Skip to main content

Apple drops Windows 7 Boot Camp support with its latest MacBook Pro and Air

apple drops windows 7 boot camp support latest macbook pro air macpro
Image used with permission by copyright holder
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air will no longer support Windows 7 with Boot Camp. This news came on March 20 after MacRumors spotted the specification on Apple’s Boot Camp support document.

Windows 7 support was also dropped on the 2013 MacBook Pro. The 2014 MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs and iMacs continue to support Windows 7 in Boot Camp for the time being.

Related: Battle of the MacBooks: MacBook (2015) vs MacBook Pro 13-inch (2015)

Boot Camp is Apple’s software, designed to allow operators to install Windows on their devices. Individuals who want to continue using Windows 7 on their devices can turn to third-party software, such as Parallels Desktop 10.

Apple has made a similar move in the past — it dropped Boot Camp support for Windows XP and Vista upon the release of its second-generation MacBook Air in 2010.

Related: Which MacBook should you buy?

Microsoft is set to begin rolling out Windows 10 this summer. Although Windows enthusiasts are still very much attached to Windows 7, the operating system debuted in 2009 – its age may have encouraged Apple to move away from continued support.

Recent builds and screenshots of Windows 10 have showed design elements that may persuade Windows 7 lovers to upgrade. Pricing for the new operating system has not been revealed, but Windows 8.1 users and above will be able to upgrade for free.

The full list of Apple’s Boot Camp-supported devices can be found on its website. Apple’s new 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air were debuted during the company’s “Spring Forward” event.

Krystle Vermes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Krystle Vermes is a professional writer, blogger and podcaster with a background in both online and print journalism. Her…
This is one of my favorite Windows laptops. But can it beat the MacBook Air?
Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air seen from above and the side.

The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED is one of my favorite new Windows laptops that I reviewed this year. It's a great value, offering a fast CPU alongside an excellent OLED display.

But can it compete with the MacBook Air 15-inch? The incredible build quality and incomparable battery life make it a tough battle for the Zenbook to win, even at its more budget-friendly price.
Specs and configurations
 

Read more
The MacBook Pro M3 doesn’t have a memory problem — it has a pricing problem
The MacBook Pro open on a table in front of a couch.

Apple just upset everyone, claiming that the 8GB of Unified Memory available in the base MacBook Pro M3 is "probably analogous to 16GB on other systems."

The MacBook Pro M3 has already come under fire for only including 8GB of Unified Memory in its base configuration, which runs $1,600. MacWorld recently ran a story criticizing the 8GB of memory in the MacBook Pro M3, saying, "If 8GB will be a bottleneck for many today, imagine the performance of that non-upgradeable laptop in a few years’ time."

Read more
MacBook Pro M3: Should you choose the M3, M3 Pro, or M3 Max?
The MacBook Pro open on a table.

Apple's next generation of MacBook Pros is finally here, and they arrive touting the highly anticipated M3 chip. Like the previous generation, you have a choice between a 14-inch and 16-inch model, but there are a lot of differences when you start looking at the three versions of the chip that are available: the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max.

We're here to run you through all of the configuration options for the MacBook Pro M3, as well as if you should choose the M3, M3 Pro, or M3 Max. Apple currently has the , and they're shipping now.
Pricing

Read more