Every Wake Forest undergraduate student is required to have their own laptop. Minimum requirements for student laptops, below, are updated every Spring. Chromebooks and iPads do not meet requirements and can be used as a secondary device only. Some students may receive a technology grant, which can be redeemed for a standard WakeWare model. Check status in the financial aid portal, found at financialaid.wfu.edu.
| Purchase option | Includes repairs? | Meets requirements? | Loaners available during repairs? | How to purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WakeWare | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | go.wfu.edu/buyWakeware, and only models denoted as WakeWare in the title |
Custom WakeWare bundle (custom model + SafeWare) |
✔️ | Most (example, iPads do not) | ✔️ | Contact the bookstore to create a custom WakeWare bundle: go.wfu.edu/BookstoreHelp |
Bring your own + Safeware |
✔️ | See below to evaluate specs | ✔️ | Purchase SafeWare coverage for many models after inspection and within one year of purchase. Contact the bookstore, go.wfu.edu/BookstoreHelp to learn more. |
Bring your own (no Safeware) |
❌ | See below to evaluate specs |
✔️ if device meets requirements |
Any site or store you choose. |
Undergraduate Laptop System Requirements
Graduate and professional school students, please refer to program-specific computer requirements.
Windows
- Operating System: Windows 11 Professional or higher
- Processor: Intel core i5 or better
- Memory: 16GB or more
- Hard Drive: 256 SSD or larger
- Antivirus Protection: Windows users have Windows Security on by default, which provides the latest antivirus protection.
Apple
- Operating System: macOS 15 or higher
- Processor: M-series or later
- Memory: 8GB or higher (16GB+ is recommended)
- Hard Drive: 256 SSD or larger
- Antivirus Protection: Avast is recommended to protect your device. Consult this page for information on installing Avast.
Additional program notes:
Business students:
If you are considering a degree in the School of Business, please note many School of Business students have a need for various Windows-based applications that do not have Mac equivalents. These applications range from statistical software packages to Windows-only Excel plugins. If you prefer an Apple laptop, pay close attention to the minimum configuration requirements so that you will be able to run Windows through an alternate method.
Department of Art and other students anticipating design and video work
Students interested in taking courses within the Department of Art should also pay strict attention to the minimum configuration requirements since you may be expected to run graphics-intensive programs simultaneously, such as Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
More Tips for Successful Computing at Wake Forest
-
Wait to purchase software.
Software applications such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop and many others, are included in tuition. Visit software.wfu.edu to find, license and install software. -
Use deacprint.wfu.edu printers or bring a USB cable with your personal printer.
All students have access to printers located in the ZSR Library, Benson, and the residence halls for a small fee. Wireless printers are not compatible with the campus network, so bring a USB cable for wired connection to your laptop if you do bring a personal printer. - Set your laptop to auto-lock, and configure TouchID or other highly secure login method. This can protect your data from theft and pranks even if your laptop manages to fall into the wrong hands.
-
Never leave your laptop unattended.
Take note of your serial number and keep it in a safe place, as well as add your laptop to your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. Because you own your laptop, the university is not responsible for replacing stolen laptops. - Read and understand the Ethical Use Policy, which outlines the responsible and ethical use of the computing resources and computing systems of Wake Forest University.
- Backup your data using Google Drive or other cloud storage platform such as iCloud. Students have access to cloud storage solutions.
Some BYOD models may be outside of our expertise, but we'll do our best to help.
- Assistance with basic configuration and general questions regarding wireless connectivity, WFU account questions and email configuration is provided at the Service Desk to all students, and always without charge.
- We can even repair some non-WakeWare models. Hardware repair requests can be submitted during Service Desk hours, Monday-Friday. View the Service Desk page for current hours of operation.
- non-WakeWare Apple, Dell, Lenovo ThinkPads, and Microsoft Surface laptops can be serviced by the Service Desk at no charge for warranty repairs. Charges to students for parts and labor will apply if repairs are not under warranty. If available, a loaner computer may be provided, although the availability of a loaner computer is not guaranteed.
- Other model computers (Acer, Toshiba, ASUS, HP, etc.) cannot be serviced by the Service Desk.
- The Service Desk will provide a list of local repair facilities in Winston-Salem. Students can also contact the vendor’s sales/support for their shipping instructions for computer repair.
Professional School Requirements
Masters of Business Administration & Masters in Management
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