[Guide] How to Free Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8.1

Finally Windows 10 has been released to public and available for download or upgrade.

Windows 10 Now Available for Download and Free Upgrade

As we have mentioned many times in past that Windows 7 and 8.1 users who are using genuine and activated Windows versions, can upgrade to Windows 10 for free but within 1 year of launch. So you’ll be able to upgrade your existing Windows 7 or 8.1 computers to Windows 10 for free starting today and before July 28, 2016.

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Windows 10 Upgrade Paths and List of Deprecated Features

Once you upgrade your computer to Windows 10, you’ll be able to use Windows 10 on your computer for lifetime. You’ll have fully functional genuine copy of Windows 10 in your computer for free.

Now the question comes, how to upgrade Windows 7 and 8.1 to Windows 10? There are 2 methods to get free upgrade to Windows 10:

  • METHOD 1: Using “Get Windows 10” App
  • METHOD 2: Using Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

So without wasting time lets share the details of these methods:

METHOD 1: Using “Get Windows 10” App

A few days back, Microsoft released an app called “Get Windows 10” or GWX for Windows 7 and 8.1 OS via Windows Updates. This app was released to check the computer hardware, software programs and Windows activation status to find out whether the computer is eligible to get free Windows 10 upgrade or not.

If the computer qualifies for Windows 10 upgrade, the app starts showing its white Windows flag icon in Taskbar notification area. When users click on the icon, the app allows users to reserve their free upgrade copy of Windows 10.

Get_Windows_10_Free_Upgrade_Icon.png

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Some users were unable to see the icon, to help them we posted following guide to get the icon in Taskbar:

[Fix] “Get Windows 10” Upgrade App Icon is Missing in Taskbar

Now since Windows 10 has been released to public, this app will automatically start downloading Windows 10 setup files on Windows 7/8.1 computers which have been reserved for the free upgrade. Once the download completes, you’ll see another icon in Taskbar system tray which will allow you to install Windows 10 immediately or schedule the installation at later time.

That’s it. If you see the icon in system tray, you have to do nothing. It’ll automatically download Windows 10 on your system soon.

Also check out following article to learn more about “Get Windows 10” app and its functionality:

Things You Should Know and Do Before Upgrading to Windows 10

METHOD 2: Using Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

If you are unable to see “Get Windows 10” app icon in Taskbar notification area, you’ll also be unable to upgrade to Windows 10. In such conditions, you can use this 2nd method.

Microsoft has released an official utility “Windows 10 Media Creation Tool” to download Windows 10 setup ISO files. After downloading, you can either upgrade your existing Windows to Windows 10 or create bootable USB drive or DVD of Windows 10 setup to install it later.

Download Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

After downloading the tool, run it and you’ll get following 2 options:

  • Upgrade this PC now
  • Create installation media for another PC

Since we want to upgrade our existing Windows 7 or 8.1 OS to Windows 10, select the first option “Upgrade this PC now“.

Windows_10_ISO_Media_Creation_Tool.png

The tool will start downloading Windows 10 setup files and will help you in upgrading to Windows 10.

That’s it. By following any of these 2 methods, you can enjoy genuine Windows 10 in your computer for free…

Also Check:

Published in: Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

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  1. my PC could run all previous windows edition from xp , vista to 7 , 8.1
    i am waiting for windows 10 upgrade
    but when i am opening ” Get Windows 10 ” app told me that my PC can’t run windows 10
    Note 1 : the program told my before 29/7/2015 that my PC can run it
    Why it telling me that my pc can’t run it now
    Note 2 : my PC meet the minimum system requirement of windows 8.1 and 10
    Note 3 : i also had installed another Windows 10 Tech Preview edition on the same PC and i had never any problem
    could anyone help me !!!

  2. Hello Mr Vishal,

    I had the Get Windows 10 app on my task bar for past 2months and today i can not see it.

    I did try the second method, when I choose upgrade now option i get error “Something Happened”

    Sir, what does it mean?

  3. Hi Vishal, i did not get the get windows 10 notification icon, i tried all the listed solutions, still no succes. then i download media creation tool and when i choose to upgrade this pc, it shows something went wrong and closes. i also tried by creating a bootable usb and running the setup within windows8.1 but it asks for a reg key for win10. what am i to do? pls help am stuck with no solution

  4. cause the first method shows problems (have explained in the windows 10 release article) will the second one keep everything the first one does?

  5. I’m using Windows 8.1 Pro (activated & genuine)

    I had this “Get Windows 10” app on my taskbar and after downloading setup from Windows Update it got struck while “Preparing files…”

    Then I got “Something happened” message box.

    Files downloaded in C:\$Windows.~BT automatically got deleted after this “Something happened” message.
    🙁 3GB data

    So I tried the second method and downloaded Media Creation Tool, but choose “Create installation media”

    Now if I mount this ISO file and run setup.exe manually, will upgraded Windows 10 get activated?

    Or to get this free upgrade offer it is necessary to upgrade from Windows Update?
    Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro getting windows update error: 80246010

    Please help…

  6. ^^ You can run the setup and choose upgrade option to upgrade existing Windows to Windows 10.

  7. For those who can’t see the “Get Windows 10 ICON / Progress ” | Follow This

    1.Download Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

    2.Create Installation Media For Another PC

    3.Choose USB Drive > Select Drive From The LIST > Click “OK” ;
    Wait Until It Downloads Image Of 2.6GB FORX86 SYSTEMS / 3.~GB FORX64 SYSTEMS

    4.After that Go To Drive eg. e:\ [Usbdrive] > copy all files to > c:\$Windows.~WS
    Make Sure you selcted File > Options > View > Select> “Show Hidden Folders , Files Or Drives”

    5.Then Go to c:\$Windows.~WS > Double Click On “setup.exe” & wait until it downloads all required DRIVERS & UPDATES

    Thanks ! I Did the same 🙂

  8. Another method to forcing the W10 icon:

    >Start
    in search type, Task Scheduler.
    >Task Scheduler Library
    >Microsoft
    >Windows
    >Setup
    >GWXtriggers

    On the far right in that screen, click run. should work like a charm 🙂

  9. icon is there but when i am running it it shows only blanc screen, some time it shows please wait.
    nothing is happening for hrs.
    could you please suggest for this

  10. I had the OK to download windows 10, but something interfered and I lost the sequence of the download?

    Thanks DON REINHART

  11. I have a doubt :
    I downloaded Windows 10 ISO Image using Media Creations Tool. I want to know how to activate Windows 10 after Upgrading it from Windows 7?

    Thanks in advance
    OS : Currently Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Windows 10 English ISO Image
    Intel i3

  12. Dear Sir
    (Sorry for re posting i thought posting this query to right segment would be good )
    I have a Windows 10 ISO (downloaded from Microsoft Site) and i have passed Genuine Windows Validation on my Windows 7 ultimate sp1.

    now i want to know how can i upgrade my windows directly from windows 10 bootable dvd ?

    many people suggest me these steps (guide me if these steps are wrong)

    1. Boot from Windows 10 DVD
    2. Choose Upgrade Option (Not Formatting)
    3. Skip Product key windows
    4. After Installation Validate windows once again

    and after that i can do fresh install (format )

    please help me and suggest these steps are right or not or even i should do Anything elese between these steps

    Regards

  13. Dear VG,

    Get Windows 10 app
    Started upgrading but failed repeatedly with the error code “WindowsUpdate_c1900101” “WindowsUpdate_dt000”
    Please advise,

    Thanks

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