Apple adds Windows 10 compatibility to Boot Camp

By Brad Jones August 13, 2015

Terry Myerson Windows 10 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

For the last couple of weeks, a huge number of PC users have been getting to grips with Windows 10. Now, an update from Apple gives users the chance to test out Microsoft’s latest version of Windows from the comfort of their Mac.

An update to one of Apple’s support documents contained the announcement that Boot Camp will now be able to install the 64-bit version of Windows 10 on a range of Mac computers, according to a report from 9to5Mac. The list of supported devices is as follows:

MacBook Air from mid-2012
MacBook Pro from mid-2012
MacBook Pro with Retina display from mid-2012
iMac from late 2012
Mac Mini from late 2012
Mac Pro late 2013
12-inch MacBook

Boot Camp is Apple’s proprietary multi-boot utility, first included with OS X in 2006. The tool is intended to give Mac users the option of creating a system partition that can run an alternative operating system, while still retaining OS X as the primary OS.

It’s perhaps worth noting that this represents a much quicker turnaround than normal for Boot Camp to support installation of the latest iteration of Windows. It took three to five months for similar updates to be released following the launch of Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1.

Obviously, there’s been a huge buzz around the release of Windows 10, and Microsoft has left no stone unturned in its attempts to publicize the launch. It’s a smart move for Apple to make haste in allowing users the ability to test out the new OS for themselves, while still keeping them entrenched in the Mac ecosystem.

The Boot Camp upgrade is reportedly rolling out now for users running Yosemite, although it might take a manual update check in the App Store. More help with installation is available on the Apple website.

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Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…

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