In the example below, the top keyboard is a Mac keyboard and the bottom is a typical Windows keyboard. The blue highlighted keys have unique functions specific to the operating system for which they are designed. Some of the keys on the Mac keyboard are temporarily reassigned to a different function when you start in Windows on your Mac. Specific details are given in the tables later in this article.

Example Mac keyboard 

Example Windows keyboard

Windows needs Apple keyboard support drivers
After you install Windows, you need to install Windows support software which includes the Mac drivers and other support software required for Windows to understand the Extended Function keys on Apple keyboards. See the Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide to learn how to install the support software.

Using a Windows keyboard in Mac OS X
Although Apple doesn't support the use of Windows keyboards, Microsoft provides a keyboard mapping article for attempting to use a Windows Keyboard in Mac OS X.

About character mapping in Windows for international keyboards

You can determine the key combinations used to access unique characters for the language and region your Apple keyboard is designed to support:

1. Download, install, and open the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator. This allows  you to view any of the supported Apple-specific keyboard layouts that were installed in Windows.
2. Choose File > Load Existing Keyboard
3. Select the keyboard you want to see. Locate the country name in the keyboard list which is followed by "(Apple)".
4. Follow the instructions provided with the application. You can print images of the keyboard in various states (such as when holding the Shift key).

Which keyboard do I have?

How Microsoft Windows Function keys are mapped to Apple keyboards
This table shows the keyboard functions specific to Microsoft Windows and the equivalent key combinations as they are mapped to Apple keyboards.

How Mac keyboards are mapped for the Numeric keypad

Apple external keyboards with built-in numeric keypads as well as original MacBook Pro keyboards provide the same functionality as Microsoft-compatible numeric keypads.

How Microsoft Windows Function keys are mapped to OS X Extended Function Keys

You can use the Extended Function keys (located along the top of your Apple keyboard) in Windows. In the table below, a checkmark indicates that your keyboard supports a function in Windows. Note:  This requires the Windows support software drivers to be installed. See the  Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide to learn how to install the support software.

More details about some of the topics discussed in this article can be found at www.apple.com/support/bootcamp.

What do I need to install Windows 7?

Windows 7 requires OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard or later, and the Boot Camp 3.1 Update. For a list of supported Mac and System Requirements, see Boot Camp: System requirements for Microsoft Windows operating systems.

What types of Windows 7 installations are supported?

Both new installs and upgrade installs are supported.

How do I install Windows 7?

If you are installing Windows 7 using Boot Camp with:

• OS X v10.8 Mountain Lion, see the Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide.
• OS X v10.7 Lion, see http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/boot_camp_install-setup_10.7.pdf . 
• OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard, see the Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide. 

Do all Intel-based Macs support Windows 7?

All Intel-based Macs support Windows 7 using Boot Camp 3.1 except these:

• iMac (17-inch, Early 2006)
• iMac (17-inch, Late 2006)
• iMac (20-inch, Early 2006)
• iMac (20-inch, Late 2006)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006)
• MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2006)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2006)
• MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
• Mac Pro (Mid 2006, Intel Xeon Dual-core 2.66GHz or 3GHz)

Where can I get the Windows Support Software (Windows drivers)?

Use the Boot Camp Assistant (see the Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide for more information). Or, you can download them here.

How do I use the Support Software I downloaded from the web page?

1. The download file is a .zip file. Double click it to uncompress it.
2. Copy the Support Software to the root level of a USB flash or hard drive that is formatted with the FAT file system (see question below for steps on how to format). 
3. Attach the hard drive to the USB port of your Mac after Windows 8 is installed. 
4. Double-click the Boot Camp folder, then locate and double click the "setup.exe" file. 
5. Installation of the drivers can take a few minutes. Don't interrupt the installation process. A completion dialog box will appear when everything is installed. Click Finish when the dialog appears.
6. When your system restarts your Windows 8 installation is done.

How do I format USB media to the FAT file system?

You can use Disk Utility to format a disk to use with a Windows computer.

WARNING: Formatting a disk erases all the files on it. Copy any files you want to save to another disk before formatting the disk.

1. Open Disk Utility.
2. Select the disk you want to format for use with Windows computers.
3. Click Erase, and choose one of the following from the Format pop-up menu:
   
   • If the size of the disk is 32 GB or less, choose MS-DOS (FAT).
   • If the size of the disk is over 32 GB, choose ExFAT.
4. Type a name for the disk. The name’s maximum length is 11 characters.
5. Click the Erase button, and then click Erase again.

A "code: 0x80070005" alert appears when upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7.  How do I fix it?

This happens when the Windows 7 installer is attempting to write to a read-only Macintosh volume. See this article.

My iMac (27-inch, Late 2009) or iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010) displays a black screen during installation of Microsoft Windows 7 using the Boot Camp Assistant.  How do I fix it?

The Windows 7 installer does not include required graphics or Bluetooth drivers for this computer.  To obtain the necessary drivers and resolve the issue, see this article.

A blue screen appears when installing Windows 7 on my iMac computer with NVIDIA GeForce 7300 or 7600 GT, or Mac Pro with NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT or Quadro FX 4500 graphics cards.  How do I fix it?

Update your graphics card firmware. See this article for more information.

Are both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 supported?

On most Mac models, yes.  Some Macs support the 32 or 64 bit version only.  See Boot Camp: System requirements for Microsoft Windows operating systems for more information.

General
 

What is Boot Camp?  
Boot Camp is software included with OS X Lion and Mountain Lion so you can run compatible versions of Microsoft Windows on an Intel-based Mac.

What is new in Boot Camp 5?
Boot Camp 5 adds Windows 8 (64-bit) support. Use the Boot Camp Assistant and a USB drive to install the latest Boot Camp drivers for your computer. These new drivers support both Windows 7 (64-bit) and Windows 8 (64-bit). You should download the newest drivers available any time you install Windows.

What languages are supported in Boot Camp?
Deutsch, English, Français, 日本語, Español, Italiano, Nederlands, Dansk, Norsk, Bokmål, Polski, Português, Português (Brasil), Pусский, Suomi, Svensk, 简体中文, 繁體中文, 한국어, (العربية مصر), Čeština, Magyar, and Türkçe. 

Installation and partitioning
 

Where do I find the Installation Guide and Boot Camp Support Page?
http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/

You'll find information about the Manuals, System Requirements, more articles in the Using Boot Camp section, a link to the Boot Camp Discussion boards, and links to download the Boot Camp 5 Support Software (Windows drivers). Also see Boot Camp: Frequently asked questions about installing Windows 8 for more information on installing Windows 8.

Which versions of Windows work with Boot Camp 5?
You can use:

• Microsoft Windows 8 (64-bit)
• Microsoft Windows 8 Pro (64-bit)
• Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
• Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (64-bit)
• Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit)

Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Enterprise versions of Windows 7 and Windows 8 are not supported.

Are 32-bit versions of Windows 7 and 8 supported?
No. Boot Camp 5 supports 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and 8 only. Boot Camp 4 supports 64-bit and 32-bit versions of Windows 7, depending on the model Mac you have. For more information, see Boot Camp: System requirements for Microsoft Windows operating systems.

Are upgrade installs from Windows 7 to Windows 8 supported?
Yes, but be sure to install the Boot Camp 5.0 Support Software (drivers) before upgrading to Windows 8. See Boot Camp: Frequently asked questions about installing Windows 8 for more information.

Can I use a downloaded (ISO) version of Windows with Boot Camp?
Newer Mac computers can use downloaded (ISO) versions of Windows 7 and 8. To determine if your Mac supports this feature:

1. Click the Go menu and choose Utilities.
2. Open Boot Camp Assistant.
3. Click Continue. If you see a "Create a Windows 7 or later install disk" checkbox, your Mac supports the use of downloaded (ISO) install images. See the Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide for more information.

Do computers that come with a Fusion Drive support Boot Camp?
Yes. Use the Boot Camp Assistant to create a Windows partition and install Boot Camp. The Windows partition will exist on the hard disk drive, not the Flash drive, and is not part of Fusion Drive Logical Volume Group. 3TB Fusion Drive configurations need to update to OS X Mountain Lion v10.8.3 or later to install Windows 8. See iMac (27-inch, Late 2012): Boot Camp alert with 3TB hard drive for more information. 

I have a Mac Pro with a Mac Pro RAID card (Redundant Array of Independent Drives). Can I install Boot Camp on my Mac Pro?
Boot Camp does not support the installation of Windows onto a Mac using a Mac Pro RAID card or software RAID.

Which application should I use to create a Windows partition?
Always use the Boot Camp Assistant (located in the Utilities folder) to create a partition for Microsoft Windows. Boot Camp Assistant works with an Intel-based Mac that has a single hard disk partition or Fusion Drive. Boot Camp Assistant creates an additional partition for the Microsoft Windows operating system or allows you to install Microsoft Windows on another drive if you have more than one internal drive.

Boot Camp Assistant does not erase your existing Mac OS X partition or any of your OS X software when it creates a new partition for Microsoft Windows.

Important: Do not use disk utilities not created by Apple to partition the drive before using Boot Camp Assistant. Doing so may erase the entire disk.

Can I install Windows on an external drive?
No. Installing Boot Camp on an external hard drive is not supported.

Can more than one USB storage device be plugged in at Installation time?
No. You can only use one USB storage device during Windows installation. See Boot Camp: Windows installation boots to black screen with blinking cursor for more information.

Startup questions
 

How do I choose which operating system will start up my Mac?
After running Boot Camp Assistant and installing Microsoft Windows and Boot Camp drivers, press and hold the Option (Alt) key while you start up your Mac to switch between Microsoft Windows and OS X. Use the Startup Disk Control Panel in Windows or OS X Startup Disk System Preferences to set the default operating system to use each time the computer starts up.

Note: External FireWire, USB, and Thunderbolt disks are not recognized by the Startup Disk control panel in Microsoft Windows. To start up from a bootable external drive, press and hold the Option (Alt) key while the computer starts up, then select the external disk.

What can I do if my computer starts up to a black screen with white text that says "No Boot Disk Attached"?
This message means that the Windows partition cannot start up, usually because of an issue with the drive formatting. The Boot Camp Setup Assistant creates the Boot Camp partition, but the Windows installer must format it to make it "bootable". To resolve this issue:

1. Start up to OS X and run the Boot Camp Setup Assistant again.
2. Remove the Boot Camp partition and re-create it.
3. Install Windows again, this time using Windows to format the partition.
4. Refer to the Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide document for more details on installing Boot Camp.

Drivers, Mac features within Microsoft Windows, and miscellaneous
 

Which drivers are included with the OS X Windows Support Software (drivers) download?
The Boot Camp 5.0 software includes these Mac drivers for Windows:

• Apple Bluetooth
• Apple Keyboard Support
• Apple Remote Driver
• Apple Trackpad
• Atheros 802.11 Wireless
• ATI Graphics
• Boot Camp control panel for Microsoft Windows
• Boot Camp System Task Notification item (System Tray)
• Broadcom Wireless
• Intel Chipset Software
• Intel Integrated Graphics
• iSight Camera
• Marvel Yukon Ethernet
• nVidia Graphics
• Cirrus Logic Audio
• Realtek Audio
• SigmaTel Audio
• Startup Disk control panel for Microsoft Windows
• Thunderbolt
• USB 3

I have purchased music and video from the iTunes Store. Do I need to authorize my computer in Mac OS X and in Microsoft Windows?
Yes, you need to authorize one computer for Mac OS X and one computer for Microsoft Windows if you want to play music or video in both operating systems, even when the operating systems are installed on the same computer.

Why don't CDs and DVDs eject using the Eject key on my Apple keyboard when running Microsoft Windows?
The Apple Keyboard Eject Key software may not be installed. Make sure to install the Windows Support Software (drivers) as described above and in the Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide.

Why are more resolutions available for my display with Microsoft Windows than when with Mac OS X?
Mac OS X shows only recommended resolutions.

Why doesn't my keyboard's numeric keypad work in Windows?
Press the Num Lock key to enable the numeric keypad in Windows. If your keyboard doesn't have a key labeled Num Lock, try pressing the Clear key.

How does my Mac keyboard operate with Windows?
See Boot Camp: About keyboards and key assignment for Microsoft Windows for more information.

Are SDXC and other SD cards supported by Boot Camp 5?
Yes, SDXC cards are supported on Macintosh computers with an SD card slot and Boot Camp 5.0. You'll need to install the Windows Support Software (drivers) to enable this feature.  For more information on the SD card slot and Boot Camp, see About the SD and SDXC card slot.

Is Thunderbolt supported in Boot Camp 5?
Yes, see Thunderbolt ports and displays: Frequently asked questions (FAQ).

Is USB3 supported in Boot Camp 5?
Yes, see Using USB 3 devices on Mac computers FAQ. 

Is there an upgrade path from Boot Camp 4 to 5?
Use the Boot Camp Assistant in OS X Mountain Lion v10.8.3 or later to download Windows Support Software (drivers) and create the media to install them. You can also download the Windows Support Software (Windows drivers) to create you own install media here.

Where can I get support for Boot Camp 5?
Apple provides phone-based assistance for Boot Camp 5 for ninety days after the purchase of an eligible Apple product. You can extend this period by purchasing an AppleCare Protection Plan. Support articles and discussions are available on Apple's support website. 

Apple does not provide technical phone support for installing, using, or recovering Microsoft Windows. Support is available for using Boot Camp Setup Assistant, as well as installing or restoring Boot Camp software while started up in Windows.

This release updates the Apple-provided system Java SE 6 to version 1.6.0_43 and is for OS X versions 10.7 or later.

This update uninstalls the Apple-provided Java applet plug-in from all web browsers. To use applets on a web page, click on the region labeled "Missing plug-in" to go download the latest version of the Java applet plug-in from Oracle.

This update also removes the Java Preferences application, which is no longer required to configure applet settings.

This release updates the Apple-provided system Java SE 6 to version 1.6.0_43 for Mac OS X v10.6.

On systems that have not already installed Java for Mac OS X 10.6 update 9 or later, this update will configure web browsers to not automatically run Java applets. You may re-enable Java applets by clicking the region labeled "Inactive plug-in" on a web page. If no applets have been run for an extended period of time, the Java web plug-in will deactivate.

If, after installing Java for OS X 2013-002 and the latest version of Java 7 from Oracle, you want to disable Java 7 and re-enable the Apple-provided Java SE 6 web plug-in and Web Start functionality, follow these steps.

Note: You must be logged in as an administrator. If prompted for your administrator password after a command, enter it and then press the Return or Enter key.

1. Open Terminal, located in the Utilities folder.
2. Enter this command, then press the Return or Enter key:
   

   sudo mkdir -p /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/disabled 

3. Enter this command, then press the Return or Enter key:
   

   sudo mv /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/disabled

4. Enter this command, then press the Return or Enter key:
   

   sudo ln -sf /System/Library/Java/Support/Deploy.bundle/Contents/Resources/JavaPlugin2_NPAPI.plugin /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin 

5. To re-enable Java SE 6 Web Start, enter this command, then press the Return or Enter key:
   

   sudo ln -sf /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Commands/javaws /usr/bin/javaws

For the protection of our customers, Apple does not disclose, discuss, or confirm security issues until a full investigation has occurred and any necessary patches or releases are available. To learn more about Apple Product Security, see the Apple Product Security website.

For information about the Apple Product Security PGP Key, see "How to use the Apple Product Security PGP Key."

Where possible, CVE IDs are used to reference the vulnerabilities for further information.

To learn about other Security Updates, see "Apple Security Updates."
 

Java for OS X 2013-002 and Mac OS X v10.6 Update 14

• Java

  Available for: Mac OS X v10.6.8, Mac OS X Server v10.6.8, OS X Lion v10.7 or later, OS X Lion Server v10.7 or later, OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 or later

  Impact: Multiple vulnerabilities in Java 1.6.0_41

  Description: Multiple vulnerabilities existed in Java 1.6.0_41, the most serious of which may allow an untrusted Java applet to execute arbitrary code outside the Java sandbox. Visiting a web page containing a maliciously crafted untrusted Java applet may lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the current user. These issues were addressed by updating to Java version 1.6.0_43. Further information is available via the Java website at http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/releasenotes-136954.html

  CVE-ID

  CVE-2013-0809

  CVE-2013-1493

To help protect users from a recent vulnerability, Apple has updated the web plug-in-blocking mechanism to disable older versions of the web plug-in: Java

See this article for details.