Upgrading to Windows 10

Unlike previous versions of the Windows operating system, Windows 10 is available as a free upgrade, as long as you have Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. This upgrade offer will expire after one year, ending sometime in August 2016.
However, Windows 10 is not available as a free upgrade for users with Windows RT, Windows Vista, or Windows XP. This is mostly because any computer with one of these operating systems simply wouldn't be able to run Windows 10 very well. If you're thinking about upgrading from an older system, we'd recommend purchasing a new computer that already has Windows 10 installed.

Things to consider before upgrading

System requirements

In order to upgrade your Windows 7 or 8.1 machine to Windows 10, you'll need to meet the system hardware requirements. Note that these are just the minimum requirements, so if you plan to use your computer for gaming or other demanding apps you may need a faster processor, more memory, or a more powerful graphics card to upgrade.

Software compatibility

In order for software to work, it has to be compatible with the operating system. Therefore, you may not be able to use all of your existing software if you switch to a different operating system. Before upgrading to Windows 10, ask yourself if there is any software on your computer you can't do without—and then do some research to find out if it is compatible.
If you are upgrading from Windows 8 or Windows 7, most of your apps should still work. However, if you're using an older version like Windows XP, there's a good chance some of your apps will not be compatible with Windows 10. A simple web search will often be enough to tell if an app will be compatible.

How to upgrade to Windows 10

If your computer is able to run Windows 10, you should see a small Windows icon near the lower-right corner of your taskbar. Click this icon to open the Get Windows 10 app, then follow the instructions to upgrade your computer.
If you don't see this icon, it either means you need to download to the most recent update for your operating system (specifically, Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 users or Windows 8.1 for Windows 8 users) or your computer does not meet the system requirements for Windows 10. Check out Microsoft's page on How to Upgrade to Windows 10 and its Windows 10 FAQ for more information.