How to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1

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  • To upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, open

    Media Creation Tool

    , select

    Upgrade this PC now,

    and click

    Install

    .
  • You can also download and mount the Windows 10 ISO file to Windows 8.1 to proceed with the upgrade process.
  • Although files and apps will be preserved, you still want to create a backup of your computer.
  • You will also need a new Windows 10 product key since you can no longer use the Windows 8.1 product key.

UPDATED 9/17/2023: You should update to Windows 10 as soon as possible because support for Windows 8.1 terminated on January 10, 2023. Fortunately, you may use the Media Creation Tool or ISO file, which are also available to upgrade to Windows 7 PCs, to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 without losing your files and programs. But you have to make sure the hardware satisfies the minimal specifications.

It is advised to remove any software that could interfere with a successful Windows 10 upgrade before moving forward with the upgrade, such as security software, antivirus software, and outdated third-party apps. Any accessories, such as a printer, phone, camera, external hard drive, and other USB devices, should also be disconnected. This may occasionally be the cause of system failures during upgrades.

In order to prevent any issues, you should also make a complete backup to roll back in case the update fails. You don’t need to look for other solutions because Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 come with a system image backup utility that allows you to make a copy of your complete computer.

I’ll walk you through the process of upgrading from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 in this article, reducing the likelihood that you’ll encounter problems.

  • Upgrade Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 from Media Creation Tool

  • Upgrade Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 from ISO file

Upgrade Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 from Media Creation Tool

Follow these methods to quickly upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10:

The Microsoft website is open.

Click the “Download Now” option under the “Create Windows 10 installation media” section.

Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

Press and hold the MediaCreationTool22H2.exe file to start the Windows 10 setup process.

To accept the license agreement, click Accept.

Choose the option to “Upgrade this PC now.”

Windows 10 upgrade option from 8.1

Press the “Next” button.

Press the “Accept” button once again.

Click the “Change what to keep” box if you want to.

Choose “Keep personal files and apps.” As an alternative, you can upgrade without losing your data and apps (if applicable) by selecting the “Change what to keep” option.

On the Install button, click.

Windows 10 install on 8.1

After completing the instructions, you will need to continue configuring your preferences by completing the out-of-box experience (OOBE). After that, you’ll see your well-known desktop together with all of Windows 10’s new features.

Upgrade Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 from ISO file

Use these procedures to update to Windows 10 from an ISO file:

Without utilizing the Media Creation Tool, download the Windows 10 ISO.

Choose the Mount option when you right-click the ISO file.

File Explorer mount Windows 10 ISO

From the navigation pane on the left, choose the virtual drive.

To initiate the installation of Windows 10, double-click the Setup.exe file.

Setup launch from ISO

(Optional) Select the option to modify how Windows Setup obtains updates.

Windows 10 setup update options

Choose the option “Not right now.”

Disable updates during installation

Press the “Next” button.

Press the “Accept” button once again.

Click the “Change what to keep” box if you want to.

Choose “Keep personal files and apps.” As an alternative, you can upgrade without losing your data and apps (if applicable) by selecting the “Change what to keep” option.

On the Install button, click.

Media Creation Tools settings

The PC running Windows 8.1 will update to the most recent version of Windows 10 once you finish the instructions.

Additionally, reinstall your antivirus software and any other programs you removed prior to the upgrade, and utilize Device Manager to ensure that all of your hardware is setup correctly on your computer.

Windows 10 hardware requirements

The device must fulfill the following minimum system requirements in order to install Windows 10:


  • Processor:

    1GHz or faster processor or SoC.

  • RAM:

    1GB for 32-bit or 2GB for 64-bit.

  • Hard disk space:

    16 GB for 32-bit OS and 20GB for 64-bit OS.

  • Graphics Card:

    DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver.

  • Display:

    1024 600.

On Windows 8.1, you may utilize the PC details option and the Settings app to view the system specs. Additionally, the Windows 8.1 Update release (KB2919355) must be installed on your computer.

You will need to buy a new license to activate the operating system following the upgrading process because Microsoft no longer allows you to use a Windows 8.1 or 7 product key to activate Windows 10.

Upgrading to Windows 10 can also be accomplished by restoring the files from a backup after a clean installation.

It’s crucial to remember that on October 14, 2025, the firm intends to stop supporting Windows 10. If your computer satisfies the minimal requirements, you should upgrade to Windows 11 rather than Windows 10.

Update September 17, 2024: To guarantee accuracy and take into account modifications to the procedure, this guide has been revised.

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