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Windows on Mac

OpenCore Legacy Patcher and Windows

Windows questions usually mix two different things: running the OCLP app and booting Windows through the OCLP boot picker. The guidance here is about UEFI Windows installations on older Macs.

Windows guidance focuses on UEFI installations and safe partitioning on older Macs.

OCLP app workflow

The patcher app workflow is for macOS. Use macOS to build and install OpenCore.

Windows booting

Only UEFI Windows installations show up in the OCLP boot picker.

Separate OpenCore partition

The Windows guide recommends a dedicated 200MB MS-DOS/FAT partition for OpenCore when booting Windows.

On this page

Windows UEFI minimum recommendations

The Windows guide focuses on modern Windows 10 and 11 installations without Boot Camp Assistant and recommends UEFI Windows only on certain older Mac families.

  • 2015 MacBook or newer
  • 2011 MacBook Air or newer
  • 2011 MacBook Pro or newer
  • 2011 Mac mini or newer
  • 2009 Mac Pro or newer, upgraded GPU preferred
  • 2010 iMac or newer, upgraded GPU preferred
  • 2009 Xserve, upgraded GPU preferred
Format the Windows installer USB correctly before copying files.
A separate FAT partition helps keep Windows from overwriting OpenCore.

Important bootloader warning

The Windows guide strongly recommends creating a separate 200MB FAT partition for OpenCore when booting Windows. This can prevent Windows from overwriting OpenCore with its own bootloader in the EFI partition.

MacPro4,1, MacPro5,1, and Xserve3,1

The Windows guide warns that these systems can be bricked by the Windows bootloader if it is loaded through the stock boot picker. Follow the dedicated removal workaround before rebooting.

Mount the Windows ISO before copying files to USB.
Some older Macs need the DISM installation path instead of the normal Windows installer flow.
Create Windows boot files after applying the image.

More help

Download OCLP

Get the macOS app from the project release package.

Install guide

Build OpenCore from macOS first.

Troubleshooting

Fix common OCLP issues.