How to Update to Windows 8.1 from Windows 8
Information
On October 17th 2013, Windows 8.1 rolled out as a free optional update to Windows 8 users via the Windows Store.
On October 18th, Windows 8.1 was available on new devices and as a packaged DVD product at retail locations around the world.
This tutorial will show you how to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 using the free Windows 8.1 Update via the Windows Store or with a Windows 8.1 ISO file.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to upgrade to Windows 8.1.
If your Windows drive is encrypted, then you will need to decrypt it before trying to update to Windows 8.1. After the update has finished, you could encrypt it again if you like.
On October 18th, Windows 8.1 was available on new devices and as a packaged DVD product at retail locations around the world.
This tutorial will show you how to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 using the free Windows 8.1 Update via the Windows Store or with a Windows 8.1 ISO file.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to upgrade to Windows 8.1.
If your Windows drive is encrypted, then you will need to decrypt it before trying to update to Windows 8.1. After the update has finished, you could encrypt it again if you like.
Note
Windows 8.1 System Requirements
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with support for PAE, NX, and SSE2
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device or higher with WDDM driver
Additional requirements to use certain features:
If your PC is currently running Windows 7 or Windows 8 you can check to see if it meets the requirements by running the Upgrade Assistant.
Upgrading from Windows 7 (or earlier) to Windows 8.1
You could upgrade to Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro from Windows 7 first, and then install the free Windows 8.1 update via the Store.
OR
You could upgrade directly to Windows 8.1 from Windows 7 using the Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant or by purchasing a retail copy of Windows 8.1 online or from a retail outlet.
Updating from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1
On a retail or OEM-activated PC running any edition of Windows 8, you’ll be able to install the free Windows 8.1 update via the Windows Store. It permanently replaces the underlying operating system with Windows 8.1 and replaces the previous software license with the new terms for Windows 8.1. This is a like-for-like update: If you’re running Windows 8 Pro, you’ll be updated to Windows 8.1 Pro. If the Media Center Pack is installed, that functionality will be maintained for Windows 8.1.
When upgrading from Windows 8/Windows RT to Windows 8.1/Windows RT 8.1, you will not lose anything. All your files, settings, and apps will carry over unless you are installing Windows 8.1 in a language that's different from the language currently on your PC.
If you ever refresh or reset from the recovery partition of an OEM Windows 8 PC, you will restore the original Windows 8 image and will need to install the free Windows 8.1 update again.
If you have a PC running Windows 8, you could upgrade to Windows 8.1 Pro by first installing the free Windows 8.1 update and then add the Windows 8.1 Pro Pack. You could also add the Windows 8 Pro Pack first, and then installing the free Windows 8.1 Update.
For businesses who acquired Windows 8 Enterprise through Software Assurance for Windows on a volume license agreement, the option to update through the Windows Store is not available. Administrators will find the Windows 8.1 Enterprise installation media at the Volume Licensing Service Center. Windows 8.1 can be deployed to Windows 8 computers using a software distribution tool such as System Center Configuration Manager (run setup.exe /auto:upgrade).
Upgrading from Windows 8.1 Preview to Windows 8.1
If you installed Windows 8.1 Preview as an update from the Windows Store in Windows 8, you will be able to install the free Windows 8.1 update from the Windows Store.
If you installed Windows 8.1 Preview by booting from ISO media, you can update to the final version of Windows 8.1 Pro using the Windows Store, but your system won't activate until you buy a Windows 8.1 license and Product Key. You can do this by following the instructions when you activate your system, or by purchasing a DVD of Windows 8.1 Pro.
When upgrading from Windows 8.1 Preview/Windows RT 8.1 Preview to Windows 8.1/Windows 8.1 RT, you will "Keep personal files only", but will lose your settings and have to reinstall all of your apps (desktop and Store).
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with support for PAE, NX, and SSE2
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device or higher with WDDM driver
Additional requirements to use certain features:
- Internet access for activation.
- To use touch, you need a tablet or a monitor that supports multitouch. (more info)
- To access the Windows Store and to download and run apps, you need an active Internet connection and a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768.
- To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768.
- Secure boot requires firmware that supports UEFI v2.3.1 Errata B and has the Microsoft Windows Certification Authority in the UEFI signature database
- Some games and programs might require a graphics card compatible with DirectX 10 or higher for optimal performance
- Microsoft account required for some features
- Watching DVDs requires separate playback software (more info)
- Windows Media Center license sold separately (more info)
- BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive (Windows 8 Pro only)
- BitLocker requires either Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 or a USB flash drive (Windows 8 Pro only)
- Client Hyper-V requires a 64-bit system with second level address translation (SLAT) capabilities and additional 2 GB of RAM (Windows 8 Pro only)
- A TV tuner is required to play and record live TV in Windows Media Center (Windows 8 Pro Pack and Windows 8 Media Center Pack only)
- Free Internet TV content varies by geography, some content might require additional fees (Windows 8 Pro Pack and Windows 8 Media Center Pack only)
If your PC is currently running Windows 7 or Windows 8 you can check to see if it meets the requirements by running the Upgrade Assistant.
Upgrading from Windows 7 (or earlier) to Windows 8.1
You could upgrade to Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro from Windows 7 first, and then install the free Windows 8.1 update via the Store.
OR
You could upgrade directly to Windows 8.1 from Windows 7 using the Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant or by purchasing a retail copy of Windows 8.1 online or from a retail outlet.
Updating from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1
On a retail or OEM-activated PC running any edition of Windows 8, you’ll be able to install the free Windows 8.1 update via the Windows Store. It permanently replaces the underlying operating system with Windows 8.1 and replaces the previous software license with the new terms for Windows 8.1. This is a like-for-like update: If you’re running Windows 8 Pro, you’ll be updated to Windows 8.1 Pro. If the Media Center Pack is installed, that functionality will be maintained for Windows 8.1.
When upgrading from Windows 8/Windows RT to Windows 8.1/Windows RT 8.1, you will not lose anything. All your files, settings, and apps will carry over unless you are installing Windows 8.1 in a language that's different from the language currently on your PC.
If you ever refresh or reset from the recovery partition of an OEM Windows 8 PC, you will restore the original Windows 8 image and will need to install the free Windows 8.1 update again.
If you have a PC running Windows 8, you could upgrade to Windows 8.1 Pro by first installing the free Windows 8.1 update and then add the Windows 8.1 Pro Pack. You could also add the Windows 8 Pro Pack first, and then installing the free Windows 8.1 Update.
For businesses who acquired Windows 8 Enterprise through Software Assurance for Windows on a volume license agreement, the option to update through the Windows Store is not available. Administrators will find the Windows 8.1 Enterprise installation media at the Volume Licensing Service Center. Windows 8.1 can be deployed to Windows 8 computers using a software distribution tool such as System Center Configuration Manager (run setup.exe /auto:upgrade).
Upgrading from Windows 8.1 Preview to Windows 8.1
If you installed Windows 8.1 Preview as an update from the Windows Store in Windows 8, you will be able to install the free Windows 8.1 update from the Windows Store.
If you installed Windows 8.1 Preview by booting from ISO media, you can update to the final version of Windows 8.1 Pro using the Windows Store, but your system won't activate until you buy a Windows 8.1 license and Product Key. You can do this by following the instructions when you activate your system, or by purchasing a DVD of Windows 8.1 Pro.
When upgrading from Windows 8.1 Preview/Windows RT 8.1 Preview to Windows 8.1/Windows 8.1 RT, you will "Keep personal files only", but will lose your settings and have to reinstall all of your apps (desktop and Store).
Tip
For more information about Windows 8.1, see:
- Updating to Windows 8.1 from Windows 8 - Microsoft Windows
- Update to Windows 8.1 FAQs - Microsoft Windows
- Windows RT 8.1: FAQ - Microsoft Windows Help
- Update from Windows 8.1 Preview to Windows 8.1 - Microsoft Windows Help
- Why can't I find the update in the Store? - Microsoft Windows
- Windows 8.1 Software License Terms (EULA)
- Language packs - Microsoft Windows
- Compare Features Between Windows 8.1 Editions
- Windows 8.1 - What's New, IT Pro Features, Devices, UI | TechNet
- Continuing the Windows 8 vision with Windows 8.1
- Modern Business in Mind: Windows 8.1 at TechEd 2013
- SkyDrive: FAQ - Microsoft Windows
OPTION ONE
Upgrade to Windows 8.1 Update via Windows Store
Note
On a retail or OEM-activated PC running any edition of Windows 8 or Windows RT, you’ll be able to install the free Windows 8.1 Update via the Windows Store.
1. If you have not already, you will need to temporarily disable or uninstall any 3rd party AV or security program you have installed first to prevent it from interfering with the update to Windows 8.1. You can enable or reinstall it after the update has finished.
2. If you have not already, be sure that you have installed the KB2871389 and KB2917499 Windows Updates. They are required to be installed for the 8.1 update to be available in the Store.
Tip
If needed, you could also manually download the KB2871389 and KB2917499 updates at the links below to install.
Tip
3. On your Start screen, click/tap on the Store tile. (see screenshot below)
4. When the Store opens, click/tap on the Update Windows tile. (see screenshot below)
Tip
If you do not see the Windows 8.1 update available in the Store like below, then you can also enter ms-windows-store:WindowsUpgrade into the address bar of your browser and press Enter to reach the download page.
Tip
5. Read all the available information on the page. When ready to start the update to Windows 8.1, click/tap on the Download button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: The download size will vary, but expect it to be around 3.42 GB to 3.62 GB. Be sure to save and close anything you are working on first.
6. Downloading of Windows 8.1 Update will now start. (see screenshot below)
Tip
This may take a while to finish depending on your download rate. To check the progress of your Windows 8.1 Update installation, you can enter ms-windows-store:installprogress into your browser's address bar, and press Enter to open the Store directly to Installs.
Tip
7. Once finished downloading, the Windows 8.1 Update will now start installing. (see screenshots below)
NOTE: This will take a while to finish. If the installation is interrupted for any reason, you can restart the update from where you left off by going back to the Store and downloading the update again.
8. When finished, you will be prompted to click/tap on Restart Now to restart your PC. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You will only have 15 minutes before your PC will automatically restart.
9. The PC will now restart to setup Windows 8.1 Update. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This may take a while to finish.
10. When finished, click on the License terms I accept button. (see screenshot below)
11. From here, pick up at step 13 in Option Four of the tutorial below to finish setting up Windows 8.1 Update.
Tip
If you have the "Secureboot isn't configured correctly" watermark on the bottom right corner of your desktop after updating to Windows 8.1, then it just means that you have Windows installed with UEFI and need to turn on Secure Boot in your UEFI settings. Afterwards, the watermark will be gone.
Tip
OPTION TWO
Upgrade to Windows 8.1 using ISO File
Note
You can get the latest Windows 8.1 ISO file using OPTION ONE in the tutorial below.
Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO - Download or Create
Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO - Download or Create
1. For how, see Option Four in the tutorial below.
OPTION THREE
Upgrade to Windows 8.1 using Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant
Note
Upgrade Assistant is a free download that scans your PC, desktop apps, and connected devices to see if they'll work with a later version of Windows, and then provides a free compatibility report. Depending on the version of Windows you're running, you can also use Upgrade Assistant to buy, download, and install Windows online.
You will be able to create a Windows 8.1 ISO file using this option.
- If you're running Windows 7, you can use Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant to get a compatibility report, and then you'll see optional steps to buy, download, and install Windows 8.1.
- If you're running Windows 8, you can use Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant to check compatibility, and then you'll be redirected to the Windows Store for the free update to Windows 8.1.
You will be able to create a Windows 8.1 ISO file using this option.
1. For how see: How to Download and Run "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant" and Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant"
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Enable or Disable the Store Offer to Update to Windows 8.1
- How to Upgrade from Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, or XP to Windows 8 or 8.1
- How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1
- Compare Features Between Windows 8.1 Editions
- How to Tell if You Have a 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) Windows 8 and 8.1
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