How to Install Windows on MacBook Without Bootcamp

Installing Windows on a MacBook without using Bootcamp can be a challenging task, but it's not impossible. However, there are some important considerations and limitations you should be aware of before proceeding.

One of the main concerns is that installing Windows in EFI mode can corrupt the Mac Pro's firmware by signing it with multiple Secure Boot (X.509) certificates. Therefore, it's essential to create a bootable Windows 10 DVD disk instead of trying to install from a USB flash drive.

To begin, you'll need to create a separate drive for Windows installation. This is recommended to avoid messing with partitions in the future and ensure a clean installation. Make sure your system drive has at least 1GB of free space, as sequential read/write speeds can impact performance.

Using an external SATA III adapter or PCIe → NVMe adapter for the Windows partition may improve performance, but we didn't test these configurations. SATA II (up to 300MB/s) is a bottleneck for modern 2.5' SSDs (up to 550 MB/s), so it's preferable to use SATA III if possible.

If you don't have an available drive bay or SATA II connector, you can consider using the HP 654540-001 3.5' → 2.5' adapter (around $7) to place a 2.5' SSD in a drive bay.

Installing Windows on a MacBook without Bootcamp also means that you won't be able to use the internal SATA II connector or create a separate partition for Windows using Boot Camp Assistant, which no longer supports Mac Pro models (cMP).

Additionally, none of the supported graphics cards display the Apple boot menu when connected to a 4K 60Hz monitor. However, some EFI bootable cards that support boot menus do exist, but they are outdated and may not work with modern systems.

Another challenge is that macOS Mojave 10.14 requires Metal-capable GPUs, which can be difficult to find. Many of these GPUs are also unable to display the Apple boot menu required to boot into Windows.

Installing Windows on a MacBook without Bootcamp is possible but not officially supported by Apple. The Classic Mac Pro 5,1 (or cMP) is now considered vintage by Apple, and it's disappointing that they no longer provide official support for these capable machines.

Despite these challenges, many users have reported successfully installing Windows on their MacBooks without using Bootcamp. If you're interested in trying this method, be sure to share your experience with us in the comments below or via email.

How to install windows on macbook without bootcamp