Support for Windows 8.1 will end on January 10, 2023.
No. Support for Windows 8.1 is discontinued, but the software will continue to function. However, after January 10, 2023, your computer running Windows 8.1 will no longer receive security updates. In addition, Microsoft customer service will no longer be available to provide Windows 8.1 technical support.
To upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, open Media Creation Tool, select “Upgrade this PC now,” and click Install. Yes, you can still upgrade for free since the Windows 8.1 product key will activate Windows 10. Although files and apps will be preserved, you still want to create a backup of your computer.
Log into your Windows 8.1 PC and head to Microsoft's Download Windows 10 website(Opens in a new window). Click the Download Now button to download the Windows 10 installation media. Double-click the download MediaCreationTool21H2.exe to install the program.
Microsoft Edge version 110 requires Windows 10 or higher. As a reminder, Windows 8.1 will reach the end of support on January 10, 2023. After this date, this product will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, bug fixes, technical support, or online technical content updates.
Install Windows 11
To check if Windows 11 is ready for your device, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. If the upgrade is available for your device and you want to proceed, download and install it.
Yes, you can upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 8.1 while keeping your files and apps during the process, and here's how to do it.
The process will take about 2 hours, depending on the speed of the internet connection. After Windows 10 is downloaded, click Start the upgrade now in the Windows Update window to begin installation.
Microsoft allows anyone to download Windows 10 for free and install it without a product key. It'll keep working for the foreseeable future, with only a few small cosmetic restrictions. And you can even pay to upgrade to a licensed copy of Windows 10 after you install it.
No matter how or whether you pay for it, you can download Windows 10 or download Windows 11 for free from Microsoft.com.
Describing it as a “universal app”, Windows 10 can be installed on multiple devices including PCs, tablets, and smartphones. To take advantage of the free upgrade, however, you first need to have an authentic copy of Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 installed on your computer with a valid product key.
Windows Update will provide an indication if and when your PC is eligible, or you can check by going to Settings/Windows Update. How much does it cost to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11? It's free.
Windows 11 is definitely worth the upgrade to improve the performance of your device, unlock the latest features, including widgets and Android apps, and create a personalized user interface.
In other tests, such as booting, Windows 8.1 was the fastest--booting two seconds faster than Windows 10. Performance in specific applications, such as Photoshop and Chrome browser performance were also a bit slower in Windows 10.
Get the free update
The Store is no longer open for Windows 8, so you'll need to download Windows 8.1 as a free update. Go to the Windows 8.1 download page and select your Windows edition. Select Confirm and follow the remaining prompts to begin the download.
With its sleek tile-based design, Windows 8.1 offers users a visually pleasing environment that many find easy to navigate. On the other hand, Windows 11 has done away with tiles altogether, instead offering users a more traditional desktop view that looks closer to previous versions of the OS than ever before.
But if Microsoft offering Windows for free means more people upgrading, developers will be able to work much faster and create better applications. That helps Microsoft because it's moving towards selling apps through its own store — allowing it to take a cut, just as Apple does.
Users who do not qualify for a free upgrade to Windows 10 (including users of Windows Vista and XP), people who're assembling a new PC and Mac users can buy the full version of the OS at Rs 7,999 for the Home version and Rs 14,999 for the Pro version. Keep us informed to help you further.
One of the main reasons is that it is a very popular operating system. This means that Microsoft can charge a higher price for it. Another reason is that Windows 10 includes many features that other operating systems do not have. For example, it has support for virtual reality and 3D printing.
Before You Do
If you do an in-place Windows 8.1 upgrade to Windows 10, you should lose nothing. But the upgrade is a big and time-consuming process, things can go wrong. Thus, it's highly recommended you back up the system drive or create a recovery drive beforehand.
Select the Start button > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. Under Go back to the previous version of Windows 10,Go back to Windows 8.1, select Get started. By following the prompts, you'll keep your personal files but remove apps and drivers installed after the upgrade, plus any changes you made to settings.
Thankfully, Windows 11 is a free update for users to make their PCs look modern with new features. Microsoft will not force you to upgrade to Windows 11 and ditch Windows 10, at least until 2025. However, it wants to ensure you are running the latest version of Windows 10 on all your PCs.
(Windows 11 is free for Windows 8 users.) After downloading and installing Windows 10, search and select Windows Update Setting and select Windows Updates. When a Windows 11 update is found, download the Windows 11 file and follow the prompts to install the new operating system.
The easiest way to transfer files to your new Windows 11 computer is to connect an external drive to your old device. Using File Explorer, copy all your files to transfer. Finally, connect the drive to the new computer, and copy the files to the new destination folder.
It turns out there are several methods of upgrading from older versions of Windows (Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1) to Windows 10 Home without paying the $139 fee for the latest operating system. So let's give you the lowdown on how to update to Windows 10 for free.