Boot Windows from USB with EFI password

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I've created an USB with Windows 10 from where I can boot:

  1. Restart pressing option.
  2. Select USB EFI partition.
  3. Windows starts.

When EFI password is active it will be asked when booting pressing the option key, and unless I know the password I can't boot using a different partition.

I tried to set Windows as Startup Disk using System Preferences, but end up with this error:

remove disk or other media press any key to restart

Is there any alternative to boot Windows from USB without pressing the option key, but behaves the same way and I'm not asked for the EFI password?

Here are some details, I'm on a MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013) running OSX El Capitan 10.11.3 (15D21). Booting using a USB 3 with Windows 10.

Best Answer

What you are asking for is not a common configuration. I can confirm my answer works on my 2011 and 2013 iMacs running High Sierra and Mojave. I can not guarantee success on a 2013 MacBook Air running El Capitan. You would have to try the solution.

The basic steps are given below.

  1. Allocate space for new small partition that is FAT formatted.
  2. Install rEFInd in this new partition.
  3. Edit refind.conf to configure rEFInd to add boot options for Windows and macOS.
  4. Add a Startup application to macOS
  5. Add Startup application to the dock. (optional)
  6. Launch Startup application to select default operating system.

An example of the Startup application is shown below.

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You can install rEFInd in a small FAT formatted partition and application on

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