How to Install Windows 10 from Windows 7

To install Windows 10 from Windows 7, you need a valid Windows 10 license first. With that in hand, download Microsoft’s media creation tool from the Download Windows 10 page, run it, select Upgrade this PC now, choose what to keep, and select Install. Before you start, know that Microsoft no longer supports either Windows 7 or Windows 10, and there is no free upgrade between them.

Applies to: PCs running Windows 7 that are moving to Windows 10 Home or Pro. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 7, 2026.

Read this first: where things stand in 2026

A lot of older advice about this upgrade no longer holds. Here is the current position according to Microsoft:

• Windows 7 support ended on January 14, 2020. It gets no software updates from Microsoft.
• Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft no longer provides free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for it.
• The free upgrade is over. Microsoft states that there currently aren’t free upgrade paths from unsupported versions of Windows to either Windows 10 or Windows 11. A Windows 7 product key is not a Windows 10 license.
• Microsoft’s own recommendation for a Windows 7 PC is to move to a supported release, and for older hardware, to replace the device with one that supports Windows 11.

So installing Windows 10 today moves you from one unsupported system to another. It can still make sense if you already own a Windows 10 license and need the PC for software or hardware that does not work on Windows 7, but it is not a long-term fix. If you go ahead, plan to enroll in Extended Security Updates afterward (covered below).

What you need before you start

• A valid Windows 10 license. This is either a 25-character product key or a digital license, which is a method of activation that doesn’t require you to enter a product key. Microsoft’s download page says the upgrade tool is for people who have a license to install Windows 10. If this PC was upgraded to Windows 10 and activated in the past, and you are reinstalling it, you don’t need to enter a product key; Windows 10 activates later using the digital license.
• Your product key, if you have one. For a boxed copy, the key is on a label or card inside the box. For a digital copy bought from Microsoft’s website, it is in the confirmation email.
• A PC that meets the Windows 10 system requirements: a 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor, 1 GB of RAM for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit, a 32 GB or larger hard disk, a DirectX 9 or later graphics card with a WDDM 1.0 driver, and an 800 x 600 display.
• A backup of your files. Microsoft advises backing up your files before you install or reinstall Windows. Copy your documents, photos and anything else you can’t replace to an external drive or cloud storage.
• An administrator account and a reliable internet connection. You need to be an administrator on the PC to run the tool.
• Windows 10 drivers for your hardware. Check your PC manufacturer’s support site for your exact model. If the manufacturer never released Windows 10 drivers, some parts may not work properly after the upgrade.

Install Windows 10 with the media creation tool

This is the in-place upgrade. It installs Windows 10 over Windows 7 on the same PC and lets you choose what to keep.

1. In Windows 7, open your web browser and go to Microsoft’s Download Windows 10 page.
2. In the installation media section, select Download Now to download the media creation tool, then run it. You need to be an administrator on the PC to run the tool.
3. On the license terms page, read the terms and select Accept.
4. On the What do you want to do? page, select Upgrade this PC now, then select Next. The tool downloads Windows 10 and walks you through setup. All Windows 10 editions are available through the tool except Enterprise.
5. If setup asks for a product key, enter your 25-character Windows 10 key.
6. When Windows 10 is ready to install, you see a recap of what you chose and what will be kept. Select Change what to keep to choose Keep personal files and apps, Keep personal files only, or Nothing.
7. Save and close any open apps and files, then select Install.
8. Wait while Windows 10 installs. This takes some time and the PC restarts several times. Do not turn the PC off.

Alternative: clean install from a USB drive

A clean install erases the drive and starts fresh. Use it when the in-place upgrade fails or when you don’t want to carry anything over from Windows 7. You need a blank USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of space. Anything on that drive is deleted.

1. Download and run the media creation tool as described above, and select Accept on the license terms page.
2. On the What do you want to do? page, select Create installation media for another PC, then select Next.
3. Select the language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) for Windows 10.
4. Select USB flash drive and let the tool build the drive. (The other choice, ISO file, saves a file you can burn to a DVD.)
5. With the USB drive plugged in, restart the PC. If it starts Windows 7 again instead of the installer, restart and press the key that opens the boot menu or changes the boot order. Microsoft notes this is typically F2, F12, Delete, or Esc, pressed immediately after you turn on the PC.
6. On the Install Windows page, select your language, time, and keyboard preferences, then select Next.
7. Select Install Windows and follow the prompts.

Our guide on how to install Windows 10 using a USB drive covers the remaining setup screens in more detail.

Confirm that it worked and that Windows is activated

1. Sign in to Windows 10 and check that your files are where you expect them.
2. Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation. The page shows whether Windows is activated.
3. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install what is offered, including device drivers.

If Windows is not activated, the Activation page has a Change product key option for entering your Windows 10 key and a Troubleshoot option that runs the activation troubleshooter. Microsoft’s activation errors page explains the individual error codes.

Keep Windows 10 patched with Extended Security Updates

Because Windows 10 is out of support, a fresh install does not receive new security fixes unless you enroll in Microsoft’s consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. Microsoft says the program ends on October 12, 2027. The PC must run Windows 10, version 22H2 (Home, Professional, Pro Education, or Workstations edition), and the Microsoft account used to sign in must be an administrator account. Enrollment is offered in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Microsoft lists three ways to enroll: at no additional cost if you sync your PC settings, by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or with a one-time purchase of $30 USD.

See how to enroll in Windows 10 Extended Security Updates for the full steps.

Troubleshooting

Setup asks for a product key and you don’t have one

You need a Windows 10 license to continue properly. A Windows 7 key is not one. Look for a Windows 10 key in the places listed above, or buy a license from Microsoft or an authorized retailer. If a new Windows 10 license is hard to find, that is a sign to consider a Windows 11 PC instead, which is what Microsoft recommends for Windows 7 hardware.

Windows 10 installed but will not activate

Open Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation and select Troubleshoot. A common cause is installing a different edition from the one your license covers, for example Pro when the license is for Home. Microsoft’s guidance in that case is to install the edition that matches your license. If the message says the product key can’t be used to activate Windows, you need a different, valid key.

The tool will not run

Make sure you are signed in to Windows 7 with an administrator account, since the tool requires administrator rights. Also check that the PC has a working internet connection, because the tool downloads Windows 10 as it runs. If you would rather save the download as an ISO file first, see how to download Windows 10 on a laptop.

The PC does not meet the requirements

If the PC falls short on memory or disk space, Windows 10 is not a good fit for it. Free up or add storage if that is the only gap; otherwise replacing the PC is the more practical route.

The PC keeps starting Windows 7 instead of the USB installer

The PC is not starting from the USB drive. Restart it and press the boot menu key for your model (typically F2, F12, Delete, or Esc) right after powering on, then choose the USB drive. Your PC manufacturer’s support site lists the exact key.

It is a work or school PC

Talk to your IT department before installing anything. Organizations manage their own licenses and may not allow you to change the operating system.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 for free?

No. Microsoft states that there currently aren’t free upgrade paths from unsupported versions of Windows to Windows 10 or Windows 11. You need a valid Windows 10 license.

Will my Windows 7 product key activate Windows 10?

Don’t count on it. The free upgrade offer that allowed this has ended. The exception is a PC that was already upgraded to Windows 10 and activated in the past: Microsoft says that when you reinstall Windows 10 on such a PC, you don’t need to enter a product key because it activates with its digital license.

Will I keep my files and programs?

The upgrade tool offers Keep personal files and apps, Keep personal files only, and Nothing under Change what to keep. Back up regardless, since an upgrade can fail partway through. A clean install from USB keeps nothing.

Is Windows 10 safe to use in 2026?

Without Extended Security Updates, it no longer receives security fixes, so it becomes riskier over time. With ESU, it receives security updates until October 12, 2027.

Can I go straight from Windows 7 to Windows 11?

Microsoft says there is no free upgrade path from Windows 7 to Windows 11 either. Its recommendation for older PCs is to replace the device with one that supports Windows 11. A PC that is already running Windows 10 can upgrade to Windows 11 for free if it meets the Windows 11 requirements.

Should I choose 32-bit or 64-bit?

This only comes up when you create installation media. Match your processor: a 64-bit processor can run 64-bit Windows 10, which needs at least 2 GB of RAM, while 32-bit needs at least 1 GB.

Once Windows 10 is installed and activated, enroll in Extended Security Updates right away, and start planning the move to a PC that runs Windows 11 before that coverage ends.