Update Windows 10 for free via Windows Update
Are you interested in understanding how to update Windows 10 for free in the sense that you would like to find out if there is a way to adjust the settings related to Windows Update updates? Then continue reading the instructions you find below and you will see that in a few moments you will have perfectly clear ideas about it.
Adjust the update settings
If your PC is equipped with Windows 10 and you want to adjust the settings related to Windows updates, the first step you need to take is to click on the search field located on the taskbar, type windows update settings e pigiare sul pulsating Submit present on the keyboard.
In the window that at this point is shown on the desktop, click on the item Advanced options then select the menu under the item Choose how to install updates and select one of the two available options.
- Automatic (recommended) - With this option, updates are downloaded automatically and the system restarts automatically when the PC is not in use.
- Notification for restart schedule - By selecting this option, the updates for Windows are downloaded automatically but in order for them to be installed, they must be scheduled to restart.
After selecting the desired option, the changes made will be applied instantly. You can also activate the automatic download of updates for other Microsoft products (such as Office) by placing the check mark next to the item Download updates for other Microsoft products while updating Windows.
If you need more information about downloading and installing Windows updates you can consult my guide dedicated to the topic.
In case of problems
Are you having difficulty updating Windows 10 for free with Windows Update and would like to understand how to fix it? If so, you can turn to the troubleshooter attached to Control Panel. To do this, click on the button Home present on the taskbar, type troubleshooting in the search field that appears and then click on the first result in the list.
In the window that opens, click on the entry Troubleshoot Windows Update issues present at the System and security then click on the button NEXT and wait for the control procedure to be started and completed. If necessary click on Try running the troubleshooter as an administrator.
At the end of the analysis procedure in the window open on the desktop, under the heading Problems found, you will be shown all the various and any problems identified on Windows on the basis of which it was not possible to properly use Windows Update. If the identified problems have been solved automatically, the writing will appear next to each of them Resolved and a green check mark. Then he presses on the voice Close troubleshooter.
Subsequently, in the window that opened on the desktop, in correspondence with the item Problems found, you will be shown all the problems identified on Windows 10 for which it was not possible to use Windows Update correctly. At this point, all identified problems should have been resolved and the procedure by which to restore the correct functioning of Windows Update should have been successful. To verify that things have actually gone the right way, make sure that in correspondence with each of the problems found in the list there is the item Resolved followed by a green check mark. Then click on the button Close located at the bottom right to close the window.
Upgrade to Windows 10 for free
Are you interested in understanding how to update Windows 10 for free in the sense that you want to obtain and install the latest version of the Microsoft operating system on your computer without losing data, applications and so on? Well, then follow the instructions below to find out right away. However, I warn you, it is a possible operation but, at the current state of affairs, only and exclusively in a specific circumstance. To find out more, keep reading!
Info
Until 29 July 2016, all users in possession of a genuine copy di Windows 7 SP1 o Windows 8.x they could upgrade the operating system at no cost. After that date, however, things have changed and Microsoft has established that now those who, in addition to having an original copy of the aforementioned operating systems, make use of assistive technologies.
So, if you respond to these characteristics you can connect to the dedicated web page of the Microsoft website, click on the button Update now and wait a few moments for the appropriate tool to be downloaded to the computer to perform the update at no cost.
Everyone else can still upgrade, as also mentioned in my article on how to upgrade to Windows 10, but, of course, paying. Normally, the price of Windows 10 Home and of 135,00 € while that of Windows 10 Pro and of 279,00 €. The purchase of the operating system can be made directly from the official Microsoft store, from online stores such as Amazon and from physical electronics stores.
Minimum requirements
If you want to update Windows 10 for free, you must also make sure you have a computer with all the necessary technical requirements. Which ones are they? Those that you find listed below as well as on the appropriate information web page on the Microsoft site.
- At least 2 GB of RAM;
- 20 GB of free disk space;
- A processor of at least 1 GHz with support for PAE, NX and SSE2;
- A graphics card with Microsoft DirectX 9 support and WDDM driver.
To install Windows 10 for free you also need Microsoft's assistant, a simple “little program” that can be downloaded directly from the company's website and which must be run on the computer on which you intend to act. To download it, connect to the web page dedicated to assistive technologies that I pointed out a few lines above and download the update assistant by simply clicking on the button Update now.
Once the download is complete, start the assistance by double clicking on the file Windows10Upgrade24074.execlick your Si and, in the window that at this point is shown on the desktop, click on the button Accept/Update to start the upgrade procedure.
Please note: Even if you will not lose the data on your computer with the update, I suggest you make a backup of them so that you can always access them, regardless of the occurrence of any problems. To find out how, you can consult my tutorial on how to make backups.
Installation
Now wait for the update preparation procedure to be started and completed (in the meantime you can continue to work without problems with your computer by clicking on the button Minimize in the software window to update) and then presses the button to start the installation of Windows 10.
Now wait for the procedure for switching to Windows 10 to start, then choose the language and keyboard layout and continue with the installation procedure. Then indicate the edition of Windows 10 to be installed on the PC, accept the conditions of use of the software and choose to update the copy of Windows already present on the computer by clicking on the button Update: Install Windows or keep files, settings and applications.
At this point, the computer will restart and the initial operating system setup procedure will start, during which you can adjust various operating system settings. If you'd rather speed things up, you can also click Use quick settings to use the default settings.
Then specify if the computer belongs to you and is therefore intended for personal use or if it belongs to the company for which you work or to your educational institution, click on NEXT and, if you prefer to take advantage of the operating system's cloud capabilities, enter your Microsoft email address (Live, Hotmail or Outlook). Note that once this is done, the username and password for the account on the PC will be the same as the login details of the email address.
If, on the other hand, you do not want to synchronize data and apps between multiple PCs via Microsoft cloud services, you can create a standard local user account by clicking on Ignore this step, by filling in the fields with the required data that are subsequently shown on the screen and then clicking on NEXT.
To finish, wait for the Windows 10 desktop to be visible (it should take a few moments) and indicate whether or not you want to allow your PC to be discoverable by other computers and devices connected to the same network. At this point you can finally feel satisfied: you have managed to complete the whole procedure by which to update Windows 10 for free. Have fun!
Finally, I would like to point out that in case you have second thoughts, by going to the menu PC settings Windows 10, by clicking on the icon Update and security and selecting the item Restoration from the left sidebar you can in fact go back to Windows 7 or Windows 8 by clicking on a simple button. All your data will be preserved. I explained this practice in more detail in my tutorial on how to uninstall Windows 10. If you are interested in it, take a look.
How to update Windows 10 for free
