AskVG

[Guide] How to Upgrade to Windows 8.1 from Windows 8, Windows 7, XP and Vista?

- Last updated on by

Windows_Blue_Logo.png

Windows 8.1 has been released to public and Windows 8 users can update their computer systems to Windows 8.1 absolutely free.

Download Windows 8.1 RTM Now

Advertisement

If you are using Windows 8 and want to upgrade to Windows 8.1, following instructions will help you:

1. First of all go to Start Screen and click on Store tile to launch Windows Store.

2. Now you should see a big tile containing information about Windows 8.1 update, just click on it.

Windows_8_1_Update_Store.png

It’ll launch Windows 8.1 download page, click on Download button.

Download_Windows_8_1_Store.png

3. It’ll take a few minutes in downloading and installing the required files. It might restart your system to finish the installation process.

Advertisement

Download_Windows_8_1_ISO.png

4. Once the setup process completes, you’ll be asked to complete a few steps such as accepting the license terms, customize settings, creating user account, etc.

Finally you’ll have the brand new Windows 8.1 in your computer system.

[Problem] You can’t find Windows 8.1 update in Windows 8 Store

If you can’t find Windows 8.1 update listed in Windows Store, you should wait for a few hours. Since Microsoft released Windows 8.1 just a few hours back, it’ll take some time to appear in all regions. So better to wait for a few hours until it appears in your country.

If you can’t wait or if the update doesn’t appear even after waiting for some hours, check out following steps:

1. An update “KB2871389” is required to update to Windows 8.1, so make sure this update is installed in your Windows 8 system.

To check it, open Windows Update from Control Panel or Start Screen and check for new updates. If the update has not been installed in your system yet, Windows Update will automatically detect and download it.

Alternatively, you can direct download and install the update using following links:

Once the update is installed successfully in your system, repeat the above mentioned steps to upgrade to Windows 8.1 through Windows Store. Now it should work without any problem.

NOTE: If after installing the above mentioned update still you can’t find “Windows 8.1 update” tile in Windows Store, try to launch the Windows 8.1 update page directly by executing following command from Command Prompt or RUN dialog box:

ms-windows-store:WindowsUpgrade

It’ll directly launch Windows 8.1 update page in Windows Store.

PS: Also keep in mind that Windows 8 Enterprise edition, Windows 8 installed using KMS activation and Windows 8 installed using MSDN ISO and activated using product key which allows multiple activation, can’t be upgraded to Windows 8.1 using Windows Store.

Upgrade to Windows 8.1 from Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7

If you are using Windows 7, you can upgrade to Windows 8.1 using Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant. The steps for Windows 8.1 upgrade would be same as Windows 8 upgrade, so you can check out following tutorial to learn how to use Upgrade Assistant to upgrade to Windows 8.1:

How to Download or Order Windows 8 Setup DVD Online?

If you are using Windows XP or Windows Vista, you’ll need to perform a clean installation of Windows 8.1. You can’t upgrade to Windows 8.1 from Windows XP or Windows Vista.

Also Check:

Fix Problems While Installing or Upgrading to Windows 8.1

How to Download Windows 8.1 RTM Standalone Offline ISO for Clean Installation?

Published in: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows XP

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.

You are here: Home » Windows 7 » [Guide] How to Upgrade to Windows 8.1 from Windows 8, Windows 7, XP and Vista?

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. i already update KB2871389 i wait for 8 hours and windows store not show me the update to 8.1 what should i do? waiting?

  3. How to get offline update? That is download on one and install on multiple using
    DVD/USB drive?

  5. My windows 8 PC doesn’t seem to think that I’m connected to the internet even though I’m reading this article and writing this comment on the same PC. Any chance they have given a manual download link for the update?
    Also, I have a 256 kbps broadband, that means downloading this update will take almost 36 hours. So I would like to get it from somewhere else.

  6. Guys! Just wait for some time and there should be official offline download links available from Microsoft.

  7. @VG check out the second reply, the one by Charles from microsoft
    answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-windows_install/windows-81-download/38e45323-8b20-4448-8a3b-b2bdb5fd69b3

    news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-1-Won-t-Be-Released-as-a-Separate-Free-Download-392153.shtml

    -18th Oct. 2013, 10:03 GMT

  8. ^^ It will. Microsoft has announced it earlier:

    One shift to note in Windows 8.1 is that we will be offering “full version software” at retail and online for download that does not require a previous version of Windows in order to be installed. The copy of Windows 8 that is currently available for sale at retail and online is an “upgrade version.” This shift allows more flexibility for customers in specific technical scenarios and is in response to feedback we’ve received. It will be easier for those consumers who want to build PCs from scratch, run Windows 8.1 in Virtual Machine (VM) environments, or run Windows 8.1 on a second hard drive partition.

    Link: blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2013/09/17/pricing-and-packaging-for-windows-8-1.aspx

  9. Question. Do you need administrator permission to install Windows 8.1 from the Store? I’m guessing I do, but I want to make sure first.

  10. Still won’t work for me, I have 8 Pro, but still can’t see the upgrade, tried every fix and patch available but still cant see the damn thing…

  11. ^^ Try the direct command to launch Windows 8.1 update page in Windows Store. Check the NOTE given above.

    @rcmero
    I was able to upgrade Windows 8 with a normal user account created at the time of Windows 8 installation.

  13. I currently have Windows XP SP3 with Windows 8 in my PC. Please suggest me how to make Windows XP available along with Windows 8.1. 🙂

  14. ^^ Windows 8.1 will automatically detect Windows XP and you’ll have a dual-boot system. Make sure to install Windows 8.1 on a different partition.

  15. I have try to update from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1, they have kept almost every desktop programs, except that avast! Free Antivirus is removed, please add this:

    NOTE: The following installed desktop programs is not kept:

    If you have some more research, update this page and list more.

  16. Question.
    Can i pause the download and continue it when i turn on the computer again and is there any increase in space?

  17. Finally found the 8.1 update after using the command “ms-windows-store:WindowsUpgrade” .
    Thanks !

  18. Don’t be worried, Windows 8 users,
    Upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 via Windows Store does not lose manufacturer’s information. After upgrade to Windows 8.1, “Manufacturer” and “Model” retains in System Properties.

  19. Can somebody please post a picture of what the store screen with Windows 8.1 download link looks like? I’ve been in that @#$ store many times now and I have to browse hundreds of irrelevant things all the time. I have no idea where to look; Is it under ‘productivity’ or ‘tools’ or ‘security’ or even ‘entertainment’? A search for Windows 8.1 gives me 122 offers *related to* Windows 8.1, but where the heck is Windows 8.1 itself??

  21. I felt bad that I can’t upgrade to Windows 8/8.1 directly from Windows 7 Ultimate. I Need to do clean installation because Upgrade option from Windows 7 Ultimate/pro/enterprise is only available for windows 8/8.1 pro. Why MS Did this? I don’t need pro & I don’t want lose any Game preinstalled by HP.

  23. I have all my Windows 8 Updates up to date and get the message “No Important Updates At This Time” when I click Check For Updates.
    When I go to the Store Screen to Update to Windows 8.1, it goes to the Installs Screen with the Icon and the Downloading Toolbar appears. Seconds later, on the Installs Screen, the Windows 8.1 Icon stops and says that “The app wasn’t installed – view details.” When I click View Details a box says “Windows is getting your upgrade ready. You will be notified.”
    Help.

  24. The download for windows 8.1 always begins but it never completes. Tired of trying now.

  25. Will the drivers installed on windows7 will corrupt after installing win8 or win8.1?? I’ve dvd of drivers supporting win7,……………..will it work on win8.1 or will i have to install ’em seperately from net??

  26. ^^ The drivers should work. If they dont work, you can download the new drivers from manufacturer website or Windows Update.

  27. Recently I tried “refreshing” the pc – my data stayed but all applications were uninstalled, and with them also Windows 8.1 which was returned to Win 8. I had the option of downloading Win 8.1 in the store, but it always said something about missing Win 8 updates and it couldn’t be done. The only official advices I found at Microsoft pages were always like this: “you have to download ALL available updates of win8, so the win8.1 can be installed”. What a bulls**t. There were over 200 updates, and for some weird reason the system just couldn’t handle them, therefore I spent almost two days with my computer stuck at updates – in an endless cycles of downloading updates, installing, and then reverting because of a failure. The second “advice” was to MANUALLY install over 200 updates, in smaller parts.. I mean..What?
    Then I finally stumbled upon this article, with very interesting sentence: “An update “KB2871389″ is required to update to Windows 8.1, so make sure this update is installed in your Windows 8 system.” So I gave it a try. AND IT WORKED. It took only this ONE update out of 200 to upgrade the system to Win 8.1. I mean, WHY Microsoft just can’t write that to their reinstall manual? Or at least somewhere where it can be easily found? It would save me 2 days, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one with this problem. I feel like I got Microf**ked once again.
    Anyway, what I wanted to say is THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the KB2871389 information.

  28. I attempted several times to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 8.1. The upgrade process always stopped at 37%. Then I found this Microsoft document titled “Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 Upgrade Paths” at technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj203353.aspx. It specifies that during the upgrade, Windows 7 personal settings and files cannot be included in the upgrade (see first table on that page). So when prompted during the upgrade, I chose not to keep personal files and settings. The upgrade proceeded past 37%, but then hung again at 65%. Any ideas?

  29. I need help with installing windows xp and window 7. I have and old verison of window xp and i cant go on line. I need help. every website i try to pull up want let me go on line. i keep getting a statement that says the page you are looking for can not be found. what should i do i can’t at this time buy another commupter. I am missing classes,I go to school on line, but i can’t get on line. there is no website none at all that i can go on or pull up.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

NOTE: Your comment may not appear immediately. It'll become visible once we approve it.