Still using Windows 7 and looking for a upgrade to Windows 10. You can do so for free using your Windows 7 key.
Though Microsoft had already ended its Windows 7 free upgrade offer in 2016. However, it is still working in 2024. Recently, I have tested it personally, and it is still working.
I discovered it when I performed a free upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 on my laptop using my Windows 7 product key. Though I cannot guarantee that it will work for everyone, but there is no harm in giving it a try.
Upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10
If you have not yet upgraded, you still have the chance to get a free upgrade to Windows 10. Let’s find out the steps how to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10.
Users can either do an in-place upgrade on same computer or a new clean install on a new PC. In both methods simply use the Windows 7 Serial key when it ask and it will work perfectly.
Make sure you have enough free disk space before upgrading. Check the minimum free disk space required for Windows 10 upgrade.
Before starting up the upgrade process, I suggest you to take a backup of your important data. Find here Best backup Software for Windows.
1) In-place Upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10
In place upgrade help you to upgrade your existing Windows 7 or Windows 8 system to the latest windows10 by keeping all your programs and data migrated to the latest version. But still we recommend you to take the backup of your data before starting the procedure.
Step 1:
Download & run Media Creation Tool provided by Microsoft.
Step 2:
Select the option ‘upgrade this PC‘. When you run the media creation tool it will give you two options. Select the first one “Upgrade this PC now”.
Step 3:
Wait while it download the required files and then click ‘Install’ button. It may take some time in downloading Windows 10 files from the internet. So it depends on your internet speed that how much time will it take. If you are using a pirated or cracked version then it may ask you to enter the product key. Otherwise it will not ask for any product / license key and upgrade process will go smoothly. After completion of download, click on the ‘Install‘ button.
Step 4:
Select ‘Keep the personal files and apps’ option. After clicking on the install button, it will ask for what to keep. You can choose data only, data & apps or nothing. By default it will select the ‘data & apps‘ option.
Step 5:
Wait while upgrade process finishes. Click on the next button and it will start the upgrade process and may restart the system several times.
Step 6:
Congrats!! It done. Just set the privacy settings on first run. If everything goes smooth you are welcome by Welcome screen of Windows 10. It will ask you to set the privacy settings first. Set the privacy settings and you are ready to go.
2) Upgrade to Windows 10 by installing a fresh copy
The second method to upgrade to Windows 10 is by installing a fresh copy of Windows 10 either on the same PC or on a new PC. This method is useful when you want to upgrade your laptop or desktop with new hardware.
Though most new laptops come with an OEM version of the latest Windows operating system, for custom-built PCs, you can install a clean copy of Windows 10 using the Windows 7 product key. The full, detailed procedure is mentioned in this section: Upgrade Windows with USB
How to Upgrade to Windows 10 without internet
If you have no internet connectivity on a PC then you can download the Windows ISO file from another PC. By this method you don’t need the Internet connection on that PC to install a New Windows.
Step 1
Download the ISO file and create a bootable USB.
Follow the below steps to create a bootable Windows 10 disk.
1. Download the Windows media creation tool from the Microsoft website.
2. Download and Run this file. It is approx. 18 MB in size.
3. It will ask for two options – upgrade this PC or download for another PC. Choose second option.
4. Choose “Create installation media for another PC”. It will ask you to make a bootable USB or download an ISO image.
5. We prefer to use the bootable USB. It needs at least 8 GB free space in the USB Stick. After the completion of this process you have a Valid and legal official windows 10 available in your USB drive. Now you can install the Windows 10 on another PC or on a different partition without the requirement of Internet.
Step 2
Now boot system using the Windows 10 bootable disk and follow the installation or upgradation process mentioned in the next section.
Upgrade a PC From Windows 7 to Windows 10 by USB disk
- Insert a bootable Windows 10 USB disk and set the PC to boot the PC with USB by making USB the first boot device in the BIOS settings.
- The Windows 10 setup will initialize. Click on the “Install Now” button. After that, it will ask for the activation key. You can enter the activation key here. Or simply click on “I don’t have a product key.” But you need to enter the key later, after installation. You can use your existing Windows 7 key.
- On the next step, it will ask for an upgrade or for a custom install. Select Upgrade if you are going to upgrade the existing Windows 7 installation. Or, for a new Windows 10 installation, you can choose Custom Installation.
With a custom (advanced) installation, you will lose all your data and apps, and it will be a fresh new installation.
When it asks for a Serial number or Product Key. Use your Windows 7 Key and it will take without any hassle. If this does not work for you then I will recommend you to buy a valid Windows 10 product key from the Microsoft Store.
Buying Windows 10 is a onetime purchase process and you will get the unlimited updates / upgrades.
Update: Recently Microsoft released Windows 11. And all Windows 10 licensed users are eligible to upgrade to the new Windows 11. Here is a complete guide on How to upgrade to Windows 11.
Also check: How to upgrade from Windows Home to Windows Pro version.
Video Guide to upgrade to Windows 10
If you are not comfortable to understand the text guide then watch the Video guide.
Hi Mr Techexpert
I just wat to say a BIG THANK YOU to you for this post/link. I am no IT person at all and for me this was super easy to use and worked 100% on 4 July 2022. YOU THE BOSS
Thanks for this work.
You’re most welcome!!
So helpful information
Hi I want try to upgrade my windows 7 into widows 10
How i Can do this suggest me
You should go with the in-place upgrade. Check out this video tutorial for more detail: https://youtu.be/mxV3lszAduI
If you face any problems with that then do let me know.
After choosing “Upgrade this PC” I get the following message:
“This tool can’t update your PC”
The language or edition of the version of Windows currently installed on this PC isn’t supported by this tool”
Any suggestions?
Thanks,I want to know about security?
Microsoft is encouraging Windows 7 users to upgrade to Windows 10 before support for the former ends in January 2020.
Thanks! I thought this wouldn’t work on my old Toshiba laptop because it didn’t work the last time I tried even though my windows 7 is legitimate. But it did! Thanks!
You’re most welcome!!
As of 16th of January 2020, still working. I went for the USB download, it took a few hours but went without a single hitch. Now all updated and running well (to my surprise!)
A big thanks to Techexpert for the help and advice and updating this page in 2020, I’m sure for many of us – who had left it to the last minute to try to do something about the end of support for win 7, like me – you’ve made the transition to Win 10 painless, something I was certainly not expecting a week ago, so cheers!
I just now finished the in place update and it worked perfectly 🙂
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I waited will the last moment but finally upgraded yesterday. The solution still works, I didn’t have to pay. It did take about 3 hours and a few times I thought my computer froze as it got stuck on a particular “percent ready” number but it eventually resumed. I did have the original registered OEM Windows 7 installed, so I wasn’t asked for the key.
Thank you for providing this solution.
You’re most welcome!! Thanks for sharing your experience.
I plan to do a fresh install using the 8gb USB method. Would 16gb be enough partition space to complete the install? I have an extra 12gb partition if I have no other choice which I can use, or perhaps resize. Any advice greatly appreciated.
Yes, 16 GB space is enough space for upgrade to Windows 10. Sometimes it requires around 20 GB, it totally depends on “Windows update”. If your Windows 7 is up-to-date then Windows 10 requires even less than 10 GB. So you may go ahead and start the upgrade process with your 8GB USB stick.
Hi, trying upgrade on 13 Jan 2020. Gets so far in Windows 10 setup then sticks at 46% when checking for updates.
Going to leave overnight…
Fingers crossed.
M
Okay, thanks for sharing your experience. Please update the status of your Windows 10 upgrade process so that others can help.
Still no joy. Tried the setupdiag exe but it was unable to match to any known failure signatures.
Trying to upgrade from version of HomePremium Windows 7 but it is an old pc. Plenty memory and i3 processor,
BIOS updates mentioned in your article. Will try to see how check those. Perhaps updates not loaded previously.
Though not sure how to do that.
Cheers
It seems like some updates couldn’t download or install properly. So now, try to fix your Windows update issue first. Please follow the following article’s steps carefully.
After done, and before beginning the update process again, try to update your Windows twice in Windows 7 computer.
Brilliant. That did the job. All hunky dory.
You techexperts absolutely Rock.
Just did this, with complete success!! January 11 2020
Well,,,,, it worked as of 11/09/19
Yep it worked – Brill
Thanks for your great advice on 7 to 10 upgrade. It worked a treat.
Thank you for your help. I have finally managed it so am very pleased.
You’re most welcome!!
Thanks for this article. We upgraded from Windows 7 to 10 late on October 22, 2019 with no problems on my SSD boot drive (actually freed up 4 GB on the drive as well). From starting the process to seeing the Windows 10 splash screen for multiple users it took one hour and 30 minutes; including the initial small download and the following large download from Microsoft. Despite having installed Windows 10 inadvertently near the end of the free upgrade period in the summer of 2016 and then rolling it back to Windows 7 the next day (which had me a bit worried about upgrading back to 10) I only had to reconfigure my Realtek audio subsystem software to get the sound working. Quite frankly many of my apps seem snappier in response and performance.
Was going along nicely with the upgrade from windows 7 to 10 till it got to updating windows 10. Got up to 35% , didn’t notice if it said anything but the screen went black and has been black for 30mins. It’s not gone to sleep so what should I do or is this normal?
No, it is not normal. You should wait for few hours because we should not interrupt Windows update. If nothing happens after few hours then reboot your computer and check what happens after reboot.
I had to unplug it and turn it back on. It went straight to a windows 10 sign , then the upgrade which said 85%. Went up to 90% and has been stuck on that for an hour. The screen hasn’t gone black though .
Wait some time if doesn’t happen anything then I recommend you to please reboot your computer once more. Make sure the Internet is working properly and with full speed because it need a good speed Internet.
Had to unplug computer again as it was frozen on 90% and had been like that for for 6 hrs. Gone back to windows 7. It says failed at second boot during migrate data operation. OxC1900101-Ox4000D fault.
We suggest you to please update-to-date your Windows 7 completely before retrying again. Then make sure you have enough free disk space into your hard drive to upgrade. After that, create the Windows 10 bootable USB, and then start upgrading through Windows 10 USB. Click here for more detail how to do.
20.10.2019 100% work. Thanks 🙂