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Frequently Asked Questions

  • When will Windows 10 be available?

    It is available now! Get the upgrade today. See more details on the “Upgrade” tab.

  • What are the basic facts of the Windows 10 upgrade?

    Microsoft is making Windows 10 available as free upgrade for qualified Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 devices. It will be available starting July 29, 2015.

    You have one year from the time that Windows 10 becomes available to take advantage of this offer. Once you upgrade, you have Windows 10 for free on that device.

  • Is it really free to upgrade?

    Yes, it’s free. This is a full version of Windows, not a trial or introductory version. It is available for a limited time: you have one year from the time Windows 10 is available to take advantage of this offer.

  • Which devices qualify for the free upgrade?

    The only requirements are that a) your device is compatible and Windows Update is enabled, and b) you’re running genuine Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows 8.1 (Update).

    Windows 10 is designed to run on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 PCs. That means your device is likely compatible and will run Windows 10.1 See more details on the “Upgrade” tab where you can search for your device and see more detailed information.

    See the full specifications here

  • If I buy a new PC today, can it upgrade to Windows 10?

    Yes, new qualified PCs can run Windows 10. Windows 10 is designed to be compatible with the Windows 8.1 laptop, tablet or desktop PCs that are for sale now. Some Windows 10 features may not be available on certain devices. See more details on the “Upgrade” tab where you can search for your device and see more detailed information.

  • How long does it take to install the upgrade?

    Plan for about an hour. Newer devices may only take 20 minutes, and older devices may take more than an hour.

  • What is the Get Windows 10 app?

    Get Windows 10 is an app from Microsoft that’s designed to make the upgrade process easy. It checks to make sure your device is compatible, and it reserves your free upgrade; it also has information to help you learn about the features in Windows 10.

  • Why don’t I have the Get Windows 10 app?

    If you don’t see the Get Windows 10 app on your PC (which would show up as a Windows icon in your system tray at the bottom right-hand side of your screen), it might be because:

    1. Your device isn’t up-to-date with at least Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update.
    2. Windows Update is turned off or is not set to received updates automatically.
    3. You’ve blocked or uninstalled the necessary Windows Update functionality.
    4. Your device is not running genuine Windows.

    Running Windows Update and installing any available updates will fix the first three issues.

    You can easily check your PC’s compatibility by clicking on the Get Windows 10 app icon in the system tray. This is to help ensure that you can easily check your PC’s compatibility if you choose.

    If your device is managed as part of a school or business network, please check with your IT administrator about upgrading to Windows 10.

  • Can Enterprise customers get the free Windows 10 upgrade?

    Enterprise customers with active agreements for Software Assurance through Microsoft volume licensing have the benefit to upgrade to Windows 10 enterprise offerings outside of this upgrade offer.

  • Will I get all of the features of Windows 10 once I upgrade?

    Some Windows 10 features will require advanced hardware and not all features and services are available on every device, nor in every market. For instance, Cortana2 is not available in all markets.

    See the Specifications page for more details.

    Check for device specific information on the “Upgrade” tab where you can search for your device.

  • Will my devices and apps work with Windows 10?

    Windows 10 is designed to be compatible with the vast majority of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices -- so your device is most likely compatible.

    • For details on your specific device and apps, you can use the Get Windows 10 app to do a compatibility check. Click the menu in the upper left of the app, and select “Check your PC” or “Your PC is good to go.” This displays any compatibility issues and recommends a resolution; while we don’t have info on every app or device in existence, it provides a comprehensive list of all known potential compatibility issues.
    • Some Windows 10 features will require advanced hardware and not all features and services are available on every device, nor in every market. For instance, Cortana2 is not available in all markets.
    • Check for device specific information on the “Upgrade” tab where you can search for your device.

  • What edition of Windows will I get as part of this free upgrade?

    When you upgrade, you’ll stay on like-to-like editions of Windows. For example, Windows 7 Home Premium will upgrade to Windows 10 Home.

    Windows 7*

    From Edition To Edition
    Windows 7 Starter
    Windows 7 Home Basic
    Windows 7 Home Premium     		Windows 10 Home
    Windows 7 Professional
    Windows 7 Ultimate     		Windows 10 Pro

    Windows 8**

    From Edition To Edition
    Windows Phone 8.1**** Windows 10 Mobile
    Windows 8.1*** Windows 10 Home
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Windows 8.1 Pro for Students     		Windows 10 Pro

    “N” and “KN” editions follow the upgrade path of the parent edition (e.g., Windows 7 Pro N upgrades to Windows 10 Pro).

    Some editions are excluded: Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise, and Windows RT/RT 8.1. Active Software Assurance customers in volume licensing have the benefit to upgrade to Windows 10 enterprise offerings outside of this offer.

    *Must be running the latest version of Windows 7 (Service Pack 1) to receive the free upgrade to Windows 10 via Windows Update.

    **Must be running the latest version of Windows 8 (Windows 8.1 Update) to receive the free upgrade to Windows 10 via Windows Update.

    *** Also applies to Windows 8.1 country specific editions, Windows 8.1 Single Language, Windows 8.1 with Bing.

    ****The availability of Windows 10 upgrade for Windows Phone 8.1 devices may vary by OEM, mobile operator or carrier.

  • Will Windows Media Center be available in Windows 10?

    Windows Media Center is not part of Windows 10 and won’t be available after upgrading to Windows 10. If you use Windows Media Center, we will alert you during upgrade that Windows Media Center is not available on Windows 10. We know that some users use Windows Media Center to play DVDs, and we are providing a free DVD playback app in Windows 10 for Windows Media Center users.