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Update seven/19/2021: Windows 8.1 is long outdated, merely technically supported through 2023. If you need to download an ISO to reinstall the full version of the operating system, you tin download one from Microsoft here.

If y'all are nonetheless using Microsoft Windows 8.1, nosotros recommend you at least begin because what OS yous will use in the future. It'south mid-2021 and Win eight.i will shuffle off the mortal coil in January 2023. Y'all tin can all the sameauthorize for a free upgrade to Windows 10 if you own a valid Windows 8.ane license, despite the fact that Microsoft formally ended its upgrade program v years agone. Additionally, Windows 10 has the same system requirements every bit Windows 8.i, so if you can run the latter, yous can also run the former.

Even though Windows 11 has been announced, upgrading to Windows 10 has several advantages. First, Windows eleven may not support your hardware if it's former enough to notwithstanding exist running Windows eight or Windows 8.1. Windows ten, on the other hand, was compatible with virtually everything Windows 8.1 would run on. Windows 10 will likewise be supported through 2025, which gives you an actress two full years of support before needing to effigy out an culling solution.

If you are somehow nevertheless stuck on Windows 8.0 and exercise not want to go to the hassle of a full Bone swap, we recommend running Windows Update immediately and downloading all bachelor patches for your organization, including the Windows 8.1 update, which will probable be offered to y'all past default. If you want to download only the Windows 8.1 update files, you can do so here.

Original story below, from 2013:

Windows 8.1 has been released. If you're using Windows eight, upgrading to Windows eight.1 is both easy and costless. If you're using another operating system (Windows 7, Windows XP, Os Ten), you can either buy a boxed version ($120 for normal, $200 for Windows 8.1 Pro), or opt for one of the free methods listed below. To download and install Windows viii.ane for free, follow the guide beneath.

How to download Windows 8.one for free

Windows 8.1 boxIf you don't want to wait for October 17 or 18, at that place are 2 options for downloading Windows eight.ane: Yous tin can obtain a copy (and a license primal) from a friend/colleague with an MSDN, TechNet, or DreamSpark (student) subscription, or you tin download a Windows 8.1 RTM ISO from your favorite file-sharing website (The Pirate Bay, Mega, etc.)

While we're not going to write a guide on how to obtain Windows 8.1 RTM from non-official sources, nosotros volition at least tell you to check the SHA-1 hash of the ISO that y'all download to make sure that it'south legitimate. If you hit up the MSDN Subscriber Downloads page, so click Details under the version that you've obtained from elsewhere, you'll notice the SHA-i hash. If you then utilize File Checksum Integrity Verifier (FCIV) on the ISO, the hash should match. If information technology doesn't, assume the ISO has been compromised and download some other. (Only do brand sure that you're checking the correct SHA-1 hash on the MSDN website; your ISO might be mislabeled).

The other easier, and completely legal, option is to download the Windows 8.one Preview from Microsoft. It'south not every bit snappy equally the last (RTM/GA) build, though, and has quite a few bugs/missing features. Bear in mind that if yous go downwards this road, upgrading to a existent version of Windows eight.1 will crave a few more steps (discussed in the side by side section).

How to install Windows 8.ane for gratis

One time you have the Windows eight.1 ISO on your hard drive, the installation process is painless. Earlier you begin, you should consider backing up your important files and documents, but information technology'south not actually necessary. You should also ensure that you have enough of complimentary difficult drive infinite (20GB+).

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

If y'all already have Windows eight, and you waited for the official release date, installing Windows eight.1 is as simple as visiting the Windows Store and downloading the complimentary update.

In both these cases, the upgrade procedure should be very smooth, with your apps and settings fully preserved. If you upgrade from Windows viii.1 Preview, even so, you will lose your installed apps, unless you first run a cversion.ini removal utility.

Once you've installed Windows eight.1, you should check out our extensive collection of Windows 8.1 tips and tricks, and be sure to bank check our Windows viii.ane review and hands-on impressions to ensure that yous're making the most of all the new features.

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