is it possible to boot to Windows through the command in the terminal

I want to make a shortcut or at least a .command file to automatically reload the system and boot from the bootcamp disk. Is it possible to implement it?

iMac 21.5″, macOS 13.7

Posted on Jan 31, 2025 1:22 PM

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Feb 2, 2025 8:05 AM in response to DarkBrich

What you want is probably impossible. Between SIP and the administrator requirements of the "bless" command - at best you will have to write a fairly complicated script to bless your BOOTCAMP partition and you'll end up with a password dialog box you have to enter your password in popping up at least twice.


But then BOOTCAMP will be your boot volume permanently unless you do the equivalent in Windows - which I suspect is equally as hard if not more because of how the Boot Camp menu tray item works.


Other options you may find online that suggest modifying non-standard NVRAM boot parameters to change the "next boot" parameter in EFI probably won't work because macOS mostly ignores those anyway - and again, SIP and so on won't let you modify that sort of thing at all, let alone in a clickable .command file.


So to answer your question - no it isn't likely possible to implement that. And if it is somehow technically possible, it is probably harder than the effort is worth, and unlikely to act the way you want.

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Feb 3, 2025 7:15 AM in response to DarkBrich

You can configure rEFInd to be the default startup option (that should be the case when running the rEFInd installation script). Then when you boot the Mac you are presented with the rEFInd graphical boot manager menus where you can easily select which OS you want to use. I don't understand.....you should not need to use the Option key unless you clear the PRAM which would prevent rEFInd from starting automatically which is no different than if you had configured the default Startup Disk in System Settings to select Windows.


If for some reason rEFInd is not booting by default, then select it using the Startup Disk System Settings. Of course it is possible that your macOS configuration is preventing rEFInd from becoming the default Startup Disk or perhaps it is an issue with a later version of macOS that is preventing rEFInd from being "blessed" or configured in the NVRAM.


What is the exact model of your Mac and version of macOS being used? You can get this information by clicking the Apple menu and selecting "About This Mac".

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Feb 5, 2025 6:56 PM in response to DarkBrich

Please let us know how it goes.


I haven't had any need to try it with later Intel Macs or later versions of macOS. I know it worked great on our older Intel Macs and older versions of macOS. I think the last time I tried rEFInd was around the time of Catalina. Unfortunately I don't have the time at the moment to test it on a more recent Mac & version of macOS. If you still have a problem with rEFInd, please post the exact model of the Mac and version of macOS being used. You can get this information by clicking the Apple menu and selecting "About This Mac".


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is it possible to boot to Windows through the command in the terminal

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