Logic Pro is one of the most popular Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) for the Mac. It’s powerful, easy to use, and perfect for anyone who’s gotten used to the GarageBand workflow.
But can you use Logic Pro on Windows?
In this guide, we cover everything you need to know.
Can You Run Logic Pro On Windows?
The short answer is no. Logic Pro was designed specifically for use with iOS, and there are no Windows based installers for Logic Pro. The long answer is a little more complicated, as there is a work around.
In recent years, it has become possible for you to initiate a dual-boot compute setup. This means you can have two operating systems running on the same machine, but on different partitions of your hard drive.
On Mac, you can use Boot Camp Assistant to install Windows on your Mac machine (this would not help you achieve anything in this case, as you can already install Logic Pro on your Mac machine).
Similarly, there is a process you can follow if you want to install iOS on a PC. The good news is – it’s possible.
So, a dual-boot workaround should allow you to install Logic Pro on Windows. Technically, though, you aren’t really installing the DAW on Windows. You’re installing it on the Mac partition of your Windows machine, and you would need to boot into macOS to use Logic Pro.
We can’t, however, guarantee that the setup and installation process will be straightforward or that it will work predictably.
If you still want to learn how to install Logic Pro on your dual-booting Windows machine, keep reading.
How To Install Logic Pro On Windows
At the risk of sounding repetitive, I must caution you one last time. Technically, you can’t install Logic Pro on Windows. What we’re about to look at here is the process of setting up a dual-boot machine (which would allow you to run Logic Pro on your instance of macOS).
Now, first and foremost, it’s best to start with a clean slate – that means no OS pre-installed on your machine.
The installation process is all quite technical from start to finish, but we’ve got to do everything in the right order for it to work.
The process is to install macOS Sierra, then Windows 10, and finally, Logic Pro.
Here are the steps:
Step #1 – Create A Bootable macOS Sierra USB Installer
Use UniBeast to create your USB installer for macOS Sierra. Although I’ve managed to sum up the process in a sentence, the steps are complicated, so reference additional documentation if you ever find yourself lost.
Step #2 – Configure Your Motherboard’s BIOS / UEFI
Your BIOS must be set up correctly for the macOS Sierra installation to work.
Under “BIOS Setup” (or equivalent):
- Set the SATA Controller Mode to [AHCI]
- Set the Boot Mode to [Legacy Support], and the Boot Priority to [UEFI First]
- Save and exit
Depending on your machine, you may have additional steps that need to be taken. It is recommended that you:
- Load Optimized Defaults
- Set OS Type to [Other OS]
- Disable VT-d (if applicable)
- Disable CFG-Lock (if applicable)
- Disable Secure Boot Mode (if applicable)
- Disable USB 3.0 (if you’re using a six series or x58 system with AwardBIOS)
Step #3 – Initiate The Bootable USB Installer
You should be able to do this from your BIOS.
If you encounter any issues at this stage, Google the specific problem you’re encountering.
Step #4 – Create Hard Drive Partitions
At this point, you’ll be prompted to configure your installation of macOS Sierra.
First, choose your language.
Second, create a partition for macOS Sierra and Windows by following these steps:
- Find and open “Disk Utility” under “Utilities”
- Select your hard drive and click on the “Erase” tab
- Name the disk, set the Format to “OS X Extended (Journaled)” and hit “Erase”
- Wait until the process completes (successfully), and click “Done”
- Select your hard disk again and click on the “Partition” tab
- Click “+” to create a new partition and specify the disk size for Windows 10
- Name the partition, ensure Format is set to “MS-DOS (FAT)” and click “Apply”
- Click “Partition” to confirm the creation of a new partition
- Wait until the process completes (successfully), and click “Done”
Step #5 – Install macOS Sierra
The wizard will now take you through the installation process. This is relatively straightforward but be sure to choose the partition you created earlier.
Installation can take a while, and your computer will reboot once completed.
Step #6 – Prepare Your Windows 10 CD / DVD Or Create A Bootable USB
Now we’re ready to install Windows 10 on the Windows partition of your hard drive. The process is much like installing macOS Sierra.
If you have a Windows 10 CD or DVD, you can use your disc to install Windows 10. Otherwise, you will need a bootable USB.
Step #7 – Install Windows 10
With your Windows 10 CD, DVD, or bootable USB, you can begin the process of installing Windows 10 on the Windows partition of your hard drive.
The process is relatively straightforward, and the wizard will walk you through most of the process.
When you get to the “Where do you want to install Windows?” window, though, you’ll want to specifically choose the partition you created for your Windows installation earlier (choosing the wrong partition could mean installing over your copy of macOS Sierra).
If you did everything right, you now have Windows 10 and macOS Sierra installed on separate partitions of your hard drive and your dual-boot machine is ready to go!
Step #8 – Install Logic Pro
With all appropriate drivers installed and relevant OS updates applied, the only thing left to do is install Logic Pro on your installation of macOS Sierra and you’re good to go.
Logic Pro Alternatives For Windows
We know how much you love Logic Pro. Maybe you used to own a Mac. Maybe you recorded with a producer who used Logic Pro. Perhaps you tried the DAW at a friend’s house. Whatever the case, you’d love to be able to use Logic Pro more than anything else.
Look, I understand this sentiment well. When I was still new to recording, GarageBand was about the only thing that made any sense to me, and I didn’t want to try anything else. As I kept learning, though, my comfort level with DAWs began to grow, and today, I mostly use Waveform.
Bottom line, there are more amazing Logic Pro alternatives for Windows than you even realize, and we’d like to spotlight a few options here.
Pro Tools by Avid
“Industry standard” Pro Tools is widely used and even preferred by many studios and producers (though not all) across the globe.
Why was it elevated to such status? It has a lot to do with being at the right place at the right time. Today it’s accepted that if you use Pro Tools, you’ll be able to go just about anywhere in the world and find a studio where you can continue your production work from exactly where you left off.
Aside from that, though, no one really has a good explanation as to why Pro Tools is supposed to be so great. Sure, it’s powerful. It has great effects. It can do practically anything any other DAW can do.
But to me, the workflow suffers quite a bit. You either get used to it or you don’t, and it feels like it could be a lot easier.
If you were initially attracted to the powerful nature of Logic Pro, though, you may also enjoy what Avid has on offer.
FL Studio by Image-Line
If electronic music production is what appealed to you most about Logic Pro, then you might also enjoy working with FL Studio.
Before it was FL Studio, it was called “Fruity Loops,” but its popularity obviously propelled it to new dimensions, and it continues to be lovingly updated by Image-Line today.
Though features continue to be added, and plugins keep getting updated, FL Studio fundamentally hasn’t changed a whole lot over the years. It’s always remained “familiar” to its users.
But most importantly, it’s been optimized for the creation of electronic music. Whether it’s making beats, writing hooks, or creating melodies, the toolset makes it easy for you to create amazing sounding tracks and experiment to your heart’s content.
Live by Ableton
Ableton Live is quickly becoming a favorite among producers everywhere, especially independent creators.
Fundamentally, like FL Studio, it’s a tool well-suited to electronic music production. Its workflow is quite distinctive, but that could be what so many users love about it.
Live comes loaded with a lot of great tools, which is another major benefit. Of course, it depends on which version you opt for, but awesome sounding effects and synths are basically par for the course. Live is compatible with VST plugins too.
Some say Live’s interface is more intuitive to work with than Logic Pro’s, but I don’t find that to be the case. I suppose it depends on who you ask!
Waveform by Tracktion
If the ease of workflow is what appealed to you most about Logic Pro, then Waveform is well worth a look. There’s even a free version in case you want to take it for a spin!
The thing that sticks out about Waveform, as well as the thing that makes it appealing to certain types of producers and artists is its unique workflow.
For me, it really “clicks.” From recording to editing, the process is quite intuitive, and everything works as you would expect it to. You don’t need to select some weird looking micro tool from an obscured menu to drag a track in place, you can simply drag and drop!
Waveform is VST compatible, so if you love third-party VST plugins, go nuts! It has some decent built-in tools too, and the 4OSC synth specifically is amazingly versatile given its free status.
REAPER by Cockos
Over the years, REAPER has gained the reputation of being a powerhouse DAW at an affordable price point, and it continues to live up to the cult following it has picked up along the way.
Some of its features include a fast-loading interface, powerful audio and MIDI routing (and multichannel support), 64-bit internal audio processing, MIDI hardware and software support, support for various third-party plugins (VST, VST3, LV2, AU, DX, JS), hundreds of effects, and much more.
Some of the major updates in the latest version include FX plugin embedding, MIDI CC envelopes, auto-stretch timebase, routing diagram, and an automatic rendering HiDPI and Retina displays.
The ReaPlugs VST FX Suite alone is legendary, and it can be downloaded and used in another host for free. All the essential favorites are included – ReaComp, ReaXcomp, ReaDelay, ReaEQ, ReaFIR, ReaGate, ReaStream, and ReaJS.
Does Logic Pro Work On Windows? Final Thoughts
Summarily, getting Logic Pro to run on your Windows machine could prove a challenge. With enough patience and persistence, though, it can be done.
It will require that you to do the right things in the right order, first installing macOS Sierra on your dual-boot machine, and then installing Windows 10 to the appropriate partition. Then you’ll have to go through the rest of the setup process, install relevant drivers and updates, and finally install Logic Pro on your macOS Sierra partition.
But there are some worthwhile Logic Pro alternatives if you’re open to checking them out. There would be a learning curve, obviously, but it could help you bypass a lot of the technical headache that’s involved in configuring a dual-boot machine.
Either way, we wish you Godspeed.