Upgrade to Windows 10: FAQ

Applies to: Windows 10Windows 7Windows 8.1

An upgrade moves your PC from a previous version of Windows—such as Windows 7 or Windows 8.1—to Windows 10. This FAQ is intended to answer questions about upgrading to Windows 10.

An update ensures you have the most recent features and security improvements for your current version of Windows. If you want to update your device and need more info, see Windows Update: FAQ.

Note

If you’re looking for information about an error message you received when upgrading or installing Windows 10, see Get help with Windows activation errors. Once you’re there, press CTRL+F, and type or paste the error code to find specific information about the code and how to resolve it.

The following are some answers to questions you might have about the upgrade to Windows 10.

For more info about system requirements and feature availability, see the Windows 10 specifications page.

If you receive an error code and none of the info below helps, see Get help with Windows activation errors.

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Is the Windows 10 free upgrade offer still available?

The Windows 10 free upgrade through the Get Windows 10 (GWX) app ended on July 29, 2016.

How do I get Windows 10?

Do I still qualify for the free upgrade offer if I've already downloaded Windows 10 to a USB drive, but haven't yet upgraded my device?

Will the media creation tool still be available for customers to download Windows 10 installation media?

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.

How do I reinstall Windows 10 on my PC?

Will Windows 10 work with the assistive technologies on my device?

For customers who are still in the process of upgrading, the following questions and answers provide more details.

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How long will it take to upgrade my device?

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.

How do I free up space for the upgrade?

Devices with a 32 GB hard drive or older devices with full hard drives, might need additional storage space to complete the upgrade. If you don’t have sufficient space, try removing files or apps you no longer need or use Disk Cleanup to free up space. Learn more at Tips to free up drive space on your PC.

During the upgrade, you might be asked to free up space on your device or attach an external drive with sufficient space to continue with the upgrade. If you attach an external drive, make sure to keep it in a safe place after the upgrade in case you need it for recover options.

Why do I need to uninstall some of my apps during the upgrade?

Can I change my language when I upgrade?

Is Windows Media Center available in Windows 10?

Can I go back to my old operating system?

There are several ways for you to go back from Windows 10 to a previous version of Windows:

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.

For more info and requirements, see the Go back to your previous version of Windows section of Recovery options in Windows 10.

Note

If the manufacturer set up your PC to run from a compressed Windows image file (also known as Windows image file boot or WIMBoot) and included the option to restore factory settings, that option will no longer be available after you upgrade to Windows 10.

Last Updated: Aug 17, 2018