Windows 8.1 Upgrade Process and Overview

Overview

Updating to Windows 8.1 via Windows Store updates your current Windows 8 installation to the same edition of Windows 8.1. Therefore, if you are on Windows 8 Pro with Media Center, the update will result in Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center.

This install path via Windows Store is the only method for updating to Windows 8.1 at no cost.

1. Ensure all important updates have been installed from Windows Update. There are several updates required in order to see the option to install Windows 8.1 in Windows Store.
2. When the computer is restarted after installing all the updates, a system notification offers Windows 8.1.

   

3. This notification provides access to the Windows 8.1 Preview page in the Store, even if you are not signed-in with a Microsoft Account.

   Note: Customers running Windows 8.1 Preview will not automatically see notifications or the option to install Windows 8.1 via Windows Store. These customers must click a link to access a special Windows 8.1 page in the Store directly. Information will be published at release to guide these customers to the specific URL for installing Windows 8.1. You can also open Windows Store from Start to access the Windows 8.1 product description page.

4. Click Download on the Windows 8.1 product description page to begin the update.

   

5. Progress is shown similar to what you see for a Windows Store app. If you select the in-progress Windows 8.1 install, the app bar gives you an option to cancel the installation. During the download there is also a Pause download option. Behind the scenes, this is proceeding like a Windows 8 Electronic Software Distribution (ESD) installation. The main difference is that there is no additional user action needed until after the restart.

Note: Notice that there is no prompt for a product key in the update steps. There is no product key or activation change when you update from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 via Windows Store. This is the only path that provides a no-cost update to Windows 8.1. 

       6. When the first part of the update is complete, you will see a system notification to restart the PC. This includes a timer to restart automatically.

       7. After the restart, typical Windows setup progress screens are shown. You may see additional restarts during this phase.

       8. Next you will see a license agreement to accept. This is the first step of the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) during an update installation.