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Update 7/nineteen/2021: Windows 8.one is long outdated, but technically supported through 2023. If you demand to download an ISO to reinstall the full version of the operating system, you lot can download ane from Microsoft here.

If you are nevertheless using Microsoft Windows 8.1, nosotros recommend you at least brainstorm considering what Os you volition use in the future. Information technology's mid-2021 and Win viii.1 volition shuffle off the mortal coil in January 2023. You can stillqualify for a free upgrade to Windows 10 if you lot own a valid Windows 8.1 license, despite the fact that Microsoft formally ended its upgrade program five years ago. Additionally, Windows x has the same organization requirements every bit Windows 8.one, so if you tin can run the latter, you lot can too run the onetime.

Fifty-fifty though Windows 11 has been appear, upgrading to Windows 10 has several advantages. First, Windows eleven may not support your hardware if it'due south old enough to notwithstanding be running Windows 8 or Windows eight.1. Windows 10, on the other hand, was compatible with virtually everything Windows 8.one would run on. Windows 10 volition also be supported through 2025, which gives you lot an actress two full years of back up earlier needing to figure out an alternative solution.

If you are somehow withal stuck on Windows eight.0 and do non want to go to the hassle of a full OS swap, we recommend running Windows Update immediately and downloading all bachelor patches for your system, including the Windows eight.ane update, which will likely exist offered to you past default. If you desire to download just the Windows 8.1 update files, you can practise so here.

Original story beneath, from 2013:

Windows 8.ane has been released. If you're using Windows 8, upgrading to Windows 8.1 is both piece of cake and costless. If you're using another operating system (Windows vii, Windows XP, OS X), you can either purchase a boxed version ($120 for normal, $200 for Windows eight.i Pro), or opt for one of the free methods listed below. To download and install Windows 8.one for free, follow the guide below.

How to download Windows 8.1 for free

Windows 8.1 boxIf you lot don't want to wait for October 17 or 18, at that place are two options for downloading Windows 8.1: You lot can obtain a copy (and a license key) from a friend/colleague with an MSDN, TechNet, or DreamSpark (educatee) subscription, or you can download a Windows 8.1 RTM ISO from your favorite file-sharing website (The Pirate Bay, Mega, etc.)

While we're non going to write a guide on how to obtain Windows 8.1 RTM from non-official sources, nosotros will at to the lowest degree tell you to check the SHA-1 hash of the ISO that you download to make sure that it's legitimate. If you hit up the MSDN Subscriber Downloads folio, and then click Details under the version that you've obtained from elsewhere, you'll notice the SHA-i hash. If you then use File Checksum Integrity Verifier (FCIV) on the ISO, the hash should match. If it doesn't, assume the ISO has been compromised and download some other. (But do make sure that you lot're checking the right SHA-1 hash on the MSDN website; your ISO might exist mislabeled).

The other easier, and completely legal, option is to download the Windows 8.1 Preview from Microsoft. It's not as snappy every bit the final (RTM/GA) build, though, and has quite a few bugs/missing features. Comport in listen that if you get down this road, upgrading to a existent version of Windows viii.1 will crave a few more steps (discussed in the next section).

How to install Windows 8.1 for gratuitous

Once you have the Windows 8.one ISO on your hard drive, the installation procedure is painless. Before y'all begin, y'all should consider bankroll up your important files and documents, but information technology's not actually necessary. You should as well ensure that you have plenty of complimentary hard bulldoze space (20GB+).

Windows 8.1 setup processIf y'all're already running Windows 8 and yous downloaded the RTM ISO from somewhere other than the Windows Store, you can install Windows viii.1 past mounting the downloaded ISO in Explorer by double-clicking it, and and then running the installer. If you're on Windows 7, XP, or (anoint your soul) Vista, yous'll need to burn the ISO to a USB pollex drive or DVD, or mount the ISO using a third-political party virtual bulldoze tool, like Magic ISO.

If you lot already accept Windows 8, and you waited for the official release appointment, installing Windows 8.1 is as simple equally visiting the Windows Store and downloading the costless update.

In both these cases, the upgrade process should be very smooth, with your apps and settings fully preserved. If y'all upgrade from Windows 8.1 Preview, nevertheless, you will lose your installed apps, unless you first run a cversion.ini removal utility.

In one case y'all've installed Windows viii.1, y'all should bank check out our extensive collection of Windows 8.1 tips and tricks, and be certain to check our Windows 8.1 review and hands-on impressions to ensure that you're making the most of all the new features.

Now Read:

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  • Microsoft Working to Sunset Windows Command Panel

Sebastian Anthony wrote the original version of this article. It has since been updated with new data.