Starting up Boot Camp

This article describes how to change between OS X and Windows on a Mac.

Setting the Default Operating System

You can use the Startup Disk pane of System Preferences in Mac OS X to set the default operating system for starting up your computer. Boot Camp also installs a Boot Camp control panel that lets you set the default operating system when you’re using Windows.

Set the default operating system in Mac OS X

1. In Mac OS X, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, and then click Startup Disk.
2. Select the startup disk with the operating system you want to use by default.
3. If you want to start up that operating system now, click Restart.

Set the default operating system in Windows

1. In Windows, click the Boot Camp icon in the system tray and choose Boot Camp Control Panel.

   Note: Your screen may look different, depending on which computer you’re using.

2. Select the startup disk with the operating system you want to use by default.
3. If you want to start up that operating system now, click Restart.

Restart in Mac OS X using the Boot Camp icon in the Windows system tray

In Windows, click the Boot Camp icon in the system tray and choose “Restart in Mac OS X." This also sets the default operating system to Mac OS X.

Selecting an Operating System During Startup

You can select which operating system to use during startup by holding down the Option/ATL key. This displays icons for all available startup disks, and lets you override the default setting for the startup disk in Startup Disk preferences (Mac OS X) or the Boot Camp control panel (Windows) without changing that setting.

To select an operating system during startup:

1. Restart your computer and hold down the Option/ATL key until disk icons appear onscreen.
2. Select the startup disk with the operating system you want to use, and then click the arrow beneath the icon.

   If you want to make the startup disk you select the permanent choice for all future restarts, hold down the CTRL key and select the startup disk.

Alternative Boot Managers

If you need something a bit more user friendly then check out these other software options:

• http://twocanoes.com/boot-runner/
• http://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/ (open source replacement to rEFIt which is no longer being worked on)
• https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/24845/bootpicker (no longer being supported)