Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free  

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    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free

    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free

    How to Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free
    Published by Category: Installation & Upgrade
    28 Sep 2023
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free

    UPDATE: Free Activation from Windows 7/8 key or upgrade to Windows 10/11 Ends



    After 10 years, support for Windows 7 came to an end on January 14, 2020. This means your computer will still function but Microsoft will no longer provide technical support for any issues, software updates, and security updates or fixes. Now is the time to upgrade to Windows 10.

    See also:

    While the Windows 10 free upgrade offer through the Get Windows 10 (GWX) app ended on July 29, 2016, you can still upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 for free using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool (MCT) if you upgrade from a legally activated Windows 7.

    See also:

    Minimum system requirements for Windows 10

    While these bare minimum requirements will allow you to run Windows 10, you will have poor performance unless your system specs meets or exceeds your usage demands.


    • Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
    • RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit (8 GB at least recommended)
    • Hard drive space: 32 GB or larger (128 GB at least recommended)
    • Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 driver
    • Display: 800x600 screen resolution
    • Internet Connection: Internet connectivity is necessary to activate, perform updates, and to download and take advantage of some features.

    This tutorial will show you how to upgrade from a legally activated Windows 7 to Windows 10 for free using the Media Creation Tool (MCT).

    When you upgrade from a legally activated Windows 7 to Windows 10, Windows 10 will be the same 32-bit or 64-bit version as Windows 7.

    You will not be able to upgrade from a 32-bit Windows 7 to a 64-bit Windows 10 OR a 64-bit Windows 7 to a 32-bit Windows 10. This would require a clean install of Windows 10 instead, and Windows 10 would not be activated unless you upgraded to Windows 10 using the method in this tutorial first to activate, and then clean install the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 10 you wanted afterwards.


    After you upgrade from a legally activated Windows 7 to Windows 10, Windows 10 will be activated by a digital license.

    If you like, you can also link your Microsoft account to the Windows 10 digital license to make it easier to clean install Windows 10 and activate with your Microsoft account.

    If you are concerned about automatic updates in Windows 10, you can disable automatic updates to manually hide updates you don't want and install the updates you do want.


    It is recommended to uninstall any 3rd party antivirus or security program before upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10 to prevent it from possibly causing an issue with the upgrade. Once the upgrade to Windows 10 has finished, you can reinstall the 3rd party antivirus or security program if wanted.

    Verify that your PC and devices have Windows 10 drivers available for them from the manufacturer before upgrading to Windows 10.

    It is also recommended that you create a system image backup of Windows 7 before upgrading to Windows 10 to have a way to quickly restore your Windows 7 installation if needed.


    Windows 10 Upgrade Paths from Windows 7

    Windows 7 Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Pro
    Starter
    Home Basic
    Home Premium
    Professional
    Ultimate

    EXAMPLE: Windows 7 End of Support notification
    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-windows_7_end_of_support_notification.png Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-your_windows_7_is_out_of_support.jpg



    Here's How:

    1 Enable the TLS 1.2 protocol in Windows 7 or Windows 8.

    See also: How to enable TLS 1.2 on clients

    2 Click on the Download button below to go to Microsoft's Download Windows 10 site, and click/tap on the Download tool now button at the site under Create Windows 10 installation media. (see screenshot below)
    3 Save the MediaCreationTool21H2.exe file to your desktop, and run it.

    4 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes. (see screenshot below)

    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-upgrade_windows7_to_windows10_with_mct-2.png

    5 Click on Accept for the Microsoft Media Creation Tool EULA. (see screenshot below)

    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-upgrade_windows7_to_windows10_with_mct-3.png

    6 Select (dot) Upgrade this PC now, and click on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-upgrade_windows7_to_windows10_with_mct-4.png

    7 Windows 10 Setup will now begin to download, verify, and create Windows 10 media. (see screenshot below)

    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-upgrade_windows7_to_windows10_with_mct-5.png

    8 Click on Accept for the Windows 10 EULA. (see screenshot below)

    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-upgrade_windows7_to_windows10_with_mct-6.png

    9 Windows 10 Setup will now check for and install any needed updates. (see screenshot below)

    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-upgrade_windows7_to_windows10_with_mct-7.png

    10 Windows 10 Setup will now check compatibility to make sure you're ready to install Windows 10. (see screenshots below)

    If anything is found that needs your attention, you can click/tap on Confirm to accept and continue.


    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-upgrade_windows7_to_windows10_with_mct-8.png Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-upgrade_windows7_to_windows10_with_mct-9.png

    11 When ready, click/tap on Install to start upgrading to Windows 10. (see screenshots below)

    If you would like to change what you keep in the upgrade, click/tap on the Change what to keep link, choose what to keep, click/tap on Next, and go to step 9 above.


    If wanted, you can close the Windows 10 Setup window at this point to safely cancel the upgrade before it starts. This is your last chance to cancel the upgrade.


    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-upgrade_windows7_to_windows10_with_mct-10.png Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-upgrade_windows7_to_windows10_with_mct-11.png

    12 Windows 10 Setup will now start upgrading to Windows 10. (see screenshot below)

    This will take a while to finish.


    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-upgrade_windows7_to_windows10_with_mct-12.jpg

    13 Dismiss the lock screen by performing one of the following actions below. (see screenshot below)

    • Press the Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys if secure sign-in is enabled.
    • Press any key on the keyboard.
    • Click on the lock screen.
    • Tap on the lock screen if you have a touchscreen.
    • Swipe up on the lock screen if you have a touchscreen.

    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-upgrade_windows7_to_windows10_with_mct-13.jpg

    14 Sign in to Windows 10 with your account. (see screenshot below)

    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-upgrade_windows7_to_windows10_with_mct-14.jpg

    15 When each user signs in for the first time, they will see the first sign-in animation.

    16 When each user signs in for the first time, they will need to turn on or off the privacy settings they want, and click/tap on Accept when finished. (see screenshots below)

    Users will be able to change these privacy settings at anytime in Windows 10.



    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-upgrade_windows7_to_windows10_with_mct-15.jpg]

    17 You will now be at your desktop for your account in Windows 10. (see screenshot below)

    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free-upgrade_windows7_to_windows10_with_mct-16.jpg

    18 Make sure you have the correct time zone, date, and time set.


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 783
    Win10 Pro - x64 latest build dual boot w/Win 11 Pro
       #1

    Still a free upgrade? Or was that finished in 2016?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,667
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello Peter,

    It was still free at the time the tutorial was posted, and should still be.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 783
    Win10 Pro - x64 latest build dual boot w/Win 11 Pro
       #3

    Thanks.....I'm going to attempt it soon.
    First I have to weigh up what wont work afterwards.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #4

    Ex_Brit said:
    Thanks.....I'm going to attempt it soon.
    First I have to weigh up what wont work afterwards.
    Hard to do as you do not know what you do not know.

    Best advice as ALWAYS is to make an image backup of pc first, then upgrade and try it. You can always revert if any real issues.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 783
    Win10 Pro - x64 latest build dual boot w/Win 11 Pro
       #5

    Yes thanks. Good advice.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,667
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Please let us know how it went Peter.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 783
    Win10 Pro - x64 latest build dual boot w/Win 11 Pro
       #7

    It'll be a while yet, so don't hold your breath!!
    I'll post when it's done.
    ;-)
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,656
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #8

    Ex_Brit said:
    Yes thanks. Good advice.
    Peter - I can confirm this free upgrade still available.

    I completed the W7 to W10 upgrade 2 days ago. Had a few hiccups, but eventually got it to work nicely.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 783
    Win10 Pro - x64 latest build dual boot w/Win 11 Pro
       #9

    Thanks ;-)
      My Computer


 

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