Run Windows 8 on Your Mac for Free: Everything You Need to Know
Windows 8 Free Download for Mac: How to Install and Run It
Do you want to run Windows programs and games on your Mac? Do you want to test software on different operating systems? Do you want to experience the features and interface of Windows 8? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might be interested in downloading and installing Windows 8 on your Mac.
Windows 8 Free Download For Mac
Windows 8 is an operating system developed by Microsoft that was released in October 2012. It introduced a new user interface based on tiles and touch gestures, as well as improved performance, security, and cloud integration. However, it also received mixed reviews from users and critics, who criticized its lack of a traditional Start menu, its compatibility issues, and its learning curve.
Nevertheless, some people still prefer to use Windows 8 over newer versions of Windows, such as Windows 10 or Windows 11. If you are one of them, or if you just want to try it out, you can install Windows 8 on your Mac without deleting macOS. There are two main ways to do this: using Boot Camp Assistant or using virtualization software. In this article, we will explain both methods in detail, as well as the pros and cons of running Windows 8 on your Mac.
What You Need to Install Windows 8 on Your Mac
Before you start installing Windows 8 on your Mac, you need to make sure you have the following things:
System requirements for Windows 8 and macOS
To run Windows 8 on your Mac, you need a Mac with an Intel processor that supports Boot Camp. Boot Camp is a tool that allows you to create a partition for Windows on your Mac's hard disk and then start the installation of your Windows software. Unfortunately, Boot Camp is not available on Apple silicon Macs, such as those with M1 or M2 chips. If you have an Apple silicon Mac, your only option is to use virtualization software, which we will discuss later.
Here is a list of Intel Macs that support Boot Camp:
MacBook (2015 or later)
MacBook Air (2012 or later)
MacBook Pro (2012 or later)
Mac mini (2012 or later)
iMac (2012 or later)
All models of iMac Pro
Mac Pro (2013 or later)
You also need to check the system requirements for both Windows 8 and macOS. Here are the minimum requirements for each operating system:
Operating SystemProcessorRAMHard Disk SpaceGraphics Card
Windows 81 GHz or faster2 GB20 GBDirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
macOS Big SurIntel Core i3 or later4 GB35.5 GBMetal-capable graphics card
macOS MontereyIntel Core i5 or later8 GB40 GBMetal-capable graphics card
You can check the specifications of your Mac by clicking on the Apple menu and choosing About This Mac. You can also check the available disk space by clicking on the Storage tab. Make sure you have enough free space to create a partition for Windows 8, which should be at least 20 GB, but preferably more.
Windows 8 ISO file or installation media
To install Windows 8 on your Mac, you need a copy of the Windows 8 installation file, also known as an ISO file. An ISO file is a disk image that contains all the files and folders of a CD or DVD. You can download the Windows 8 ISO file from Microsoft's website, but you need a valid product key to do so. A product key is a 25-character code that activates your copy of Windows. If you already have a Windows 8 product key, you can enter it on the website and download the ISO file. If you don't have a product key, you can buy one from Microsoft or other online retailers.
If you have a physical installation media for Windows 8, such as a DVD or a USB flash drive, you can also use that to install Windows 8 on your Mac. However, you still need a product key to activate Windows after the installation.
Boot Camp Assistant or virtualization software
To install Windows 8 on your Mac, you need either Boot Camp Assistant or virtualization software. Boot Camp Assistant is a tool that comes with macOS that allows you to create a partition for Windows on your Mac's hard disk and then start the installation of your Windows software. Boot Camp Assistant also helps you download and install the Windows support software from Apple, which includes drivers and utilities that enable your Mac hardware to work properly with Windows.
Virtualization software is a program that allows you to run another operating system inside your current one, without creating a partition or rebooting your Mac. Virtualization software creates a virtual machine, which is a simulated computer that runs on your Mac and uses some of its resources, such as memory and disk space. Some examples of virtualization software are Parallels Desktop, VMWare Fusion, and VirtualBox.
The main difference between Boot Camp Assistant and virtualization software is that Boot Camp Assistant lets you run Windows 8 natively on your Mac, while virtualization software lets you run Windows 8 as an application on your Mac. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, which we will discuss later.
External USB drive or flash drive (optional)
If you want to install Windows 8 on your Mac using Boot Camp Assistant, you might need an external USB drive or flash drive with at least 16 GB of storage space. This is because some Mac models require an external drive to store the Windows installation files and the Windows support software from Apple. You can check if your Mac model requires an external drive by following these steps:
Open Boot Camp Assistant from the Utilities folder in the Applications folder.
Select Continue.
If you see a checkbox labeled "Create a Windows 10 or later install disk", then your Mac model requires an external drive. If you don't see this checkbox, then your Mac model doesn't require an external drive.
If your Mac model requires an external drive, make sure it is formatted as MS-DOS (FAT) or ExFAT and has at least 16 GB of storage space.
If your Mac model doesn't require an external drive, you can skip this step.
How to Install Windows 8 on Your Mac Using Boot Camp Assistant
If you want to install Windows 8 on your Mac using Boot Camp Assistant, follow these steps:
Step 1: Check for software updates on your Mac
Before you start installing Windows 8 on your Mac, make sure your Mac has the latest software updates from Apple. This will ensure that your Mac is compatible with Windows 8 and that you have the latest drivers and utilities for your Mac hardware. To check for software updates on your Mac, follow these steps:
Click on the Apple menu and choose System Preferences.
Click on Software Update.
If there are any updates available, click on Update Now and follow the instructions.
Restart your Mac if prompted.
Step 2: Prepare your Mac for Windows by creating a partition
After you have updated your Mac software, you need to create a partition for Windows on your Mac's hard disk. A partition is a section of your disk that is allocated for a specific operating system. By creating a partition for Windows, you can install Windows 8 on your Mac without deleting macOS. To create a partition for Windows using Boot Camp Assistant, follow these steps:
Open Boot Camp Assistant from the Utilities folder in the Applications folder.
Select Continue.
If you see a checkbox labeled "Create a Windows 10 or later install disk", then your Mac model requires an external drive. Insert your external drive and select the checkbox. Then, click on Choose... and select the Windows 8 ISO file that you downloaded or the installation media that you have. If you don't see this checkbox, then your Mac model doesn't require an external drive. You can skip this step.
Select Continue.
Adjust the slider to set the size of the partition for Windows. You can drag the slider to the left or right to increase or decrease the size of the partition. The minimum size is 20 GB, but you should allocate more space if you plan to install more programs or files on Windows. The maximum size depends on the available disk space on your Mac.
Select Install.
Enter your administrator password if prompted.
Wait for Boot Camp Assistant to create the partition and copy the Windows installation files or the Windows support software from Apple to your external drive if needed.
Step 3: Install Windows 8 on the partition
After Boot Camp Assistant has created the partition and copied the necessary files, it will restart your Mac and start the installation of Windows 8. To install Windows 8 on the partition using Boot Camp Assistant, follow these steps:
If you see a message that says "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD", press any key on your keyboard. If you don't see this message, hold down the Option key while your Mac restarts and then select the Windows icon when you see the Startup Manager screen.
Select your language, time and currency format, and keyboard layout, and then select Next.
Select Install now.
Enter your product key if prompted and select Next. If you don't have a product key, you can select I don't have a product key and activate Windows later.
Select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
Select the partition labeled BOOTCAMP and select Next. Do not select any other partition or create or delete any partitions, as this might delete macOS or cause other problems.
Wait for Windows to install on the partition. Your Mac might restart several times during this process.
Step 4: Install the Windows support software from Apple
After Windows has been installed on the partition, you need to install the Windows support software from Apple. This software includes drivers and utilities that enable your Mac hardware to work properly with Windows, such as the keyboard, trackpad, camera, audio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and graphics. To install the Windows support software from Apple using Boot Camp Assistant, follow these steps:
If you used an external drive to store the Windows installation files or the Windows support software from Apple, insert it into your Mac.
Open File Explorer and navigate to the drive labeled BOOTCAMP.
Double-click on the folder named BootCamp.
Double-click on the file named Setup.exe.
Select Yes if prompted by User Account Control.
Select Repair and then select Next.
Select I accept the terms in the license agreement and then select Next.
Select Install.
Wait for the Windows support software from Apple to install on your Mac. Your Mac might restart during this process.
Step 5: Switch between macOS and Windows 8
Congratulations! You have successfully installed Windows 8 on your Mac using Boot Camp Assistant. Now you can switch between macOS and Windows 8 whenever you want. To switch between macOS and Windows 8 using Boot Camp Assistant, follow these steps:
To switch from macOS to Windows 8, open Boot Camp Assistant from the Utilities folder in the Applications folder. Select Continue and then select Restart in Windows. Enter your administrator password if prompted.
To switch from Windows 8 to macOS, click on the Boot Camp icon in the system tray and select Restart in macOS. Alternatively, you can hold down the Option key while your Mac restarts and then select the macOS icon when you see the Startup Manager screen.
How to Install Windows 8 on Your Mac Using Virtualization Software
If you want to install Windows 8 on your Mac using virtualization software, you need to download and install a virtualization program on your Mac. There are several options available, but we will focus on three popular ones: Parallels Desktop, VMWare Fusion, and VirtualBox. Each of these programs has its own advantages and disadvantages, such as price, features, performance, and compatibility. You can compare them and choose the one that suits your needs best.
To install Windows 8 on your Mac using virtualization software, follow these general steps:
Download and install the virtualization program of your choice on your Mac.
Create a new virtual machine for Windows 8 using the program's wizard or settings.
Select the Windows 8 ISO file or installation media as the source for installing Windows 8 on the virtual machine.
Follow the instructions to install Windows 8 on the virtual machine.
Install the program's tools or extensions on the virtual machine to improve its performance and integration with your Mac.
Start and stop the virtual machine as needed to run Windows 8 as an application on your Mac.
Parallels Desktop for Mac
Parallels Desktop for Mac is a premium virtualization program that allows you to run Windows 8 seamlessly on your Mac. It has many features that enhance your experience, such as Coherence Mode, which lets you run Windows applications as if they were native Mac applications; Touch Bar support, which lets you use your MacBook Pro's Touch Bar with Windows applications; and Shared Folders, which lets you access files and folders between macOS and Windows. Parallels Desktop for Mac also has a high level of performance and compatibility with various devices and software.
To install Windows 8 on your Mac using Parallels Desktop for Mac, follow these steps:
Download Parallels Desktop for Mac from its official website. You can try it for free for 14 days or buy a license for $79.99 per year or $99.99 for a one-time purchase.
Install Parallels Desktop for Mac on your Mac by following the instructions.
Open Parallels Desktop for Mac and select New... from the File menu.
Select Install Windows or another OS from a DVD or image file and then select Continue.
Select Choose Manually... and then select Locate Manually....
Select Choose an image file... and then select the Windows 8 ISO file that you downloaded or drag it to the window. Alternatively, you can insert your installation media for Windows 8 and select it from the list.
Select Continue.
Enter your product key if you have one and select Continue. If you don't have a product key, you can select I don't have a product key and activate Windows later.
Select Express Installation and then select Continue.
Select Customize Settings... if you want to change the default settings for your virtual machine, such as the name, memory, disk space, and hardware. Otherwise, select Continue.
Wait for Parallels Desktop for Mac to create the virtual machine and start the installation of Windows 8.
Follow the instructions to complete the installation of Windows 8 on the virtual machine.
After Windows 8 has been installed on the virtual machine, Parallels Desktop for Mac will automatically install Parallels Tools on it. Parallels Tools is a set of software that improves the performance and integration of your virtual machine with your Mac. Wait for Parallels Tools to install and restart your virtual machine.
You can now start and stop your virtual machine as needed to run Windows 8 as an application on your Mac. You can also use the features of Parallels Desktop for Mac to enhance your experience, such as Coherence Mode, Touch Bar support, and Shared Folders.
VMWare Fusion for Mac
VMWare Fusion for Mac is another premium virtualization program that allows you to run Windows 8 on your Mac. It has similar features to Parallels Desktop for Mac, such as Unity Mode, which lets you run Windows applications as if they were native Mac applications; Touch Bar support, which lets you use your MacBook Pro's Touch Bar with Windows applications; and Shared Folders, which lets you access files and folders between macOS and Windows. VMWare Fusion for Mac also has a high level of performance and compatibility with various devices and software.
To install Windows 8 on your Mac using VMWare Fusion for Mac, follow these steps:
Download VMWare Fusion for Mac from its official website. You can try it for free for 30 days or buy a license for $79.99 per year or $149.99 for a one-time purchase.
Install VMWare Fusion for Mac on your Mac by following the instructions.
Open VMWare Fusion for Mac and select New... from the File menu.
Select Create a custom virtual machine and then select Continue.
Select Microsoft Windows as the operating system and Windows 8 as the version. Then select Continue.
Select Create a new virtual disk and then select Continue.
Select Customize Settings... if you want to change the default settings for your virtual machine, such as the name, memory, disk space, and hardware. Otherwise, select Finish.
Select CD/DVD (SATA) from the list of hardware devices on the left side of the window.
Select Connect CD/DVD Drive from the drop-down menu on the right side of the window.
Select Choose Disk or Disk Image... and then select the Windows 8 ISO file that you downloaded or drag it to the window. Alternatively, you can insert your installation media for Windows 8 and select it from the list.
Start your virtual machine by clicking on the Play button at the top of the window.
Follow the instructions to install Windows 8 on the virtual machine.
After Windows 8 has been installed on the virtual machine, VMWare Fusion for Mac will automatically install VMWare Tools on it. VMWare Tools is a set of software that improves the performance and integration of your virtual machine with your Mac. Wait for VMWare Tools to install and restart your virtual machine.
You can now start and stop your virtual machine as needed to run Windows 8 as an application on your Mac. You can also use the features of VMWare Fusion for Mac to enhance your experience, such as Unity Mode, Touch Bar support, and Shared Folders.
VirtualBox for Mac
VirtualBox for Mac is a free and open-source virtualization program that allows you to run Windows 8 on your Mac. It has fewer features than Parallels Desktop for Mac or VMWare Fusion for Mac, but it still offers basic functionality and compatibility with various devices and software. VirtualBox for Mac is suitable for users who want a simple and cost-effective solution to run Windows 8 on their Mac.
To install Windows 8 on your Mac using VirtualBox for Mac, follow these steps:
Download VirtualBox for Mac from its official website.
Install VirtualBox for Mac on your Mac by following the instructions.
Open VirtualBox for Mac and select New from the Machine menu.
Enter a name for your virtual machine, such as Windows 8. Select Microsoft Windows as the type and Windows 8 (64-bit) as the version. Then select Continue.
Select the amount of memory (RAM) that you want to allocate for your virtual machine. The recommended size is 2 GB, but you can increase or decrease it depending on your Mac's memory and your needs. Then select Continue.
Select Create a virtual hard disk now and then select Create.
Select VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image) as the hard disk file type and then select Next.
Select Dynamically allocated as the storage on physical