consumer Extended Security Updates program.
The program provides critical and important security updates for eligible Windows 10 22H2 installations until October 12, 2027. It does not include new features, general fixes or technical support.
To qualify, you must be using an eligible edition of Windows 10 22H2, have the latest available updates installed and sign in with an administrator Microsoft account.
Microsoft currently provides several ways to enrol, including syncing your PC settings at no additional cost, using Microsoft Rewards points or making a one-time payment.
If you intend to connect a Windows 10 Boot Camp installation to the internet, we strongly recommend enrolling in ESU as soon as Windows has been installed and updated.
Which Macs Support Boot Camp?
According to Apple’s current Boot Camp requirements, Windows 10 can be installed on the following Intel Macs:
- MacBook introduced from 2015 to 2017
- MacBook Air introduced from 2012 to 2020, excluding the M1 MacBook Air
- MacBook Pro introduced from 2012 to 2020, excluding the M1 MacBook Pro
- Mac mini introduced from 2012 to 2018
- iMac introduced from 2012 to 2020
- All iMac Pro models
- Mac Pro introduced from 2013 to 2019
Simply owning a Mac made before 2021 does not necessarily mean that it supports Boot Camp. Check your exact model against Apple’s list.
To see which Mac you have, go to the Apple menu and select About This Mac.
If you see Chip: Apple M-series, you cannot use Boot Camp.
If you see an Intel processor, check the model and year against the list above.
What You Need
Before starting, make sure you have the following:
- A compatible Intel Mac
- The latest macOS updates available for that Mac
- A complete backup of your Mac
- A 64-bit Windows 10 Home or Pro ISO
- At least 64GB of free storage, although Apple recommends 128GB or more
- A valid Windows licence or digital licence
- A blank USB flash drive with at least 16GB of storage if Boot Camp Assistant requests one
- A reliable internet connection
- Your Mac connected to mains power
You can download the latest available Windows 10 22H2 ISO directly from Microsoft.
Although the ISO is free to download, Windows itself is not free. You need a genuine product key or existing digital licence to activate and license it correctly.
Microsoft allows you to select I don’t have a product key during installation and activate Windows afterwards. This is intended for users who already have a digital licence or plan to purchase one after setup; it does not provide a free Windows licence.
Back Up Your Mac First
Boot Camp Assistant creates a new partition on your Mac’s internal startup disk.
The process is normally reliable, but any operation that repartitions a drive carries some risk. A power failure, disk problem or installation error could result in data loss.
We therefore strongly recommend making a complete Time Machine backup or copying your most important files to an external drive before continuing.
You should also disconnect unnecessary external drives and accessories before the Windows installation begins. This reduces the risk of selecting or altering the wrong disk during setup.
Check Secure Boot on Macs With a T2 Chip
If your Intel Mac has an Apple T2 Security Chip, Apple recommends using the default Full Security Secure Boot setting while installing Windows.
You only need to check this if you previously changed the setting to No Security.
To change it back:
- Restart your Mac and hold down Command and R to enter macOS Recovery.
- Select Utilities > Startup Security Utility.
- Select Full Security.
- Restart your Mac normally.
After Windows has been installed, Apple says you can use any Secure Boot setting without affecting your ability to start Windows.
How To Install Windows 10 With Boot Camp
Once you have backed up your Mac and downloaded the Windows 10 ISO, you can begin the installation.
1. Open Boot Camp Assistant
Open Applications > Utilities > Boot Camp Assistant.
You can also search for Boot Camp Assistant using Spotlight.
Click Continue and follow the instructions displayed by Boot Camp Assistant.
The options you see will depend on your Mac. Older models may ask you to insert a blank USB drive, whereas many newer Intel Macs can create the necessary installation files using their internal storage.
If Boot Camp requests a USB drive, connect a blank drive with at least 16GB of storage. Boot Camp Assistant will erase and prepare it automatically.
2. Select the Windows ISO
When prompted, select the 64-bit Windows 10 ISO you downloaded from Microsoft.
Boot Camp Assistant will also download the Windows support software required for your Mac’s keyboard, trackpad, graphics, audio, Wi-Fi and other hardware.
3. Choose the Windows Partition Size
Boot Camp Assistant will ask how much of your startup disk you want to allocate to Windows.
Apple specifies a minimum of 64GB, but we recommend at least 128GB. You will need considerably more if you intend to install large applications or games.
Choose carefully because Boot Camp Assistant cannot resize the Windows partition after it has been created.
Do not allocate so much space to Windows that macOS is left without enough room for its own applications, updates and temporary files.
Click Install when you are ready.
4. Install Windows on the BOOTCAMP Partition
Your Mac will restart and open the Windows installer.
Follow the instructions to select your language, keyboard and region.
If Windows asks where it should be installed, select the partition named BOOTCAMP.
If the installer asks you to format the partition, select BOOTCAMP and click Format. Do not format, delete or alter any of the other partitions shown.
In many cases, the installer will select and format the BOOTCAMP partition automatically.
5. Enter or Skip the Product Key
Windows will ask for a product key during setup.
If you already have a valid Windows 10 licence, enter its product key. Make sure you install the same edition—Home or Pro—that your licence covers.
If you have a digital licence or intend to activate Windows afterwards, select I don’t have a product key and continue.
You can activate Windows after installation by going to:
Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation
6. Complete Windows Setup
Continue through the Windows setup screens to create your account and configure the privacy, network and update options.
The precise screens may differ because Microsoft changes the Windows setup process over time.
When setup is complete, your Mac should start in Windows.
7. Install the Boot Camp Drivers
The Welcome to the Boot Camp installer window should open automatically when Windows starts for the first time.
Follow the instructions to install Apple’s Windows support software and restart when prompted.
These drivers enable important Mac hardware including:
- The keyboard and function keys
- The trackpad
- Audio
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- The built-in camera
- Apple graphics and display support
If the installer does not open automatically, open File Explorer and look for the OSXRESERVED partition, which is usually drive D.
Open the BootCamp folder and run Setup. Apple advises opening Setup only from this folder.
A wired USB mouse or keyboard can be useful if Bluetooth or the built-in trackpad does not work before the drivers are installed.
Update Windows and the Boot Camp Drivers
After restarting Windows:
- Open Apple Software Update from the Windows Start menu.
- Install all available Boot Camp and Apple driver updates.
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Check repeatedly for updates until no more are available.
- Restart Windows whenever requested.
Because normal Windows 10 support has ended, eligible personal installations should then look for the Enroll now option under Windows Update and enrol in Microsoft’s Consumer ESU program.
Boot Camp separates the Windows and macOS system partitions, but it should not be treated as a complete security barrier. Malware running in Windows may still affect files, shared locations or external drives that Windows can access.
How To Switch Between Windows and macOS
To choose an operating system temporarily, restart your Mac and immediately hold down the Option (⌥) key.
Release the key when Startup Manager appears, then select either:
- Macintosh HD for macOS
- BOOTCAMP or Windows for Windows
To restart in macOS while using Windows:
- Click the arrow in the Windows notification area to show hidden icons.
- Click the Boot Camp icon.
- Select Restart in macOS.
To make Windows the startup system from macOS Ventura or later:
- Open System Settings.
- Select General > Startup Disk.
- Select the Boot Camp volume.
- Click Restart.
You can find more details in Apple’s guide to switching between Windows and macOS.
How To Remove Windows From Your Mac
Always use Boot Camp Assistant to remove Windows and recover the disk space.
Do not delete or resize the Windows partition using Disk Utility or another partitioning application.
Before removing Windows, copy any files you want to keep from the Windows partition. Removing it permanently erases Windows and everything stored on that partition.
To remove it:
- Start the Mac in macOS.
- Open Boot Camp Assistant.
- Click Continue.
- Select Remove Windows 10 or later version if the option appears.
- Select Restore to return the disk to a single macOS partition.
Can You Install Windows 11 With Boot Camp?
Apple does not officially support installing Windows 11 through Boot Camp.
Boot Camp Assistant is still documented for Windows 10, while Windows 11 requires hardware and security features that Intel Macs do not fully provide to Windows.
It is possible to bypass some of the Windows 11 compatibility checks on certain Intel Macs, but this is unsupported by both Apple and Microsoft. Feature updates may fail and Microsoft could block the workarounds in future releases.
We explain the risks and current process in our separate guide to installing Windows 11 with Boot Camp.
Does Boot Camp Work on Apple Silicon Macs?
No. Boot Camp is not available on any Apple Silicon Mac.
This applies to every Mac with an Apple M-series processor, regardless of the specific chip or model.
Apple Silicon Macs can run Windows 11 ARM in a virtual machine such as Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion or UTM. They can also connect to a remote or cloud-based Windows PC.
Can Boot Camp Install Windows on an External Drive?
Boot Camp Assistant’s supported installation process creates a Windows partition on the Mac’s internal startup disk.
It does not officially install Windows on an external SSD or hard drive. External Windows installations require third-party procedures and may introduce boot, security and driver problems.
Does Boot Camp Support eGPUs in Windows?
Apple does not officially support using an external GPU in Windows through Boot Camp.
Some users have managed to make particular combinations of Intel Macs, graphics cards and Windows drivers work, but the setup is unofficial and can break after driver or Windows updates.
We would not recommend buying an eGPU specifically for use with Boot Camp in 2026.
Is Boot Camp Worth Using in 2026?
Boot Camp can still be useful if you already own a compatible Intel Mac and need the best possible native Windows performance from it.
However, it is no longer a future-proof way to use Windows.
Windows 10 has reached the end of normal support, Windows 11 is not officially supported through Boot Camp and Apple Silicon Macs cannot use Boot Camp at all.
For most Mac users, a virtual machine is now easier, safer and more practical. Boot Camp should be regarded as a specialist legacy option for Intel Mac owners rather than the default way to run Windows.