How To Install Windows 10 On Mac Using External Drive (SSD)

In this video, you will learn to Install Windows 10 on Mac External Drive (SSD, HDD) without creating a Bootcamp partition. You can install Windows 10 on an external SSD to use with Mac computers.

To install Windows 10 on Mac Using External SSD you need few things -

1. An external SSD.
2. USB flash drive
3. USB A to C connectors or a USB C hub.
4. A Windows PC or Virtual Windows on Mac.
5. External Keyboard and Mouse.

Convert your flash drive and SSD to exFAT format.

Install Win2USB tool and make SSD bootable using the tool. (Do it on Windows PC)

Connect SSD to Mac.

Restart mac, press and hold ⌘+R to enter the recovery mode.
Allow booting from external media on the Macs using Apple's T2 security chips.

Restart again and choose EFI boot.
Connect Mouse and Keyboard.
Follow on-screen instructions to install Windows 10.
Install the Windows Support Software from USB flash drive and you are good to go.

Follow on Social Media

[PasserbyOfficial]

Working as of June 2022 with MacOS Monterey! You, sir, are a hero

[x]

I’ve watched 9 videos but your video worked for me. Thanks!!

[JE-MG]

Very good walk through and everything I needed. thank you for making this. One step was missing but fortunately I found it in the comments. Need to also Select "No Security" when selecting boot options. Other wise fabulous. Thank you again.

[shirushana]

Thank you so much. Now I have windows on an ssd and it works perfectly 😊

[Tech-knowledgy_lover]

Thank you so much sir.. it worked great sir… only one thing u didn’t tell that we have to do click on “No securities”.. baki sab first class 👌👌

[aemonzhou]

I had tried to use this method to install windows 11 on my USB4 external drives. It allows you to by pass the TPM2.0 restriction, as the windows is already pre-installed before you open it on mac. However one problem is that windows 11 installation require internet connection when you first open, I overcome this by pre loaded the drivers in the WindowsSupport folder while the WinToUSB is installing. This way when I opened up, the WiFI driver(also other drivers such as keyboard and mouse) is already installed, so I can safely activate the system and start using it. For some one who failed to load the drive, you could dry using a ethernet to USB-C adaptor to connect to the internet while you set up for the first time, and then you could get in and start installed the boot camp setup in your USB flash drive.

[skampiaf]

it worked for me. imac late 2013, external ssd 870 evo samsung. thanks

[jameswashington]

My ssd isn’t showing up when I hold options during the restart. What did I do wrong?

[DanielHamz]

Hello there! it is a perfect well detailed tutorial! keep it up
so my question is: by doing that on my 256Gigs SSD and my MacBook pro 2017 ... can I game on the external SSD? playing world of warcraft for instance? since I have only 128 base version on my mac while shadowlands version of wow is at 80 gigs .. please someone answer me
Thanks again

[omkarghorpade]

Perfect tutorial! Easy and concise, helped me a lot. Thank you for this!

[pitpit]

Thank you so so much! I've been struggling to make it with some tutorials and finnaly yours helped me and everything works excelent, appreciate your great work!

[Gajjuuuuuu]

Man Tysm it worked! only thing is that I couldn't connect to the internet maybe because I haven't yet installed boot camp assistant through usb I will do it soon.Again tysm man I really needed this.

[vtownhog]

Great review. It works Nov 2022. Do I still need boot camp installed on my Mac mini now that I have windows 10 on an external ssd

[SaiSuryaTech]

can we do it for windows, i mean can we install mac os in external ssd and can we use it..make a video if possible.

[cbrapagnoz]

I’m having problems with the installation of WindowsSupport drivers; the procedure runs smoothly, but as I restart Windows, everything stays the same as before the installation. Any fix for that?

[OmerCandan-cgyr]

Whats can we so with Macs Theo have Apple silicon? Er cant use Apple Bootcamp

[rishidharanb]

Hi sandeep i tried to install windows on my external ssd while setup i was unable to do partition."windows cannot be installed to this disk.setup does not support configuration of or installation to disks connected through a usb or ieee 1394 port"

[Tech-knowledgy_lover]

Help me to choose between EVM 512gb or samsung T7 500gb for installation of win10 in MacBook Air-2019

[szaki]

not working. Not show in boot screen EFI USB…

[bigm]

Great work champ
Do you know if this Can this work with a pre partitioned external ssd
for eg 500gb Mac OS already installed and running Ventura
and then 500gb Windows already exFat formatted ??
Would like to have a dual boot on the one external SSD