how to run windows on mac without bootcamp

The only downside is that you won’t be able to do anything too graphics intensive, even when using the paid programs.Ĭheck out my articles on how to install OS X using VMware Fusion and how to install Windows in a virtual machine. It’s fast and still allows you to have a full copy of Windows installed on your system. I personally use VMware Workstation and VMWare Fusion on my Windows and Mac machines to run virtual copies of Windows and OS X. If you really want Windows to run well on your Mac with full 3D graphics support, you should spend the money on VMware Fusion or Parallels. If you’re just doing this as a test, I suggest trying VirtualBox since it’s free. The first two, Fusion and Parallels, are paid programs and VirtualBox is free. These are really the only three good options. Secondly, if the virtual machine gets a virus or crashes or anything else happens, you just reset it and you’re back to a pristine copy of your operating system.įor Mac, there are a couple of virtual machine vendors that you can use: VMware Fusion Parallels VirtualBox

Virtual machines run inside software, so they are a bit slower, but they have some huge advantages.įirstly, everything inside the virtual machine stays inside the virtual machine.

In addition, you can try out other operating systems on your current machine without having to create dual boot or triple boot systems. I’ve already written several articles on virtual machines because they are a great way to keep you safe from viruses and increase your privacy. The second best choice in my opinion if you need Windows installed locally on the machine is to use a virtual machine. Overall, if you need a full copy of Windows and want to fully utilize the specs of your Mac, I suggest using Boot Camp. You’ll also need to have about 50 to 100 GB of free space available on your Mac in order to install Windows. With a full copy of Windows, you can install any and all programs without limitation. This means it’ll be faster than any other method mentioned below. The advantages of using Boot Camp are two-fold: you get an entire copy of Windows installed and it is running directly on the Mac hardware.

If not, you have to download an ISO version of Windows and install that onto a USB flash drive. The process of installing Windows using Boot Camp is straight-forward, but not something I think most consumers would be able to do unless they have a technical background. If you have a Windows CD/DVD with you, that makes it much easier. I’ve actually already written an article on how to install Windows using Boot Camp. It’s a free tool included with all versions of OS X and it allows you to install a single copy of Windows alongside OS X on your Mac. The most common solution you will read about online is using Boot Camp.

How to run windows on mac without bootcamp