Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 7 and will soon do the same with Windows 8.1. So, it is the high time that you upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. If you are worried that it’ll cost you money, then you are wrong. The entire process is free and very simple.
If you want to know about how to do that, this post is specially written for you. Here, I will guide you on how to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8.1 on your PC. Also, I will clear all your doubts about it.
What Does It Mean To Upgrade Your Computer?
Upgrading your computer means to move your PC from an older version of Windows like Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to the latest version of Windows, i.e, Windows 10. Upgrading a computer becomes essential when Microsoft ends support for the older version that you are using.
So, it is recommended that you upgrade the system to take advantage of the latest features, security improvements, and get support whenever needed. You can easily upgrade your computer without needing to change the hardware.
Is It Essential to Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 now?
Yes, it is essential to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 now as Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 7. They ended the support on 14 January 2020, after almost 10 years of operation of our favorite Windows OS.
This doesn’t mean that you can use Windows 7 now but it means that the version will function but Microsoft will not provide the following for that:
- Software updates
- Security updates
- Bug fixes
- Technical support for any issues
So, your system is going to be under great risk without the support from Microsoft. It could even be attacked by any virus or malware. So, I’d strongly recommend that you upgrade your system as soon as possible.
Is the Microsoft Windows 10 Free Upgrade Offer Still Available?
When Microsoft launched Windows 10, they provided a free upgrade offer to all the licensed Windows users having previous versions like Windows 7, 8, 8.1, etc. The offer was available through the GWX (Get Windows 10) app. However, they announced to end the offer on July 29, 2016. But, the offer never ended in reality.
Even after four years, in 2020, it is still working completely fine. You can easily upgrade to Windows 10 and activate it using the license key of your previous Windows version. But, not through that app. So, I’d recommend that you reap the benefits of the offer quickly.
How to Upgrade to Windows 10 From Windows 7 for Free?
Upgrading Windows is even easier than the clean installation. If you are trying to learn how to do that, here is the simplest step-wise guide for you. I have made this guide while working on a Windows 7 computer, so you’ll find images from that. But, the procedure is almost completely similar even on Windows 8.1.
Things to Do Before Upgrading Windows on Your Computer
Before an upgrade, format, or clean installation, there are certain safety measures that you should follow. These will help you to have an uninterrupted experience. Following are the things that you need to do before upgrading your PC:
- Back up all your data files on an external hard drive or cloud storage. It is advisable to backup them on both. You can perform a full system back up to an external hard drive by using the Windows 7 backup program.
- Check for available driver updates, especially for storage and network hardware. Install the available ones.
- Uninstall third-party security software such as antivirus, anti-malware tools temporarily as they may interfere with the upgrade.
- Remove any external devices that aren’t important like USB flash drives and external hard drives.
- Download and install the available BIOS updates for the hardware. If you have a system originally sold in 2015 or before when Windows 10 wasn’t launched, this is a crucial step.
After ensuring these, you can move further to the step that you have to follow
Steps to Follow to Upgrade to Windows 10 From Windows 7
Once you are ready and have made up your mind to quit using Windows 7 and upgrade to Windows 10, follow these steps. Make sure you have a power backup so that the procedure doesn’t get stuck in the middle.
Step-1: Open a browser and visit Microsoft’s Windows 10 Download page. Now click on the ‘Download tool now’ button and wait until it is downloaded.
Step-2: Run the downloaded .exe file and go through the initial instructions. Choose ‘Upgrade this PC now’ button when it prompts.
You can also choose ‘Create Installation Media’ if you want to perform a clean install. You will need a USB flash drive to do that.
Note: If you choose clean installation, then you have to provide a valid Windows 7 or 8 key while installing Windows 10.
Step-3: Keep following the on-screen instructions and let your computer do the work. Just make sure that your internet connection and power supply doesn’t get cut in between. The whole procedure may take some time so be patient.
Step-4: Once Windows 10 is installed, go to Settings, click on ‘Update & Security‘, and then click on ‘Activation screen. You will find ‘Activated with a Digital License‘ written there.
Step-5: Sign in to Windows 10 with your Microsoft account. Your license will then be linked to that Microsoft account. So, the next time you want to reactivate Windows 10 on your PC, the procedure will be even easier. This is an optional step though.
That’s it. This is how you can easily upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7.
Enjoy Windows 10 on your Computer
You have successfully installed Windows 10 on your computer. Now you can enjoy the amazing user experience that it provides. After the upgrade, the first thing you should do is install the antivirus and other third-party security apps that you removed earlier. Also, visit the Microsoft Store and install all the essential apps.
You may take some time understanding Windows 10 user interface but it’ll be worth it. You will realize that it was worth upgrading to it from the previous version of Windows.
Final Take
Windows 10 is indeed better than the previous Windows versions when you learn to get around with it. This is how you can upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8.1. If you need further help regarding anything related to it, feel free to ask using the comment box.
That’s all for this post. I hope you find it helpful.
