Oct 16, 2018 The alert appears because the existing Boot Camp Windows partition schema conflicts on these models with APFS, the file system that macOS Mojave uses. If you have iMac (27-inch, Late 2012), you can install macOS Mojave using the steps below — but after the update, you cannot use Boot Camp to install Windows. When you try to use Boot Camp to create a Windows partition, you come across the following error: “The disk cannot be partitioned because some files could not be moved.” The suggested solution of reformatting the disk and restoring the data will work, but is quite a hassle.
What you need to install Windows 10 on Mac
- MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
- MacBook Air introduced in 2012 or later
- MacBook Pro introduced in 2012 or later
- Mac mini introduced in 2012 or later
- iMac introduced in 2012 or later1
- iMac Pro (all models)
- Mac Pro introduced in late 2013
The latest macOS updates, which can include updates to Boot Camp Assistant. You'll use Boot Camp Assistant to install Windows 10.
16GB or more free storage space on your Mac startup disk:
- You can have as little as 64GB of free storage space, but at least 128GB of free storage space provides the best experience. Automatic Windows updates require that much space or more.
- If your Mac has 128GB of memory (RAM) or more, the Windows installer needs at least as much free storage space as your Mac has memory. For example, if your Mac has 256GB of memory, at least 256GB of storage space must be available for Windows.
An external USB flash drive with a storage capacity of 16GB or more, unless you're using a Mac that doesn't require installing Windows from a flash drive.
A 64-bit version of Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro on a disk image (ISO) or other installation media:
- If installing Windows on your Mac for the first time, use a full version of Windows, not an upgrade.
- If your copy of Windows came on a USB flash drive, or you have a Windows product key and no installation disc, download a disk image from Microsoft.
- If your copy of Windows came on a DVD, you might need to create a disk image of that DVD.
How to install Windows 10 on Mac
To install Windows, use Boot Camp Assistant. It's in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
1. Use Boot Camp Assistant to create a Windows partition
If you're using macOS Mojave 10.14.5 on an iMac or Mac mini that has a Fusion Drive, download and install the latest Boot Camp Assistant before proceeding. Earlier versions might stop responding (hang or stall) while partitioning these drives.
Open Boot Camp Assistant and follow the onscreen instructions:
- If you're asked to insert a USB drive, plug your USB flash drive into your Mac. Boot Camp Assistant will use it to create a bootable USB drive for Windows installation.
- When Boot Camp Assistant asks you to set the size of the Windows partition, remember the minimum storage-space requirements in the previous section. Set a partition size that meets your needs, because you can't change its size later.
2. Format the Windows (BOOTCAMP) partition
When Boot Camp Assistant finishes, your Mac restarts to the Windows installer. If the installer asks where to install Windows, select the BOOTCAMP partition and click Format. In most cases, the installer selects and formats the BOOTCAMP automatically.
3. Install Windows, Windows support software, and Boot Camp
Unplug any external devices, such as additional displays and drives, that aren't necessary during installation. Then follow the onscreen instructions to begin installing Windows.
After Windows is installed, your Mac starts up in Windows and installs Windows support software and Boot Camp. If you never see a ”Welcome to the Boot Camp installer” window, finish by installing Windows support software manually.
How to switch between macOS and Windows
- Turn on or restart your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Option (or Alt) ⌥ key on your keyboard.
- Release the key when you see the Startup Manager window, which shows the name and icon of each startup disk.
- Select your macOS or Windows startup disk, then click the arrow or press Return.
Repeat these steps whenever you need to switch between operating systems.
Learn more
If you have one of these Mac models using OS X El Capitan 10.11 or later, you don't need a USB flash drive to install Windows:
- MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
- MacBook Air introduced in 2015 or later2
- MacBook Pro introduced in 2015 or later2
![Bootcamp cannot partition disk Bootcamp cannot partition disk](/uploads/1/2/6/2/126292612/506294874.png)
- iMac introduced in 2015 or later
- iMac Pro (all models)
- Mac Pro introduced in late 2013
For more information about using Windows on your Mac, open Boot Camp Assistant and click the Open Boot Camp Help button.
1. If you're installing Windows and macOS Mojave on an iMac (27-inch, Late 2012), iMac (27-inch, Late 2013), or iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) and your Mac is configured with a 3TB hard drive, learn about an alert you might see during installation.
2. These Mac models were offered with 128GB hard drives as an option. Apple recommends 256GB or larger hard drives so that you can create a Boot Camp partition of at least 128GB.
I get a strange error when I tell Bootcamp to create a partition for Windows. I get to the Create a Partition stage. I select 20GB for Windows leaving 91GB (39GB free) for OS X. I then click Partition and it gives me the following error
The disk cannot be partitioned because some files cannot be moved.
Back up the disk and use Disk Utility to format it as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume. Restore your information to the disk and try using Boot Camp Assistant again.
My disk is formatted in Mac OS Extended (Journaled), I have closed all applications (besides Bootcamp Assistant) and I have even restarted and tried again to see if that might help. Nothing. I can't get it to partition.
I also tried to create the partition using Disk Utility and I got the following error
Partition failed
Partition failed with the error:
Could not modify partition map because filesystem verification failed
Any ideas?
BTW - I am running OS X 10.6.2
mozillalivesmozillalives
4 Answers
I encountered this error a few months ago when I attempted to create a partition. I followed bootcamp's instructions (ie used time machine to backup the entire disk and reformat) and all worked fine.
Took a while to perform the backup and restore though :(
JT.WKJT.WK
Some unmovable system files have been placed in areas on the disk that prevent Boot Camp from repartitioning it as necessary. This is especially common if the disk is rather full, or was rather full then emptied to make space. The advice given by the Boot Camp Assistant is the best way to fix the issue.
phoebusphoebus
I've found a way better solution to this problem. You'll still need around 30 gig of free space for this. I'm not sure if this cures from all instances of that error, but it definitely helped me.
- Get Apple's Recovery Disk Assistant
- Make a recovery USB drive
- Boot from USB drive, select disk utility. For me it did not work if I booted from on-drive recovery option.
- Shrink down your Mac Partition to lowest possible. At this point you don't depend on hard drive at all, and partition operation should go just fine. This might take a while.
- Boot to your OS X, restore partition back to full size
- Open bootcamp assistant and try go for windows again
The entire operation tool like 15-20 minutes.
Dannie PDannie P
Alternate, quicker solution to backing up. Remove all unnecessary files and empty your Trash. Try Boot Camp again.
Explanation: The problem is you don't have contiguous space to proceed with the installation. If you have a lot of unnecessary files (e.g. old movies, music, downloads files), you will probably have enough contiguous space after deletion.
Worked well for me.
DonnDonn