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Update 7/nineteen/2021: Windows 8.1 is long outdated, merely technically supported through 2023. If you lot need to download an ISO to reinstall the full version of the operating system, you can download one from Microsoft here.

If you are still using Microsoft Windows 8.1, we recommend you at least brainstorm because what Os you will utilise in the future. Information technology's mid-2021 and Win 8.1 will shuffle off the mortal ringlet in January 2023. Yous can stillqualify for a free upgrade to Windows x if you own a valid Windows 8.ane license, despite the fact that Microsoft formally ended its upgrade programme five years ago. Additionally, Windows 10 has the aforementioned organisation requirements as Windows 8.1, so if you can run the latter, you can also run the former.

Fifty-fifty though Windows eleven has been appear, upgrading to Windows ten has several advantages. Starting time, Windows 11 may non back up your hardware if it'due south erstwhile plenty to still be running Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. Windows 10, on the other hand, was uniform with virtually everything Windows 8.1 would run on. Windows x will also be supported through 2025, which gives you an actress two full years of support before needing to figure out an culling solution.

If you are somehow withal stuck on Windows 8.0 and do not want to go to the hassle of a full OS swap, nosotros recommend running Windows Update immediately and downloading all bachelor patches for your system, including the Windows eight.ane update, which will likely be offered to you by default. If you want to download just the Windows 8.1 update files, you can do and so here.

Original story below, from 2013:

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

How to download Windows 8.i for free

Windows 8.1 boxIf y'all don't want to wait for October 17 or eighteen, in that location are ii options for downloading Windows 8.i: You lot can obtain a copy (and a license key) from a friend/colleague with an MSDN, TechNet, or DreamSpark (student) 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 not going to write a guide on how to obtain Windows 8.i RTM from non-official sources, we volition at least tell you to check the SHA-ane hash of the ISO that yous download to brand sure that information technology's legitimate. If you hit up the MSDN Subscriber Downloads folio, and then click Details under the version that yous've obtained from elsewhere, yous'll find the SHA-1 hash. If you then utilise File Checksum Integrity Verifier (FCIV) on the ISO, the hash should lucifer. If it doesn't, assume the ISO has been compromised and download some other. (But do brand certain that y'all're checking the right SHA-i hash on the MSDN website; your ISO might be mislabeled).

The other easier, and completely legal, option is to download the Windows 8.i Preview from Microsoft. It's not as snappy every bit the final (RTM/GA) build, though, and has quite a few bugs/missing features. Behave in heed that if you go downwards this road, upgrading to a existent version of Windows eight.1 will require a few more steps (discussed in the adjacent section).

How to install Windows viii.i for free

Once you take the Windows eight.ane ISO on your hard drive, the installation process is painless. Before you brainstorm, you should consider backing up your important files and documents, but information technology's non actually necessary. You should also ensure that you have plenty of free difficult drive space (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, you tin install Windows 8.1 past mounting the downloaded ISO in Explorer by double-clicking it, and and so running the installer. If you're on Windows 7, XP, or (bless your soul) Vista, you'll demand to burn down the ISO to a USB thumb drive or DVD, or mountain the ISO using a third-party virtual drive tool, like Magic ISO.

If you already accept Windows 8, and y'all waited for the official release appointment, installing Windows 8.1 is equally uncomplicated as visiting the Windows Store and downloading the free update.

In both these cases, the upgrade process should exist very smooth, with your apps and settings fully preserved. If you upgrade from Windows eight.1 Preview, however, you volition lose your installed apps, unless y'all first run a cversion.ini removal utility.

In one case you've installed Windows 8.1, yous should cheque out our extensive collection of Windows 8.1 tips and tricks, and be certain to check our Windows eight.1 review and easily-on impressions to ensure that you're making the nigh of all the new features.

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