Dual Boot macOS and Windows on PC

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Running both Windows and macOS on the same computer might sound complicated, but with the right tools and a clear method, it’s completely possible — even for beginners.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to install macOS alongside your existing Windows 10 or Windows 11 system without deleting Windows. When you turn on your PC, you’ll get a boot menu that lets you choose which operating system to start. This is called dual-booting.

We will use OpenCore, the most stable and modern bootloader used in Hackintosh systems. Instead of manually configuring dozens of files, we’ll use automation tools that generate everything based on your hardware. That makes this guide much easier than traditional Hackintosh tutorials.

By the end of this guide, you will have:

✅ Windows still working normally
✅ macOS installed on a separate partition
✅ A clean boot menu to choose OS at startup
✅ USB ports mapped properly
✅ A stable OpenCore setup

Before we begin, a few important notes:

  • Installing macOS on non-Apple hardware is unofficial and may violate Apple’s license agreement
  • Hardware compatibility matters (Intel systems work best)
  • Always backup important data
  • This process is safe when followed correctly, but mistakes can cause boot issues

If you follow each step carefully, everything will work smoothly.

Step 1 — Install Python (Required Dependency)

Before we touch any Hackintosh tools, we must install Python. Some of the scripts used by OpenCore Simplify rely on Python to run correctly. If Python is missing, the tool may fail, crash, or skip important steps.

Don’t worry — you don’t need to learn Python. We are only installing it as a background dependency.

What Python does in this guide

Think of Python as an engine that runs automation scripts. OpenCore Simplify uses Python to:

  • Detect your hardware
  • Generate config files
  • Download required components
  • Build your custom EFI folder

Without Python, none of that works properly.

Install Python from Microsoft Store

Click the button below and install Python directly from the official Microsoft Store.

Installation steps

  1. Click the button above
  2. Microsoft Store opens
  3. Click Install
  4. Wait until installation finishes
  5. Close Microsoft Store

That’s it. No configuration needed.

Quick verification (optional but recommended)

We’ll quickly confirm Python is installed correctly.

  1. Press Windows Key
  2. Type: cmd
  3. Open Command Prompt
  4. Type:
python --version

If Python is installed correctly, you’ll see something like:

Python 3.x.x

If you see a version number → perfect. Move on.

If it says command not recognized → restart your PC and try again.

Python is now ready. This ensures OpenCore Simplify runs smoothly in the next step.

Step 2 — Generate Your Custom OpenCore EFI (Core of the Entire Setup)

This is the most important step in the whole guide.

We are now going to generate a custom OpenCore EFI folder that is tailored specifically to your hardware. This EFI folder contains:

  • The OpenCore bootloader
  • Hardware drivers (called kexts)
  • Boot configuration files
  • System patches required for macOS

Think of this EFI folder as a compatibility bridge between your PC and macOS. Without it, macOS cannot boot on non-Apple hardware.

Traditionally, building OpenCore manually requires deep technical knowledge. But we’ll use OpenCore Simplify, which automatically scans your hardware and builds everything for you.

This makes Hackintosh setup beginner-friendly.

Download OpenCore Simplify

Extract and launch the tool

  1. Download the ZIP file
  2. Right-click → Extract All
  3. Open the extracted folder
  4. Double-click OpCore-Simplify.bat

A command window will open.

Do not close it unless instructed.

Handle the update prompt

The tool may ask:

“Skip update?”

This is important:

  • First time → type N and press Enter
    (This downloads the newest files)
  • When it asks again → type Y
    (This skips future checks and speeds up the process)

This ensures you are using the latest OpenCore components.

Scan your hardware

Inside the tool:

Type:

1

Press Enter.

The program will now scan:

  • CPU
  • GPU
  • Motherboard chipset
  • USB controllers
  • Storage controllers
  • ACPI tables

This hardware scan is what allows the tool to build a working EFI for your exact PC.

Wait until the scan completes.

Check macOS compatibility

Next:

Type:

E

Press Enter.

You’ll see a list of macOS versions your hardware supports.

Example:

  • macOS Ventura
  • macOS Sonoma
  • macOS Sequoia

Choose the newest version supported.

Each version will have a number next to it.

Type the number and press Enter.

Build the EFI

Now the final step inside the tool:

Type:

6

Press Enter.

The tool will now automatically:

  • Download OpenCore
  • Download required drivers
  • Add hardware patches
  • Generate config files
  • Apply correct SMBIOS
  • Prepare boot structure

This may take a few minutes depending on internet speed.

Do not close the window while it works.

Locate your EFI folder

When the build completes, the tool creates a folder named:

EFI

This is your custom bootloader.

Copy the entire EFI folder to your Desktop.

We will use this folder in the next steps to create the installer USB.

Step 2 is complete. You now have a working OpenCore EFI tailored to your PC.

Step 3 — Map USB Ports (Critical for a Stable Installation)

This step is extremely important and many beginners skip it — which later causes keyboard, mouse, or installer failures.

macOS has a strict USB port limit. If your ports are not mapped properly, you may experience:

  • Keyboard not working in installer
  • Mouse freezing
  • USB devices disconnecting randomly
  • Installer getting stuck
  • Ports working in Windows but dead in macOS

USB mapping tells macOS exactly which ports exist on your motherboard and how to use them safely.

We’ll use USBToolBox to automatically detect and map every port.

Download USBToolBox

Extract and run USBToolBox

  1. Extract the USBToolBox ZIP file
  2. Open the folder
  3. Double-click USBToolBox.exe

A command window opens.

Scan every USB port

Inside the tool:

Type:

D

Press Enter.

Now you must manually test every USB port on your PC.

Take any USB device (flash drive works best).

For each port:

  • Plug in USB device
  • Wait 5 seconds
  • Unplug it
  • Move to the next port

Repeat until all ports are scanned.

This step teaches macOS which ports exist physically on your system.

Review detected ports

After scanning:

Type:

B

to go back

Then type:

S

This shows detected ports.

You want them to appear green.

If some show red, it means they were not detected properly. Plug the device again and rescan that port.

Generate USB mapping file

Once all ports look correct:

Type:

K

Press Enter.

The tool will generate:

USBMap.kext

This is your USB mapping driver.

You’ll find it in your Downloads folder.

Add USB drivers to your EFI

Now we copy the mapping into your OpenCore setup.

  1. Copy USBMap.kext
  2. Go to your Desktop EFI folder:
EFI > OC > Kexts
  1. Paste USBMap.kext inside the Kexts folder

Next:

  1. Extract the USBToolBox Kext pack
  2. Copy USBToolBox.kext
  3. Paste it into the same Kexts folder

You should now have:

EFI > OC > Kexts > USBMap.kext
EFI > OC > Kexts > USBToolBox.kext

Step 3 is complete. Your USB ports are now properly mapped.

This prevents installer failures and future stability issues.

Step 4 — Add USB Drivers to OpenCore Configuration

In the previous step, we added USB drivers into the EFI folder.
But OpenCore still doesn’t know they exist.

Simply copying kext files is not enough — we must tell OpenCore to load them during boot. This is done inside a file called:

config.plist

Think of config.plist as OpenCore’s instruction manual.
If a kext is not listed there, OpenCore ignores it.

We’ll use a beginner-friendly tool to edit this safely.

Download OC Auxiliary Tools

Open your OpenCore config

  1. Extract OC Auxiliary Tools
  2. Launch the program
  3. Click File → Open
  4. Navigate to:
Desktop → EFI → OC → config.plist
  1. Open the file

You are now editing your OpenCore configuration.

Add USB kext entries

  1. In the left panel, click Kernel
  2. Find the Add section
  3. Click the + button

Add the following two entries:

USBMap.kext
USBToolBox.kext

The tool may auto-fill details after selecting the kext file from the Kexts folder.

If it asks for path, select the files from:

EFI → OC → Kexts

Save changes

  1. Click Save
  2. Close the application

That’s it.

OpenCore will now load your USB drivers during boot, ensuring keyboard, mouse, and USB ports work inside macOS installer.

Step 5 — Create the macOS Installer USB Drive

Now we will prepare the USB drive that boots OpenCore and launches the macOS installer.

This USB acts as a temporary boot disk. Your PC will start from it and load macOS setup.

Make sure you are using:

  • A USB drive with at least 8GB
  • Empty USB (all data will be erased)

Download Rufus

Format the USB correctly

  1. Insert the USB drive
  2. Open Rufus
  3. Select your USB device

Set the options exactly like this:

  • Boot selection → Non-bootable
  • Partition scheme → GPT
  • File system → FAT32

These settings make the USB compatible with UEFI booting.

Click Start and wait for formatting to finish.

Copy OpenCore EFI to USB

After Rufus completes:

  1. Open your USB drive
  2. Copy the entire EFI folder from your Desktop
  3. Paste it into the USB drive root

The structure should look like:

USB:\EFI

Do not rename anything.

At this point, the USB can boot OpenCore.

But it still doesn’t have the macOS installer. We add that next.

Step 6 — Download macOS Recovery Files (Installer)

Your USB can now boot OpenCore, but it still doesn’t contain the actual macOS installer.
In this step, we download Apple’s official macOS recovery image and add it to the USB.

This recovery image is what launches the macOS installer.

The files come directly from Apple’s servers, not from third-party websites.

Download OpenCorePkg

Open the macOS recovery tool

  1. Extract the OpenCorePkg ZIP
  2. Open the folder:Utilities → macrecovery
  3. Click the address bar at the top
  4. Type:
CMD
  1. Press Enter

A Command Prompt window opens in the correct folder.

Get the recovery command

Open the official recovery command list:

Scroll until you find the macOS version you selected earlier.

Each version has a ready-to-copy command.

Example format:

python macrecovery.py -b XXXXX -m XXXXX download

Copy the full command.

Download recovery image

Paste the command into Command Prompt and press Enter.

The tool will:

  • Connect to Apple servers
  • Download macOS recovery files
  • Create a folder named:
com.apple.recovery.boot

This may take several minutes depending on internet speed.

Do not close the window until finished.

Copy recovery files to USB

After download completes:

  1. Copy the entire folder:
com.apple.recovery.boot
  1. Paste it into the USB drive root

Your USB should now contain:

USB:\EFI
USB:\com.apple.recovery.boot

This means the installer USB is fully ready.

Step 7 — Create a Partition for macOS in Windows

Now we will create space on your SSD where macOS will be installed.

We are not deleting Windows.
We are only shrinking the Windows partition and creating a new empty partition beside it.

This keeps Windows completely safe.

Open Disk Management

  1. Right-click the Start button
  2. Click Disk Management

You’ll see your drives and partitions.

Find your main Windows drive (usually C:).

Shrink the Windows partition

  1. Right-click the Windows partition
  2. Choose Shrink Volume

Windows will calculate how much space can be reduced.

In the size box, enter how much space you want for macOS.

Recommended:

  • Minimum → 50 GB
  • Better → 100 GB or more

Example:

If you want 100GB:

102400 MB

Click Shrink.

You will now see Unallocated Space.

Create the macOS partition

  1. Right-click the new Unallocated Space
  2. Choose New Simple Volume
  3. Follow the wizard

When asked for file system:

👉 Select exFAT

Why exFAT?
Because the macOS installer can detect and reformat it later.

Give the partition a label:

macOS

This makes it easy to recognize during installation.

Finish the wizard.

You should now see a new drive named macOS in Windows.

Step 8 — Configure BIOS / UEFI Settings Before Installation

Before booting the installer USB, we must adjust a few BIOS settings.

These settings allow OpenCore to run and prevent Windows security features from blocking macOS.

Every motherboard BIOS looks different, but the options usually have similar names.

Enter BIOS / UEFI

  1. Restart your PC
  2. While booting, repeatedly press one of these keys:
Delete
F2
F10
F12
Esc

One of them will open BIOS.

(Your screen usually shows: “Press DEL to enter setup” or similar.)

Disable Secure Boot

Secure Boot blocks unsigned bootloaders.

OpenCore is unsigned, so it will not run unless Secure Boot is disabled.

Inside BIOS:

  • Find Secure Boot
  • Set it to Disabled

Location varies:

Boot tab
Security tab
Advanced tab

Set USB as first boot device

Next we tell the PC to boot from the installer USB.

Find:

Boot Priority
Boot Order
Boot Sequence

Move your USB drive to the top of the list.

This ensures the PC loads OpenCore from USB.

Optional settings (recommended)

Some systems require these for stability:

  • Disable Fast Boot
  • Enable UEFI Boot Mode
  • Disable CSM (if present)
  • Enable XHCI Hand-off (USB compatibility)

Not every BIOS has these options — skip if missing.

Save and exit

Press:

F10 → Save & Exit

Your PC will restart.

If everything is correct, it will now boot into the OpenCore USB menu.

Step 9 — Install macOS from the OpenCore Boot Menu

Now we finally install macOS onto the partition we created earlier.

Your PC should boot into the OpenCore menu from the USB. If it boots into Windows instead, recheck BIOS boot order.

Boot into the macOS installer

When OpenCore appears, you’ll see several icons:

  • Windows
  • macOS Installer
  • Recovery options

Use arrow keys to select:

👉 macOS Installer

Press Enter

The macOS recovery environment will load.
This may take a few minutes. Be patient — a black screen for 30–60 seconds is normal.

Open Disk Utility

Once the macOS recovery screen appears:

  1. Click Disk Utility
  2. Click Continue

We must erase the partition we created earlier.

Format the macOS partition

Inside Disk Utility:

  1. Select the partition labeled macOS
  2. Click Erase

Set:

  • Format → APFS
  • Scheme → GUID Partition Map

Click Erase

After formatting finishes:

Close Disk Utility.

Install macOS

  1. Click Install macOS
  2. Click Continue
  3. Select the APFS partition you just formatted
  4. Start installation

macOS will now copy files.

Your system will reboot multiple times — this is normal.

Each time OpenCore appears:

👉 Select the macOS installer / macOS disk
(not Windows)

Let the process complete.

Installation can take 20–45 minutes depending on hardware.

First boot setup

After installation finishes, macOS will start the welcome screen.

Go through:

  • Region
  • Keyboard
  • Network
  • Apple ID (optional)
  • User account

If Wi-Fi doesn’t work yet:

  • Use Ethernet
  • Or USB tethering from phone

We’ll fix Wi-Fi later after installation.

Step 10 — Make macOS Boot Without the USB Drive

Right now, macOS only boots because the USB contains OpenCore.

If you remove the USB, your PC will boot straight into Windows.

So in this step, we copy OpenCore from the USB into your PC’s internal EFI partition. This installs OpenCore permanently and gives you a proper dual-boot menu every time the PC starts.

Download OC Auxiliary Tools for macOS

Inside macOS, download OC Auxiliary Tools again (macOS version):

Allow the app to run

macOS may block it because it’s from an unidentified developer.

If you see a warning:

  1. Open System Settings
  2. Go to Privacy & Security
  3. Click Open Anyway
  4. Enter your password

Now launch the app again.

Mount the internal EFI partition

  1. Open OC Auxiliary Tools
  2. Use the Mount EFI option
  3. Select your internal SSD (not the USB)
  4. Click Mount

The EFI partition will appear in Finder as:

NO NAME

This is normal.

Copy OpenCore to internal drive

  1. Open your USB drive
  2. Go to:
USB → EFI
  1. Copy these folders:
Boot
OC
  1. Paste them into the mounted internal EFI partition
  2. Merge / replace if asked

Your internal drive now contains OpenCore.

You can safely eject and unplug the USB.

Step 11 — Set OpenCore as the Default Boot Manager (Dual-Boot Menu)

Right now, your PC may still boot directly into Windows.
That’s because Windows Boot Manager is still set as the default in UEFI.

We will change the default boot path so OpenCore loads first.
This gives you a clean menu to choose macOS or Windows every time the PC starts.

This step is safe and reversible.

Boot into Windows

Restart your PC and boot into Windows normally.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator

  1. Press Windows key
  2. Type:
cmd
  1. Right-click Command Prompt
  2. Choose Run as Administrator

You must run this as admin or the command will fail.

Run the boot command

Paste the command below and press Enter:

bcdedit /set {bootmgr} path \efi\boot\bootx64.efi

If successful, you’ll see:

The operation completed successfully.

This tells your motherboard firmware:

👉 Load OpenCore instead of Windows Boot Manager

Restart and test

Restart your PC.

You should now see the OpenCore boot menu first.

From there you can choose:

  • macOS
  • Windows

Congratulations — you now have a fully working dual-boot system.

Final Result

You successfully:

✅ Installed macOS alongside Windows
✅ Preserved your Windows installation
✅ Created a clean dual-boot menu
✅ Configured OpenCore permanently
✅ Mapped USB for stability
✅ Built a beginner-friendly Hackintosh setup

Your PC is now a dual-OS machine.

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