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Pros and Cons of Windows on a Mac

Pros and Cons of Windows on a Mac


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Having a Mac means you can run almost any operating system. This is a major advantage when compared to a PC, which cannot run macOS, for example. But why would you even want install Windows on a Mac? Are there any benefits or drawbacks of having the operating system on board sitting alongside macOS? Well as it happens there are plenty of reasons why you might want to install a different operating system, but there are some things you’ll need to know first.

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The advantages of having Windows on a Mac

Let’s face it, after making the switch to Apple the only reason why someone would install Windows on a Mac is for the specialty software, the programs where the only supporting platform is Windows. If these such tools are being used to get a certain job done, then it is a no-brainer to have them installed on the work machine. Or perhaps there’s an addictive game that’s only available on Windows, so the reasons for installing the OS can vary.

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Having this platform on the Mac brings several benefits:

  • Cuts down IT costs. Users don’t need to invest in another computer just to run Windows.
  • Eliminates the need to switch from one computer to another.
  • Helps the user get the job done while still using familiar hardware, in this case the Mac.

The downsides of Windows on a Mac

What nobody wants to discuss, however, are the downsides of having a secondary operating system on a Mac. The biggest of these is the associated costs that need to be considered when hoping to run Windows on macOS.

Although running Windows on a Mac eliminates further hardware costs, you will still need to buy a Windows license. Now, such a license starts at $119.99 for Windows 10 Home and can go up to $309.00 for Windows 10 Pro for Workstations.

But once you have a Windows license you will still need to choose a way of installing Windows on a Mac. Depending on the solution chosen, this could add up to $150 in additional license costs since virtual machine software can come with its own fees. Of course, there are ways to eliminate that cost by using Boot Camp or VirtualBox, both of which are free solutions to this problem. But like with any freeware, they each have their own benefits and downsides. Boot Camp Assistant

If you pick Boot Camp, then it’s perfectly fine – the most authentic Windows experience will be yours. But at the same time, you will need to sacrifice storage space on the limited capacity startup disk, which with Boot Camp is a minimum of 40GB. But while virtual machines are more flexible, the required storage can grow exponentially as you continue to use Windows.

Other solutions for running Windows apps on a Mac

Fortunately, there is a way to address the overhead that installing Windows can generate: bottler software. This program acts like an interpreter on a Mac and allows users to run specific Windows apps without the storage cost of installing a Windows environment. These apps translate the Windows command into something a Mac can understand but aren’t as widespread as virtual machines since they only support a handful of Windows programs (for example, CrossOver Mac supports 15,000 different apps) and their performance is inferior to VMs.

Instead of installing a bottler app or virtual machine, Mac users can install Microsoft’s Remote Desktop app. However, this requires a connection to another PC that already has Windows installed and allows remote access.

Potential issues when running Windows on a Mac

Apple’s macOS has utilities built-in to protect user data – XProtect, Gatekeeper, and the like – but when you run a guest operating system on a Mac you are exposing the partition used for storing that OS to viruses and malware targeting it. This applies to Windows, so it is highly recommended to install antivirus software.

While Windows viruses cannot infect macOS files, what happens is that the Mac becomes a host to the viruses and is able to infect PCs that are connected to the network. Also, in some cases, if a virtual machine running Windows gets infected, it may potentially render the content of the shared folders useless.


Best Mac optimization software of 2025

Editor's choice

CleanMyMac

Editor's rating:
User-friendly dashboard
Effective scanning and cleaning options
Various maintenance tools
Built-in malware remover
All-around protection

MacKeeper

Editor's rating:
Personalized remote assistance
Unique optimization tools
Anti-theft tracking
Built-in antivirus
Beginners

MacBooster

Editor's rating:
Fast scanning
User-friendly UI
Virus and malware scan
Great cleaning features
Businesses

CCleaner for Mac

Editor's rating:
Fast scans and cleaning
Full customization
Extensive free version
Affordable

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