Upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 are built on Windows 8 and Windows RT to improve personalization, search, application, Windows application store and cloud connectivity, and the security and reliability features you expect Windows to provide. They are faster and are suitable for a variety of equipment, especially a new generation of touch devices.

If your computer is currently running Windows 8 or Windows RT, you can update it to Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 for free. Unlike previous updates to Windows, you can now obtain this update from the Windows application store.

1. Before beginning

System requirements for Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 are almost identical to those required for Windows 8, so if your computer is running Windows 8 (or Windows RT), you can update to Windows 8.1 for free in most cases ( or Windows RT 8.1).

However, before you start the update, you need to keep the following tips in mind:

Your files, desktop applications, user accounts, and settings will accompany you. Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 come with some new built-in applications that will update or replace some of your existing built-in applications. Your existing Windows application store application will not work with you, but after you complete the update, you can reinstall all of these applications immediately or install only the applications that you need.

We will check your desktop applications and equipment. During the update process, we will check your current desktop and connected devices, and will tell you what you will need to do to prepare for the update of these applications and devices, or to enable them to function again after the update. In most cases, you don't have to do anything-most desktop applications, devices (such as printers), and network connections can work correctly after the update. If you are concerned about certain desktop applications or devices, you can check their compatibility in Windows Compatibility Center.

Consider using a Microsoft account to log on to your computer. If you have logged on to Windows 8 or Windows RT using a Microsoft account, you will use that same account to log on to Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1.

If you are not using a Microsoft account, it is recommended that you start using Microsoft accounts in Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1. To put it simply, doing so can combine many useful new Windows features: You can download applications from the App Store, sync settings and documents automatically between your computers, and back up your photos to the cloud so you can access them from anywhere, from all the contacts and emails Use multiple email and social networking accounts in your application to view all your contacts.

If you already have an account that uses Outlook.com, Xbox LIVE, Windows Phone, or Skype, you already have a Microsoft account. If you use more than one of these accounts, we can help you determine the e-mail address you want to use.

You can continue to work while the update is being installed. Download and install time from 30 minutes to hours, depending on your Internet connection speed and the speed and configuration of your computer, but you can still use your computer when installing updates in the background. During the update, if you decide to keep your computer unattended, make sure that you save your work data and turn off all the applications that were initially open, in case your computer needs to be restarted automatically when you leave. After the computer restarts, you will not be able to use the computer for a period of time during the application update (approximately 20 minutes to an hour). After this stage is complete, we will guide you through selecting some basic settings, and then Windows will apply any required final updates.

2. Prepare your computer

You need to do some work before you start the installation.

Backup files. Although files and applications will accompany you after updating to Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, it is a good idea to make sure that you have first backed up your files by creating a file history.

Make sure there is enough free disk space. If you are currently running Windows 8, you will need to 3,000 MB of free space to install the 32-bit version of Windows 8.1, and 3,850 MB of free space is required to install 64-bit versions of Windows 8.1. On a Windows RT device, you need 2,250 MB of free disk space to install Windows RT 8.1.

Keep the notebook or tablet on the power state. Throughout the update process, you must keep your computer powered on, because if you disconnect the power supply before the update is complete, you may not be able to install the update properly.

Connect to the Internet. It is always best to remain networked until the update is complete. Otherwise, you will need to reconnect to the network later to complete the installation, and the installation time will be extended.

Get the most recent critical updates and critical updates. You may need to install some updates before you can install Windows 8.1. In most cases, the system will automatically install the latest updates using Windows updates. However, if you do not turn on the Automatic Updates feature, you need to manually check for updates, or if you want to see when the latest updates are installed, you can do this from the Windows update.

Temporarily turn off the antivirus program. Some anti-virus software may affect the installation process. After you install Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, remember to reopen your antivirus program.

3. Get FREE Updates

You ready? Now you can download the free update from the Windows store.

Go to the Start screen, and then click or click the Apply store tile.

The Apply store tile on the start screen

In the application store, click or click Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 update. If an update is not displayed on the application store home screen, see why the update is not found in the application store?

Click or click "Download".

The updates will be downloaded and installed in the background, and you can also use your computer to perform other actions. The installer will check to make sure that your computer has enough disk space and check that your applications and devices can be used in conjunction with Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, and that you have all the required updates installed.

In some cases, the installer may find some issues that require your attention before you can continue to install the update. If so, you'll see a message telling you what you need to do.

Attention

If the installation is interrupted for any reason, you can restart the update from the interrupt by returning to the application store and downloading the update again.

4. Reboot

After downloading the update and completing the first stage installation (which may take 15 minutes to a few hours, depending on your system and connection speed), the message will be displayed informing you that you need to restart your computer. will give you 15 minutes to finish what you are working on, save your work and turn off the application, and then restart your computer. You can also restart your computer yourself.

Restart message alert

Important Tips

If you leave the computer table before you reboot, be sure to save your work data and close all desktop applications you are using to ensure that nothing is lost when your computer restarts automatically. Your computer may have to be restarted several times, depending on how your computer is configured and whether you need to install more updates.

When you apply an update, the restart time will be longer, from 20 minutes to approximately one hour. In the meantime, you will not be able to use the computer.

5. Choose your settings

License Terms

After the computer has completed rebooting, the Microsoft software License terms will be displayed. Review these terms and click or click "I accept" to continue. If you do not accept these terms, you will cancel the installation of Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, and your computer will be rolled back to Windows 8 or Windows Rt.

Quick Settings

You will see a list of suggested settings called Quick settings. To accept these settings and continue, click or click Use Quick Settings. You can change any of these settings after you complete the installation later. If you want to change some of these settings immediately, click or click Customize.

Quick settings to display during installation

For more information, click or click "Learn more about quick settings."

Login

Next, you will be prompted to log in.

Log on using a Microsoft account

If you have logged on to Windows 8 or Windows RT using a Microsoft account, the account name will be automatically filled in for you. If you have previously logged on with a local account, you will need to log in with your local account, and then you'll be asked to set up a Microsoft account that you can use to log on to your computer after the update.

If you already have a Microsoft account

Enter the Microsoft account e-mail address (if required) and password.

We will send security code to the alternate email address or phone number that you have set up for this account, and you will need to enter the code to verify whether you are the owner of this account. This will help us protect your account and equipment when you access sensitive information. If you have not yet set up alternate contact information for this account, you will be asked to provide this information immediately.

Attention

If you have more than one Microsoft account, you can get help to determine the e-mail address you want to use for your Microsoft account.

If you have logged on to your computer using a Microsoft account before installing Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, you do not need to enter the security code.

Select Create New account.

Next, you will be asked to select the e-mail address you want to use as your Microsoft account. It can be any e-mail address you use, or it can be an address provided by Microsoft, which is unrestricted. Enter the e-mail address you use most often. We will use this address to set up email and contact information that you use every day in the mail and network applications.

Enter the password you want to use and fill in the rest of the information, including your last name, name, and country or region

Next, you will be asked to provide an alternate e-mail address or phone number so that we can contact you via email, phone or SMS (SMS). This will help us protect your accounts and devices when you use this account to access sensitive information. After entering this information, we will send you a message containing the security code, and you will need to enter the code to verify whether you are the owner of this account.

Always use local accounts

SkyDrive Cloud Storage

If this is your first time using Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 to set up your computer, you will see the new SkyDrive option.

If your other computer is already running Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, and you choose to sync the settings on that computer, the SkyDrive settings will also sync to the computer from your existing computer, and you may not be able to see this screen.

SkyDrive Options During installation

If you click Next on this screen, your computer will use these default SkyDrive settings:

You can save photos taken using this computer to a photo album on that computer, and a smaller copy of each photo will be automatically backed up into the SkyDrive.

When you create a new document, the default save location is SkyDrive. But you can always choose to save individual documents on a local or another drive.

Windows will save the backup copy of your computer settings to SkyDrive. If you need to replace it because of a problem with your computer, you can save your computer settings to the cloud, and then immediately transfer it to your new computer.

You can change any of these settings later in your computer settings. If you want to turn off all these settings immediately, click or click "Close these SkyDrive settings (not recommended)".

Final update

Because Windows is always constantly updated, critical updates may have occurred since Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 were released. After you install Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 for the first time, Windows checks for such critical updates and downloads them automatically if found. Downloading and installing these updates may take several minutes, depending on the update you need. In addition, your computer may need to be restarted one or more times to complete the update.

6. Welcome to use the new Windows

The New Start screen is displayed.

A brand new "start" screen

Most of the content on this screen looks familiar, but if you want to understand the new features and how to do it, check out this "Start" screen page.

When you update to Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, your desktop application will be with you, but you will need to reinstall the Windows App Store application. You can find all the Windows App Store apps you own in the App Store's "Your Apps" section. This section allows you to select applications to be installed on the updated computer and install them immediately.

Install the application from the "Your Application" page in the application store

Reinstall the application from the application store

On the Start screen, click or click the Apply store tile to open the Windows application store.

Swipe or right-click from the top edge of the screen, and then click or click your application.

Select all the applications you want to install, and then click or click Install.

Attention

You can also reinstall the application from the "Start" screen by clicking or clicking the tile.

You do not have to wait for the installation to complete during the installation application. These applications will be installed in the background and you can perform other actions at the same time.