This post offers tips to users planning to switch from Mac to Windows PC, including how to install & then transfer files from Mac to a Windows computer. It would interest those Mac users who are planning to switch to Windows 11/10 or those, who need to use a Windows PC at home or work too.
Switching from Mac to Windows PC
As a Mac user, you would be familiar with all the applications and tools available in a Mac. This post will also tell you in short, the comparable applications, services, features, and tools, which are present in Windows, which will allow you to carry out similar tasks, like its Mac counterparts.
If you have installed Windows on a Mac, using Boot Camp, you will have a dual-boot system with your Mac OS on one partition and Windows on the other. The next thing you want to do is to transfer files from Mac to Windows PC.
Applications you used on a Mac and its counterpart or comparable application on Windows
| Mac | Windows |
| Finder | Windows Explorer |
| Mac App Store | Windows Store |
| Mac Mail | Windows Live Mail or Microsoft Outlook |
| Safari Browser | Internet Explorer |
| Apple iTunes | Windows Media Player |
| Photo Booth | Windows Live Movie Maker |
| iPhoto | Windows Live Photo Gallery |
| FaceTime | Windows Live Messenger or Skype |
| iCal | Windows Live Calendar or Microsoft Office Outlook |
| Address Book | Windows Live People or Microsoft Office Outlook |
Other comparable Tools, Folders and Functions
| Mac | Windows |
| LaunchPad | All Programs in Start Menu |
| Mission Control | Task bar |
| Document Stack | Personal user folder |
| Download Stack | Downloads folder in User folders |
| Trash | Recycle Bin |
| Spotlight | Windows Search |
| Time Machine | Windows Backup and System Restore |
| Apple Care | Windows Help |
| System Preferences to personalize settings | Personalization |
There are several other Services, Features, Websites, Security components and applications for Windows, which will help you get the best out of your Windows PC.
Some of them are:
- PC Health
- Action Center
- Windows Firewall
- Windows Update
- User Account Control
- Bitlocker (Encryption)
- Windows Defender
- Microsoft Security Essentials
- Windows Live Family Safety.
You can read more about this on KB2677167.
TIP: See this post if you need help to Migrate from Mac to Surface.
This post shows you how to transfer or move your important documents, data & files from Windows PC to Mac using Windows Migration Assistant Tool.
Hi,
I have encountered the following problem: I have a Mac Pro on which I have worked with Windows 10. During this period I have downloaded (and paid for it) several programs i.e. ABBY Transformer, Office 365 etc. Recently I was not able to boot Windows anymore. The Mac started but was cycling endlessly without starting Windows 10. Now I would like to re-install Windows 10, but I would want to be able to use all the programs downloaded in the past without buying new copies from their manufacturer. I have no restore point under the old Windows 10 and no back-up copies.
Thank you for advice,
Cristian (Bucharest, Romania, Europe)