Apple updates Boot Camp to support Windows 10

by Mark Tyson on 13 August 2015, 12:12

Tags: Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Windows 10

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Apple has been rather quick to support the latest version of Windows with its Boot Camp software. Boot Camp has been allowing Intel-based Mac owners to install Windows on their machines since 2006. Now Boot Camp 6 has been released to allow supported Macs, running OS X Yosemite, to install or update to Windows 10 (64-bit only).

Just like PC users, Mac Boot Camp users with installs of a genuine qualifying (Windows 7 or newer) Windows OS can upgrade to Windows 10 for free. A guide to installing Windows 10 using Boot Camp is now available on the Apple support website. The following computers, when/if updated to OS X Yosemite, support Windows 10:

  • MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
  • MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
  • MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)
  • MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014)
  • MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)
  • MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013)
  • MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013)
  • MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2013)
  • MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012)
  • MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012)
  • MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)
  • MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)
  • MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015)
  • MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015)
  • MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014)
  • MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2014)
  • MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013)
  • MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2013)
  • MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012)
  • MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2012)
  • MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
  • iMac (Retina 5k, 27-inch, Mid 2015)
  • iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014)
  • iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2014)
  • iMac (27-inch, Late 2013)
  • iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013)
  • iMac (27-inch, Late 2012)
  • iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012)
  • Mac mini (Late 2014)
  • Mac mini Server (Late 2012)
  • Mac mini (Late 2012)
  • Mac Pro (Late 2013)

Browsing the above list, it looks to cover any Apple Mac computer launched from 2012 onwards.

Boot Camp users have the option to install Windows 10 afresh or perform an update. This time around only 64-bit Windows 10 is supported, so there are implications to those wishing to upgrade from a previous 32-bit Windows install – you can't do it, you will have to start from scratch. Apple has provided a full walkthrough of the procedure for Boot Camp Windows users, whatever the case.

Once you get Windows 10 running on your Mac you might be happy to know that the following ports/peripherals are all supported:

  • USB 3
  • USB-C on the MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
  • Thunderbolt
  • built-in SD or SDXC card slot
  • built-in or USB Apple SuperDrive
  • your Apple keyboard, trackpad, and mouse

If there are any wrinkles and/or difficulties with your installation Apple suggests you use its Boot Camp support software.

HEXUS Forums :: 6 Comments

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Posted by peterb - Thu 13 Aug 2015 12:31
I tried boot camp… It works, but is an either/or solution.

I found it better to run windows in a VM (I use VirtualBox) and then both are available. Works very well with dual monitors, one showing Mac, the other showing windows.

Connecting external peripherals to the VM can be tricky. For software installation it can be easier to create an ISO image and mount that on the VM virtual DVD and run it from that.
Posted by shaithis - Thu 13 Aug 2015 12:39
Or just install Windows natively and kick OS X into touch ;)

You'd actually have an OS that worked with the majority of apps available.
Posted by LSG501 - Thu 13 Aug 2015 12:46
peterb
I tried boot camp… It works, but is an either/or solution.

I found it better to run windows in a VM (I use VirtualBox) and then both are available. Works very well with dual monitors, one showing Mac, the other showing windows.
or you could use parallels which can use the bootcamp install as it's base for it's vm…
I can't vouch for it as I've never used it, don't have a need for mac's when the key software I use is only available on windows :)
Posted by Percy1983 - Thu 13 Aug 2015 13:03
No support my 2005 imac… it can stay on windows 7 then.
Posted by b0redom - Thu 13 Aug 2015 14:20
Is this news? I've been running Win10 on my iMac for months. I guess the fact that it's officially supported rather than just using Win7/8 drivers?

To be honest I only really use Windows for games now (and Visio). Everything else I need (including an increasing number of games) are available on OSX.

I shelled out for VMware Fusion over Virtualbox as it's a bit prettier to look at (and I got a cheap upgrade license having owned it since VMware Fusion 3), and can be used for basic control over ESX servers.

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