How to remove a Windows partition

[StarShot]

I have a '13 iMac that presently has a Bootcamp partition with Windows 10. I want to completely remove Windows from it as I no longer need it and it seems to drag the performance of the iMac down.

When I go into "utilities" and select Boot Camp Assistant and select Remove, the option that comes up is remove Windows7. IF I were to select that option, would it remove Windows 10 instead? I'm leery of trying it as I don't want to screw up the macOS side.

I should note the iMac is running macOS Sierra 10.12.6.

 

[galedll]

Yes. If you choose remove Win7, bootcamp partition will be removed.

 

[StarShot]

Yes. If you choose remove Win7, bootcamp partition will be removed.

Thanks, I'm going to do it as soon as I backup my files.

 

[Fishrrman]

"I'm going to do it as soon as I backup my files."

Don't forget to BACKUP BEFORE YOU TRY TO REMOVE THE PARTITION.

I would strongly suggest that you DO NOT use Time Machine for this.
Instead, download CarbonCopyCloner (which is FREE to download and use for 30 days):
Carbon Copy Cloner - Download
This will create a BOOTABLE CLONED BACKUP of your Mac partition.

If something goes wrong during the "Windows deletion", you can IMMEDIATELY connect the bootable backup, and then boot back up to the Mac OS.

If you have a problem trying to remove the Windows partition, having the cloned backup gives you another way forward:
1. Boot from cloned backup
2. ERASE the internal drive back to one partition
3. RE-CLONE the cloned backup BACK TO the internal drive
4. Done.

 

[StarShot]

"I'm going to do it as soon as I backup my files."

Don't forget to BACKUP BEFORE YOU TRY TO REMOVE THE PARTITION...

Thanks Fishrrman. I want the removal to work the first time. I'm mainly interested in backing up photos that are stored on the iMac. For the past 5 years I've been using the Windows partition mainly in order to use MS Office Windows version. Since I no longer have a need for Windows on my iMac, I just want it gone, leaving macOS.

I'm presently running Sierra on the iMac ONLY because I mainly boot it to Windows. Not sure what's wrong with it, but it takes forever to boot to Windows and seems to run very slow there. Do you think I should upgrade it to Mojave before I whack the MS partition? I'm running Mojave on my MBA which is the same vintage as my iMac (2013) and it works fine on the MBA

 

[Fishrrman]

"I'm presently running Sierra on the iMac ONLY because I mainly boot it to Windows. Not sure what's wrong with it, but it takes forever to boot to Windows and seems to run very slow there. Do you think I should upgrade it to Mojave before I whack the MS partition?"

Unless you have a reason you can state why you NEED Mojave, my advice is to leave it be for now.

If your Mac OS partition is running fine and doing everything you need using Low Sierra, why "upgrade"?

I'm still using Low Sierra myself, as my "main OS".
I have no plans to change that until I replace this Mac (2012 Mac Mini).

Hmmmmm....
What year is the iMac you have?
Did it come with an SSD inside?
If not, does it have USB3 ports?