#BOOT CAMP FOR MAC AND SWITCHING HARD DRIVE SOFTWARE#

Equally, keep in mind that you’ll need enough space for Windows’ system files, any software you plan on installing, and a buffer of free space. Remember that any space you assign will be taken from the available space for your Mac, and that macOS will run more efficiently if you leave at least 30 to 40GB of space free on its partition. Move the slider to give your Windows partition more or less space.You’ll see a slider representing your hard drive, which lets you decide how much hard-drive space to allocate to your Windows partition. The next step is to partition your hard drive.Now select Choose to the right of the ISO Image box to locate your Windows ISO file.Open Boot Camp Assistant, then click Continue.Quit all open applications and then open up a Finder window. Click on Applications and then go into the Utilities folder.Download a 64-bit Windows ISO from Microsoft or another licensed distributor.

#BOOT CAMP FOR MAC AND SWITCHING HARD DRIVE INSTALL#

This method is probably the easiest way to install Windows, but it only works for Macs from 2015 and up. Post-2015 Macs: Install Windows from an ISO file Have an older Mac or a copy of Windows on a DVD or flash drive? Skip to “Installing Windows on pre-2015 Macs” or “Install Windows from flash drive or external optical drive,” below. If you have a Mac from 2015 or later, the process is a bit simpler.

Because Boot Camp will be moving and re-allocating space on your hard drive, you should back up any important data before you continue, in case anything becomes corrupted during the process.

After restarting, check for software updates again until no new ones are available. Go to Updates and install any software updates for macOS.

Click the Apple menu in the upper left and then hit App Store.

(Need help backing up your data? Our sister site Macworld has put together the best software for backing up your files.)

#BOOT CAMP FOR MAC AND SWITCHING HARD DRIVE UPDATE#

Here’s a list of some of the best tools to free up space on your Mac.īefore you run Boot Camp, Apple recommends you have the latest software update and that you backup your important files. If you don’t have 55 GB free, you’ll have to delete or transfer files until you do.Click Storage so you can see how much free space on your hard drive.To see available hard drive space, click on the Apple menu in the upper left and then select About This Mac.Play it safe and go with the large allocation. Boot Camp says it only needs 50 GB, but Apple’s own online support document recommends 55GB. To use Boot Camp, you’ll need at least 55 GB of free space on your Mac’s hard drive. Make sure your Mac has enough hard drive space If your Mac doesn’t meet the criteria, you’ll need to choose a version of Windows with lower system requirements.Compare your Mac’s specs for Processor and Memory (RAM) against those listed in the Windows system requirements.Next, click on the Apple menu in the upper left and choose About This Mac.Examine the system requirements for the version of Windows you plan on buying: Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7.Since different versions of Windows have different system requirements for the amount of RAM, hard drive space, and processor speed, you’ll want to double-check to make sure your system can run that edition comfortably.

Boot camp for mac and switching hard drive