Upgrade to Windows 10: FAQ

Windows 10 will continue to be available for purchase, either on a device or as a full version of the software.
 

Yes, the media creation tool and Windows 10 installation media (ISO files) are available for customers to install Windows 10. If you’re installing Windows 10 for the first time, you’ll need to enter a valid Windows 10 product key or buy a full version of Windows 10 during setup for this tool to work. If you’ve previously installed Windows 10 on your device, you should have a digital license and Windows 10 will automatically activate without entering a product key. 
 

After you upgrade to Windows 10, you can reinstall or do a clean installation on the same device. You won't need a product key to reactivate Windows 10 on the same hardware. For more info on how to create your own Windows 10 installation media, see the Microsoft software download website. 
 

We're committed to making sure customers using assistive technologies can upgrade to Windows 10. For more info about the free upgrade offer for customers using assistive technologies, see Accessibility and the Windows 10 free upgrade. Note: The accessibility upgrade offer expired on December 31, 2017.

The time that is required to upgrade to Windows 10 depends on factors such as the age of your device and how it’s configured. Most devices will take about an hour to upgrade as soon as the download is completed. Although older devices could take longer, some newer, high-performance devices might upgrade faster.
 

• You'll be able to go back to an earlier version by selecting the Start  button > Settings  > Update & Security  > Recovery . Then select Get started under Go back to the previous version of Windows 10. This will keep your personal files, but it’ll remove apps and drivers installed after the upgrade as well as any changes you made to settings. The option to go back to your previous version of Windows 10 is only available for a limited time following the upgrade.
• If your PC manufacturer provided the option, you might be able to restore your device to factory settings.
• If options to go back and restore factory settings aren’t available, you can use installation media and a product key to install an earlier version of Windows.