Build 10240 is the original Windows 10 from July 2015. This means that it could take a few days before you can use other upgrade methods. Another eye-saving feature is Windows 10's Dark theme, which changes built-in apps' presentation to a black background with white text. However, in order to test the reliability of the update servers, Microsoft usually only makes available new feature updates through Windows Update during the initial rollout. This makes sense for a project you might be working on that requires a web browser, word processor, and PowerPoint. After you pull off the keyboard from a tablet, such as the Surface Pro, or convert a convertible laptop to tablet mode often by bending the screen backwards , Windows pops up a message asking if you want to switch to Tablet mode, in which the Start menu and modern apps become full-screen. It's important to note that modifying the registry can be dangerous. Don't turn off your computer. This was the tool which helped many users upgrade to the Anniversary Update last year and it will be the savior this time as well. I don't quit for those who are polite and cooperative. For details, see As of late May 2018, readers have confirmed to me that this procedure still works.
For the first year after the release of Windows 10, Microsoft offered free upgrades using thewhich appeared in the taskbar as a notification icon and in Windows Update. With the end of the free upgrade offer, the Get Windows 10 app is no longer available, and you cannot upgrade from an older Windows version using Windows Update. The good news is that you can still upgrade to Windows 10 on a device that has a license for Windows 7 or Windows 8. You'll need to download the installation files and run the Setup program from within Windows or use the Upgrade Assistant available from Microsoft's accessibility page. For details, see As of late May 2018, readers have confirmed to me that this procedure still works. Where can I get installation files for Windows 10. Windows 10 tips: If you already have a Windows 10 product key or you are planning to reinstall Windows 10 on a machine that already has a digital license more on that latervisit the page and download the. Use this drop-down list to download a specific Windows 10 architecture. Where do you draw the line on personal privacy. The right options are different for everyone. Windows 10 Enterprise editions are available through the Volume Licensing Service Center. A free 90-day trial edition is also available from the. What's the most recent Windows 10 version. Microsoft released Windows 10 version 1803 on April 30, 2018. This release is also known as the Windows 10 April 2018 Update. This major update succeeds version 1709 also known as the Fall Creators Updatewhich was released to the general public on October 17, 2017. The two major updates before that were Version 1703 the Creators Update, April 5, 2017 and version 1607 the Anniversary Update, August 2, 2016. Business and enterprise customers who have opted to defer new releases work on a slightly different schedule, with feature updates the official name for version upgrades being released approximately four months after the general release date. In mid-2017, Microsoft revised its terminology for Windows as a Service, dropping the Current Branch and Current Branch for Business monikers. Version 1709 is the current Semi-Annual Channel release. It was on January 18, 2018. For a full listing of release dates for major versions, see the official page. Each major release windows 10 update assistant is already running associated with a build number. The initial July 2015 release was build 10240. The build number of subsequent updates are as follows: Version 1511 - build 10586 Version 1607 - build 14393 Version 1703 - build 15063 Version 1709 - build 16299 Version 1803 - build 17134 Windows 10 update assistant is already running number after the major build number identifies the most recent update installed. As an alternative, you can click in the search box and type settings:about. The same information is also available using the winver command, which displays results in a compact About Windows dialog box. The system shown below, for example, is running the April 2018 Update, version 1803, with the May 2018 updates applied. If you're currently running Windows 7 or 8. If you are running Windows 10 Home, these feature updates the new, official terminology for what were once called upgrades are delivered through Windows Update. Feature updates download and install automatically. You can schedule the installation for a more convenient time or postpone it for a few days, but you cannot delay the update indefinitely. Windows 10 update assistant is already running systems running Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, you can delay the installation of a new feature update by moving to the Semi-Annual Channel. That delays the installation of a feature update such as Version 1803 by a few months. In addition, you can use advanced options to delay feature updates by an additional period of up to 365 days. Visit the and click Update Now to start the process. Use the Update Assistant to manually download and install the latest feature update. That action downloads a very small installer file that runs a compatibility check and then, assuming the device passes all compatibility tests, begins the full upgrade. The Update Assistant is a straightforward wizard that doesn't require technical knowledge to use. Do I need a product key to install or reinstall Windows 10. If you upgrade over a properly activated copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8. When you see the prompt to enter a key, click the I don't have a product key option. You can enter a product key from Windows 10 or from a matching edition of Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8. Residents of the United States who don't own a qualifying Windows license can skip entering a product key and purchase a license online from the Windows Store after setup is complete. How do digital licenses work. When you upgrade over an existing, activated copy of Windows, the Setup program checks the current activation status. If it determines the installation is properly activated, it contacts a Microsoft activation server and generates a license certificate that is linked to that hardware. A Microsoft account is not required for this step; the license is generated for the device, not for its owner. After that first activation is complete, you can perform a clean install on that same hardware using Windows 10 installation media. A digital license indicates that no product key is necessary. How long does a Windows 10 upgrade take. That's primarily dependent on the performance of your system. Windows Setup uses hardlinks to migrate data files, so the amount of data files shouldn't have a significant effect on install times. Beginning with version 1803, Microsoft has made some changes that speed the process up even more for the twice-yearly feature updates see. In my experience, the update can take as little as 30 minutes and as much as two hours. Anything more than that indicates a problem. Except for a few questions at the beginning, the upgrade process runs completely unattended. What's the difference between Windows 10 and Windows 10 N. Ed Bott shares some Windows 10 migration advice. The lack media playback capabilities. Microsoft is required to offer these editions as part of a settlement in a European antitrust trial. Can Windows 10 Home be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro. In fact, you can apply that upgrade using a spare key from an earlier edition of Windows, including Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate, Windows 8 Pro, or Windows 8. Follow the instructions in this article carefully: This procedure is especially useful when restoring Windows 10 on a system that originally shipped with Home edition and was manually upgraded to Pro. In this scenario, you might need to use a generic product key first to upgrade to Pro. After the upgrade is complete, you can activate using the stored digital license or a product key. Can I delete the setup files. I recommend that you leave them for now, unless disk space is so tight that you absolutely must remove them. It will delete itself automatically in 10 days. You can do so manually by running Disk Cleanup Manager in administrator mode and choosing the option to remove your old Windows version. But don't do this just because you like a tidy system. To open Disk Cleanup Manager, click in the search box next to the Start button and type Cleanmgr. Right-click the Disk Cleanup entry at the top of the list and choose Run As Administrator. Use the Disk Cleanup Manager to remove unneeded files after an update. Because of the way Windows assigns permissions to these folders, you can't delete them from File Explorer but instead must use one of the previously mentioned system tools. I recommend that you leave them intact unless you're critically low on disk space. Should I upgrade or do a clean install. Windows 10 supports upgrades over Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or later as well as clean installs. To do a clean install, you will need bootable media. Can I set up Windows 10 as part of a dual- or multi-boot installation. Yes, but only if you follow some strictly defined procedures. First, you must boot from installation media and choose the Custom option in Setup. Second, you must install Windows 10 on a separate disk partition or physical drive; if you choose the same partition that contains an existing Windows version, you will lose access to that Windows installation. Your existing data files and all current Windows system files will be moved to the Windows. Windows 10 will add itself to the boot menu if you install it in a separate volume on a system that already has a previous version of Windows installed. Is it possible to uninstall Windows 10. For 10 days after the upgrade, you can roll back to your previous Windows version if you experience problems. Can I install Windows 10 in a virtual machine. Yes, as long as the virtualization software is compatible. How do I send feedback to Microsoft. You'll see occasional pop-up prompts that ask questions about your experience with Windows 10. You can click those tiles to send comments, or use the new Feedback Hub app you'll find it on the new Start menu. Ask away in the comments below or, better yet, use the contact form below this post to send your questions via email. I'll update this post with additional answers.
