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I have just looked on MacRumours and found out that Apple have stopped support for installing Windows 7 with BootCamp on the 2015 MacBooks (Air and Pro) (link). Since I am going to get the new 12" MacBook I am guessing that too doesn't support Windows 7 using bootcamp.

Since Apple are stopping the drivers for the 2015 models as well, is there still a way to install Windows 7 on the 2015 versions of the MacBook? (I sometimes need Windows 7 on my Mac for college)



Edit

Thank you for the replies.

I ended up getting the MacBook Pro since they didn't have any MacBooks in store. Since I have the MacBook Pro I can now run Windows 7 in a virtual machine (as suggested by you) because I do not have heat and performance issues.

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  • You are taking this out of content. Apple stopped the support for the older version (advanced age-Windows 7) but it will support the newer Windows 8, that replaces its predecessor.
    – Ruskes
    Mar 21, 2015 at 17:07
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    I know. I have also said I need to install Windows 7. I want/need to install 7 because I don't like 8 and my college uses 7.
    – iProgram
    Mar 21, 2015 at 17:10
  • Apple also no longer offers Mavericks on they site, as it has been replaced with Yosemite. (like it or not). You can not get new Apple devices with Mavericks even if you loved it. Sometimes you have to cut the umbilical cord and move on.
    – Ruskes
    Mar 21, 2015 at 17:31
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    I have a Windows 7 Installer that I did get legally (got it for free using 'onthehub.com' because I get a student discount)
    – iProgram
    Mar 21, 2015 at 17:59
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    I'm just going to throw this out here since it hasn't been mentioned, in this thread yet anyway, if you absolutely do not need to have it running natively installed via Boot Camp you can still run Windows 7 in a virtual machine. You can use the free VirtualBox if you don't want to pay for VMware Fusion or Parallels.
    – user3439894
    Mar 21, 2015 at 18:04

3 Answers 3

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You can install unsupported operating systems such as Linux or older Windows versions by not using the bootcamp assistant.

Open disk utility and create a partition, format it FAT. Then reboot whole holding alt/option and boot from the install-disc (CD, DVD, USB drive, ...) and install as usual.

Now comes the tricky part. Since the OS is not officially supported by Apple your on your own regarding driver-install. You'll be able to just use the regular drivers from the vendors for things like audio and wifi, for apple specific drivers, you can use the drivers that are downloadable by boot camp assistant. They single drivers are usually easily accessible in the package, you just can't use the Install-Everything App that Apple bundles with them.

Alternatively, use virtualization is a good option.

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  • Ok. Thanks. Looks like I may not be able to use the force track pad at least not all. (haptic feed back for example). I will there for use win 10.
    – iProgram
    Apr 10, 2015 at 8:43
  • This doesn't work for me. New 2015 MBP, USB 3 drive dd'd with the Win7 x64 ISO. USB drive doesn't show up as an option in the boot loader.
    – 3Dave
    Nov 11, 2015 at 0:29
  • This is not an option because Windows 7 doesn't support USB 3 natively and you can't install from USB.
    – noun
    Dec 26, 2015 at 22:56
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For those of you who:

  1. Have a 2015 model of MacBook and does NOT support Windows 7
  2. Want to take advantage of the free Windows 10 before July 2016

Bootcamp supports Windows 10 now, so I just spoke with Microsoft and gave them my Windows 7 key... and they provided me a new Windows 10 key to use.

Just adding this to the post since I fond this in my search for resolution.

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  • Privacy concerns? :) Why I stick with Apple. :)
    – iProgram
    Sep 21, 2015 at 9:20
  • I called Microsoft and they didn't provide me a key. It is not how it works, they said. They didn't help at all.
    – noun
    Jan 18, 2016 at 1:34
  • Check again... maybe with someone else at Microsoft. This was honestly my approach.
    – Jason Washo
    Jan 19, 2016 at 16:41
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Use Disk utilities to setup the 2nd partition then run Bootup tool rEFIt (used it before to access Ubuntu, Windows and OS X installed as well on my macbook pro).

Run Windows setup when you bootup on the created partition.

Download a previous set of drivers (latest ones I guess) and don't forget to back your drive.

You can get previous drivers to install by downloading them from this unofficial site

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  • oops forgot to read the updated part of the main topic. I guess that solves it as well (I am using a Macbook Air - 2015)
    – Karemboo
    May 1, 2015 at 16:59

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