how to install windows on mac el capitan

Once these pre-requisites are out of the way, the next step is to set aside some space to install Windows 10.

Download Boot Camp drivers in advance – Although the Boot Camp wizard takes care of this for you, it’s very unreliable based on my testing.

Since OS X versions are free, if your Mac is supported, then it is probably best you upgrade to the latest version, which is OS X El Capitan – 10.11.2 (as of this writing). This will provide access to the latest Boot Camp drivers, especially if you want to install the latest version of Windows on your Mac. Click the Apple menu, then click App Store, then install the latest updates for your Mac.

Make sure the latest version of OS X is installed.

Also, make sure you select the appropriate edition you can compare versions here. Apple’s Boot Camp page provides a list of models and versions and architectures of Windows that are supported. By default, you need to choose a 64-bit version of Windows 10 since that is all that Apple supports on most models these days.

Determine which version and architecture of Windows that your Mac supports.

Have an empty thumb drive ready, 8 GBs or larger, or a blank DVD or Blu-ray if you still use optical media.

Please note that you can download an ISO file for Windows 10 directly in OS X using the Microsoft TechBench website if you are performing a digital download. You can buy a Windows 10 flash drive from Amazon or get it directly from the Microsoft Store. Otherwise, you can purchase a physical retail version, too. If you are interested in just trying Windows 10 on your Mac, you can download the Windows 10 Enterprise 90-day trial here. So check with your IT department for assistance with getting a copy. Also, under volume license programs where companies install Windows in bulk, OS X is considered an appropriate base license. If you are a college student, you should be able to get a free license under your Microsoft Campus Volume License program, such as Dreamspark (check your Library/Book Store or Faculty) or get a significant discount for students from the Education Store.

A Windows license – Windows is not free for Mac just like any PC, you need to purchase a license for it if you don’t own one.

Before you can install Windows on your Mac, there are some pre-requisites tasks you need to complete.

How to install windows on mac el capitan