How to Upgrade From Windows 7 to Windows 10: 6 Proven Steps

Written by: Kymakers Support Team · Reviewed by: Kymakers Technical Team
Last updated: July 2026 · Applies to: Windows 7 (Home, Pro, Ultimate) → Windows 10
Difficulty: Intermediate · Estimated time: 2–4 hours

Here’s how to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 in 2026, and the honest version of what that involves: back up your files, check whether your PC can run Windows 11 instead, create Windows 10 installation media, and perform a clean install. The old “just enter your Windows 7 key” route no longer works — Microsoft closed that path in September 2023.

Two things you need to know before you start, because they change how to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 entirely. This guide covers both, then walks through the six steps that actually work.

⚠️ Read this first — two hard truths

1. The free upgrade is genuinely closed. Microsoft permanently removed the Windows 7/8 upgrade path in September 2023, and the activation servers no longer accept Windows 7 keys for Windows 10. The exception: if you already activated Windows 10 on this exact PC before then, a digital licence is stored against your hardware and will reactivate automatically.

2. Windows 10 is also out of support. It reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10 today moves you from one unsupported system to another. That can still be the right call for old hardware — but check Step 1 before committing.

Table of Contents

1. Step 1: Check whether Windows 11 is possible first
2. Step 2: Confirm your licence situation
3. Step 3: Back up everything
4. Step 4: Create Windows 10 installation media
5. Step 5: Perform a clean install
6. Step 6: Activate and set up
7. What about Extended Security Updates?
8. FAQ

Step 1: Check Whether Windows 11 Is Possible First

Before working out how to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10, check whether you can skip straight to Windows 11 — because that’s the only version still receiving standard security updates.

Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, UEFI firmware, a supported 64-bit CPU, 4GB RAM, and 64GB storage. The honest reality: most genuine Windows 7-era hardware (2009–2015) fails the CPU requirement, and often the TPM one too.

To check: download Microsoft’s PC Health Check tool, or look up your CPU model against Microsoft’s supported processor list. If your machine passes, install Windows 11 instead — same effort, supported system. If it fails, Windows 10 is your realistic option, and the rest of this guide applies.

Step 2: Confirm Your Licence Before You Upgrade From Windows 7 to Windows 10

This determines whether you need to buy anything, and it’s the step most guides get wrong now.

If this PC ever ran an activated Windows 10 (you upgraded before September 2023, even if you later rolled back to Windows 7), a digital licence is tied to the motherboard. Choose “I don’t have a product key” during installation, and it activates automatically once online. You pay nothing.

If it never ran activated Windows 10, your Windows 7 key won’t work. Microsoft’s own guidance is direct on this: the upgrade path was permanently removed, and Windows 7 keys are no longer accepted for Windows 10 activation. You’ll need a Windows 10 licence.

Check before you buy: if the PC ran Windows 10 at any point, try the free route first. Don’t spend money you don’t need to.

Step 3: Back Up Everything

Non-negotiable. The recommended route for how to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 is a clean install, which erases the drive.

Back up to an external drive or cloud storage:

• Documents, photos, videos, downloads, desktop
• Browser bookmarks and saved passwords
• Email data files if you use a desktop client (Outlook .pst files live in your user folder)
• Product keys and licences for software you’ll reinstall
• Anything in non-obvious locations — old programs often store data outside your user folder

Before you upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10, also list your installed programs and find their installers or licence details. Windows 7-era software may need reinstalling from scratch, and some won’t have Windows 10 versions available.

Step 4: Create the Media to Upgrade From Windows 7 to Windows 10

You’ll need a USB drive of at least 8GB (its contents will be erased) and a working PC with internet access.

1. Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s official download page. Only use Microsoft’s site — third-party “Windows 10 download” sites are a common source of tampered installers.
2. Run the tool and choose Create installation media for another PC.
3. Select your language, Windows 10, and architecture (64-bit for almost all machines; choose 32-bit only for genuinely ancient hardware).
4. Choose USB flash drive and let it download and write. This takes 30–60 minutes depending on your connection.

Our guide to creating a bootable USB flash drive covers this in more detail if you hit problems.

Step 5: How to Upgrade From Windows 7 to Windows 10 With a Clean Install

A direct in-place upgrade from Windows 7 is technically possible on some systems but frequently fails or produces an unstable result on hardware this old. A clean install is the reliable answer to how to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10.

1. Insert the USB drive and restart the PC.
2. Press the boot menu key as it starts — usually F12, F2, Esc, or Del depending on the manufacturer. Select the USB drive.
3. When Windows Setup loads, choose your language and click Install now.
4. At the product key screen: enter your key, or choose I don’t have a product key if you’re relying on a digital licence (Step 2).
5. Select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) — not Upgrade.
6. Delete the existing partitions on the target drive, select the unallocated space, and click Next.
7. Let it install. The PC restarts several times — don’t interrupt it.

If the PC won’t boot from USB, you may need to enable USB boot or disable Secure Boot in BIOS. Our guide on no operating system installed covers boot troubleshooting.

Step 6: Activate and Set Up

Once Windows 10 is installed:

1. Connect to the internet. If a digital licence exists for this hardware, activation happens automatically within minutes.
2. Check activation: Settings → Update & Security → Activation. You want “Windows is activated.”
3. If it isn’t activated, enter your Windows 10 product key there via Change product key. Our how to activate Windows 10 guide covers errors.
4. Install all Windows updates — there will be many. Run it repeatedly until no more appear.
5. Install drivers. Windows 10 finds most automatically, but check your manufacturer’s support site for chipset, graphics, and network drivers for your model.
6. Restore your files and reinstall your programs.

What About Extended Security Updates?

Since Windows 10 reached end of support in October 2025, its Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme is worth knowing about. ESU provides security patches beyond the end-of-support date for eligible devices, for a limited period.

If you’re moving to Windows 10 on hardware that can’t run Windows 11, look into whether ESU is available for your situation — it’s the difference between an unpatched system and a patched one. Check Microsoft’s current ESU documentation, as terms and eligibility change.

Be realistic about the timeline either way: Windows 10 on old hardware is a bridge, not a destination. Plan for eventual hardware replacement rather than assuming this setup lasts indefinitely.

FAQ About How to Upgrade From Windows 7 to Windows 10

Can I still upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 for free?
Not with a Windows 7 key. Microsoft permanently removed that upgrade path in September 2023, and the activation servers no longer accept Windows 7 keys. The exception is a PC that already ran activated Windows 10 — its digital licence is stored against the hardware and reactivates free.

Will my Windows 7 product key activate Windows 10?
No, not since Microsoft closed the path in September 2023. If your PC never had activated Windows 10 on it, you need a Windows 10 licence.

Should I upgrade to Windows 10 or Windows 11?
Windows 11 if your hardware supports it — it’s the only version still getting standard security updates. Check TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and CPU compatibility first. Most Windows 7-era hardware fails these, which is when Windows 10 becomes the realistic choice.

Can I upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 in place, or do I need a clean install?
A clean install is strongly recommended. In-place upgrades from Windows 7 often fail or leave an unstable system on hardware that old. Back up first — a clean install erases the drive.

Will my old programs still work on Windows 10?
Many will, but not all. Software from the Windows 7 era may lack Windows 10 versions or drivers. Check compatibility for anything critical before you commit to the upgrade.

Is it worth learning how to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 in 2026?
Yes — Windows 7 has had no security updates since January 2020, which is a genuine risk on any internet-connected machine. Just go to Windows 11 if the hardware allows, and treat Windows 10 as the fallback for older PCs.

Knowing how to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 is mostly about the licence question, since the free path closed in 2023. If your PC never ran activated Windows 10, you’ll need a genuine licence — Kymakers supplies Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Home keys with instant delivery and activation support. If your hardware passes the Windows 11 check in Step 1, Windows 11 Pro is the supported choice and the better long-term buy.

Check Windows 11 compatibility first. Check whether you already have a digital licence second. Back up, clean install, and only buy a key if you actually need one.

Official reference: Download Windows 10 — Microsoft