Upgrade from Windows 7/8/8.1 to Windows 10 for Free: Simple Steps

I. What are the benefits of upgrading from Windows 8.1/8/7 to Windows 10?

1. Better security protection

Windows 10 system is currently a system version mainly maintained by Microsoft. Compared with other operating system versions, it will be more complete in terms of security protection. As can be seen from the Windows product and service life cycle information table below, Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 have stopped mainstream support services. If you continue to use them, you may be hacked or infected by viruses due to system vulnerabilities. With the Windows 10 system, you can regularly receive Windows update information/services from Microsoft before October 14, 2025, and update patches, drivers, or new features when necessary, which will make the system safer and smoother.

2. Added new functions

Windows 10 has added some useful functions, and to some extent the user experience is better.

① Cortana voice assistant , which can respond to voice commands and perform everything from quick Internet searches to core tasks surrounding Windows 10, such as opening new emails, creating calendar entries, and more.

② virtual desktop , allowing users to quickly switch to other running program windows to improve work efficiency. Just press Alt+Tab to switch between the two recently opened windows. If you want to stay on the virtual desktop to select other windows, you can first press and hold the Alt key, then click the Tab key to release it (the Alt key must be kept pressed), and then use the mouse to select any open window.

③ DirectX 12 and Xbox , for gamers, these two upgrades will greatly improve the gaming experience. DirectX 12, referred to as DX12, is a “multimedia programming interface”, which enables games or multimedia programs to achieve higher execution efficiency, enhances 3D graphics and sound effects, and provides designers with a common hardware driver standard, so that game developers do not have to write different drivers for each brand of hardware, and also reduce the complexity of user installation and hardware configuration. Generally, DX11 must be installed to play 3D stand-alone games; and DX12 is the next generation of DX11, and DX12 will bring 30-40% performance improvement. Additionally, Windows 10 supports streaming games from Xbox One, allowing users to play games on their desktop or laptop within minutes. Best of all, Xbox One streaming is fast and responsive.

④ Edge browser , which runs significantly faster than Internet Explorer and is only available on Windows 10.

⑤ Windows Hello , a more personal and secure way to instantly access Windows 10 devices using a PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint. As part of setting up fingerprint or facial recognition login, users need to set up a PIN, but users can also log in with only a PIN.

After understanding the benefits of upgrading Windows 10, if you decide to upgrade the system, you can check the method below.

II. How to upgrade from Windows 8.1/8/7 to Windows 10?

1. Upgrade Windows 10 using Windows 10 Installer

First we have to download Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s official website. The tool will automatically download the installation files for the latest version of Windows 10 from Microsoft’s website. Download address: https://www.microsoft.com/zh-cn/software-download/windows10

After opening the web page, click the (Download Tool Now) button to download the Media Creation Tool (MediaCreationTool.exe). After the download is complete, please follow the steps below to upgrade. Tip: If Windows 8.1/8/7 is activated, there is a high possibility that you can directly upgrade to Windows 10 for free, but in some cases you need to re-enter the serial number.

Step 1: Double-click the downloaded Windows 10 Media Creation Tool file (MediaCreationTool.exe), and after entering the Windows 10 installer interface, select (Upgrade this computer now).

Step 2: Then it will start to download the Windows 10 system, which will take a long time, please keep the computer connected to the Internet. If the License Terms screen appears, click (Accept). When prompted “Ready to install”, you can click (Change what you want to keep) to make changes. If you don’t need to change, just click (Install) in the lower right corner.

Step 3: Next, we can choose what to keep according to our needs, here select (keep personal files, applications and Windows settings), and then click (next).

Step 4: After the upgrade is completed, you will enter the Windows 10 system setting interface, and you can set it according to the prompts.

2. Change the system time to get another chance to upgrade Windows 10 for free

After the Windows 10 system is launched, Windows users will receive a prompt window to upgrade Windows 10 for free, and they can upgrade directly through the prompt window.

① Adjust the system time to July 28, 2016 or earlier.

② When the prompt window of free upgrade to Windows 10 appears, please click it to upgrade.

③ After that, you will see that Windows 10 is ready, click (Get started) to upgrade. If the installation license terms interface appears, please click (Accept), then follow the prompts to complete the next steps and wait patiently for the installation to complete.

If the above two methods cannot be successfully completed, you can also use Renee Becca to restore the Windows 10 system backup on other computers to the target computer to achieve the purpose of upgrading Windows 10. Note: The motherboard and CPU should be of the same brand. If the system is backed up from a computer with an Intel CPU, it cannot be restored to a computer with an AMD CPU.

3. Windows 10 Backup and Restore with Renee Becca

Renee Becca It is a tool specially used for system/hard disk data backup and restoration. It can help you back up and restore important data in your computer, such as programs, system configuration, emails, photos, videos, documents, bookmarks, etc. It adopts the leading incremental/differential backup technology, which can save you more time and disk space. In addition to supporting system backup, it also supports system migration, partition backup, hard disk backup, file backup, and disk cloning to meet your different needs.

Step 1: Download, install and run Renee Becca on a computer that has installed and activated Windows 10, and select the (System Backup) option in the main interface (Backup) column.

Step 2: Next, select the source file (device) and the destination. The source file (device) generally selects the system partition by default, and the destination can choose the location where you want to save the system backup. If you want to restore the Windows 10 system to other computers, you can save the system backup on an external hard disk.

Step 3: After all the settings are completed, click (Backup Now) and wait for the system backup to complete. You can view the backup progress in the (task) bar.

Step 1: Run Renee Becca, switch to (task) in the function bar at the top of the interface, and then select the (rescue disk) option.

Step 2: Select the type of rescue disk to be created. Please select according to your disk and computer conditions. After the selection is completed, connect a blank CD or U disk to the computer, and click (Next) to create a startup disk.

Step 3: Connect the boot disk (CD/U disk) and the external hard disk with saved system backup files to the computer where you need to restore the system, and enter the BIOS interface through the shortcut key when starting up, and change the boot sequence to boot from USB/CD. Take the following BIOS interface as an example, if you want to boot from a CD, please select (CD-ROM Drive), if you want to boot from a USB flash drive, please select (Removable Devices).

Step 4: After successful startup, select the backup version and target location you need to restore in the window, and check the (make the target disk bootable) option at the same time. Finally, click the (Restore) button to start the system restore command.