How to install or upgrade Windows using a product key

Upgrading between editions of Windows 10 is as simple as entering a product key. The following table shows the upgrade paths between different editions of Windows 10.

To upgrade the edition of Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Make sure Windows 10 is on the latest version and up to date. To update Windows 10 to the latest version and make sure it's up to date:

   • Right-click on the Start menu and select Settings > Windows Update.
     
     Or

   • Select the following Windows Update shortcut:
     
     Windows Update

2. In the Windows Update window that opens, select the Check for updates button.

3. Once Windows 10 is up to date:

   • Right-click on the Start menu and select Settings > Updates & Security > Activation.
     
     Or

   • Select the following Activation shortcut:
     
     Activation

4. When the Activation windows that opens, under Upgrade your edition of Windows or Update product key, select Change product key.

5. If the User Account Control window appears, select the Yes button. If the User Account Control window asks for an admin user name and password, enter a user name and password of an account that has administrator privileges. Once the user name and password are entered, select the Yes button.

6. When the Enter a product key window opens, in the Product key text box enter the product key for the upgraded edition of Windows 10 and then select the Next button.

7. If the key is valid, the Upgrade your edition of Windows window or Activate Windows window appears. Select the Start or Active button to being the Windows 10 edition upgrade.

To install Windows 10 on a device with no operating system, follow these steps:

1. On a device that already has Windows installed, follow the instructions in the article Create installation media for Windows to create Windows 10 bootable installation media.

2. On the device that has no operating system installed, attach the bootable installation media created in the previous step and then turn on the device.

3. Windows Setup begins. When prompted, enter the Windows 10 product key. Setup selects the correct edition to install based on the product key entered.

To upgrade to Windows 10 on a device running a previous version of Windows, follow these steps:

1. Make sure the previous version of Windows is on the latest version and up to date. For example, to update Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to the latest version and make sure it's up to date:

   1. Open Control Panel:

      • For Windows 8.1, right-click on the Start menu and then select Control Panel.

      • For Windows 7, select the Start menu and then select Control Panel.

   2. When the Control Panel window opens, enter Windows Update in the Search Control Panel text box in the top right corner of the window.

   3. Under Windows Update, select Check for updates.

2. Once the previous version of Windows is up to date, follow the instructions in the article Create installation media for Windows to create Windows 10 installation media on a USB flash drive.

3. Make sure the USB flash drive created in the previous step is attached to the device being upgraded to Windows 10.

4. A pop-up notification window should appear asking what to do with the inserted media. Select Run setup.exe.

   • If a pop-up notification doesn't appear in Windows 8.1:

     1. Right-click the Start menu and then select File Explorer.

     2. When File Explorer opens, in the left-hand side navigation bar, select This PC.

     3. Under Devices and drives, right-click on the Windows 10 installation media and select Install or run program from your media.

   • If a pop-up notification doesn't appear in Windows 7:

     1. Right-click the Start menu and then select Open Windows Explorer.

     2. When Windows Explorer opens, in the left-hand side navigation bar, select Computer.

     3. Under Devices with Removable Storage, right-click on the Windows 10 installation media and select Install or run program from your media.

5. If the User Account Control window appears, select the Yes button. If the User Account Control window asks for an admin user name and password, enter a user name and password of an account that has administrator privileges. Once the user name and password are entered, select the Yes button.

6. The Windows 10 Setup window opens. Step through the Windows 10 Setup wizard until it reaches the Product key page.

7. In the Product key page, enter the product key for Windows 10 in the Enter Product key text box.

8. Continue through the rest of the Windows 10 Setup wizard.

9. Windows is upgraded to Windows 10 including the edition specified by the product key.