Always boot windows, unless option is held down

Question

I have a 2012 Retina Macbook pro I use for work, with software that is windows only.

I'm getting a bit tired of having to remember to hold down the option key every time I reboot.

I know I can tell bootcamp to "reboot into windows", but that only sticks for one reboot.

I want to always boot into windows, unless I hold the the option key. How can I do this?

Answer 1

From: Boot Camp: Set the default operating system

After installing Windows, you can set the default operating system.

Set the default operating system in OS X

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

Set the default operating system in Windows

You can’t change your startup volume to an external FireWire or USB drive while you're using Windows.

1. In Windows 7, click the Boot Camp icon in the system tray, then choose Boot Camp Control Panel. In Windows 8, move the cursor to the upper-right or lower-right corner of the screen, then click Search. Search for “Boot Camp,” click Settings, then click Boot Camp.

2. If a User Account Control dialog appears, click Yes.

3. Select the startup disk with the default operating system you want to use.
4. If you want to start up using the default operating system now, click Restart. Otherwise, click OK.

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

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

If you don’t see the Boot Camp icon in the system tray, click the triangle to show hidden icons.

Answer 2

This can (also) be done directly from the Startup Manager during boot.

From: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202796

When you use Startup Manager to select a startup disk, your Mac starts up from that disk once, then returns to using the disk selected in Startup Disk preferences.

1. Press and hold the Option (Alt) key immediately after turning on or restarting your Mac.
2. Release the Option key when you see the Startup Manager window. If your Mac is protected by a firmware password, you can release the key when you're asked to enter the password.
3. Select your startup disk, then click the arrow under its icon, or press Return. If you press and hold the Control key during this step, your selection is saved in Startup Disk preferences, so it persists until you change it.

Note the last part: If you press and hold the Control key during this step, your selection is saved in Startup Disk preferences, so it persists until you change it.

Answer 3

So I've had this issue with a Mac Pro 5,1. After reboot, I would have to hold down option key and select to boot into Windows/Bootcamp otherwise I would get the no bootable disk message. It's an NVRAM issue.
You have to reset the NVRAM by holding down option + command + P + R while booting. It will restart and then you have to hold down the option key and select Bootcamp again but this will be the last time. Afterward, it should boot back into Windows every time.