Can I still use Windows 8.1 after 2023?

Will my Windows 8.1 computer stop working? No. Support for Windows 8.1 is discontinued, but the software will continue to function. However, after January 10, 2023, your computer running Windows 8.1 will no longer receive security updates.

Should I stay with Windows 8.1 or upgrade to 10?

Microsoft is ending extended support for Windows 8.1 on January 10, 2023. That means those of you still running the old operating system after that time will no longer be able to get security fixes, technical support, and other types of updates or assistance. For that, you will need to install Windows 10 or 11.

Can I upgrade my Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 for free?

To upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, open Media Creation Tool, select “Upgrade this PC now,” and click Install. Yes, you can still upgrade for free since the Windows 8.1 product key will activate Windows 10. Although files and apps will be preserved, you still want to create a backup of your computer.

How can I upgrade my Windows 8.1 to 11 for free?

Install Windows 11

To check if Windows 11 is ready for your device, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. If the upgrade is available for your device and you want to proceed, download and install it.

What happens when Windows 8.1 license expires?

What Will Happen If Your Windows License Has Expired on Windows 8.1 PC? The basic functions can work as normal after Windows 8.1 license is expired. However, you won't be able to customize the settings on your PC. The desktop background will turn to black.

Will Windows 8.1 apps still work after January 10, 2023?

What can I do if my Windows license will expire soon?

What happens if I let my Windows license expire?

Once the license expires, Windows will reboot automatically about every three hours and anything you're working on when it reboots will be lost. After two weeks longer, Windows will stop booting at all. AT that point, you'll need to purchase another license and reinstall Windows.

How long does it take to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10?

The process will take about 2 hours, depending on the speed of the internet connection. After Windows 10 is downloaded, click Start the upgrade now in the Windows Update window to begin installation.

Is Windows 11 upgrade actually free?

How much does it cost to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11? It's free. But only Windows 10 PCs that are running the most current version of Windows 10 and meet the minimum hardware specifications will be able to upgrade. You can check to see if you have the latest updates for Windows 10 in Settings/Windows Update.

How much does a Windows 11 cost?

Before anything else, the major difference between Windows 11 Home and Pro is pricing. If you want to buy a license by itself, the Windows 11 Home edition will cost $139.99, while Pro will cost $199.99. However, most laptops will just come with either one preinstalled.

Is Windows 8.1 still supported?

As a reminder, Windows 8.1 will reach the end of support on January 10, 2023. After this date, this product will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, bug fixes, technical support, or online technical content updates. This includes the following editions of Windows 8.1: Enterprise.

Why does Windows 8.1 upgrade fail to 10?

This error might mean that your PC doesn't have the required updates installed. Check to make sure that all important updates are installed on your PC before you try upgrading. This likely indicates that your PC doesn't have enough space available to install the upgrade.

Is there a cost to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 11?

Windows 11 is available as a free upgrade for Windows 10 users, but you may still be able to activate it with a Windows 8.1 product key. Also, you will need to create a full backup in case something happens and you need to roll back or recover files for any reason.

Is Windows 8.1 too old?

Support for Windows 8.1 ends January 10, 2023.

Which is faster Windows 7 or 8.1 or 10?

At the end we concluded that Windows 8 is faster than Windows 7 in some aspects such as startup time, shut down time, wake up from sleep, multimedia performance, web browsers performance, transferring large file and Microsoft excel performance but it is slower in 3D graphic performance and high resolution gaming ...

Is Windows 10 faster than Windows 8.1 on older computers?

In most cases, the tests show that there is no obvious difference in performance between Windows 8.1 and 10. Sometimes Windows 10 is a bit faster and sometimes it is a bit slower. That is, you don't worry about a drop in performance if you want to upgrade to Windows 10. Up to now, Windows 10 always works pretty well.

Can I still use Windows 10 after 2025?

Windows 10, Windows 11 -- as long as you're paying Microsoft for subscriptions, it's all the same. Though Microsoft released the new Windows 11 2022 Update to consumers today, there's no obligation to upgrade. Microsoft will continue to support Windows 10 through October 2025, company executives said.

What happens if you never upgrade to Windows 11?

What if I Keep Using Windows 10 Instead of Upgrading My System to Windows 11? Though the support for Windows 10 will continue until October 2025, time flies really fast. Not only your computer will stay outdated and make your system unstable, it might also put your data at risk.

Which is better Windows 10 or 11?

Windows 11 is snappier than Windows 10, but the differences are small in real-world use. The various optimizations in Windows 11 help it to run faster on weaker laptops, but you're not giving up a ton of performance with Windows 10.

How much does it cost to upgrade Windows 8.1 to Windows 10?

It turns out there are several methods of upgrading from older versions of Windows (Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1) to Windows 10 Home without paying the $139 fee for the latest operating system. So let's give you the lowdown on how to update to Windows 10 for free.

Can I go straight from Windows 8 to Windows 10?

Windows 8.0: You can't upgrade directly from Windows 8.0 to Windows 10. To upgrade from Windows 8.0, you must first install the Windows 8.1 update.

How do I activate my Windows license for free?

After you enter into Windows 10 Command Prompt, you can copy and paste this command line: slmgr.vbs /upk, in the Command Prompt window. Hit Enter to execute the command. Step 3. Next you can copy and paste this command line and hit Enter to install the Windows 10 product key: slmgr /ipk <Windows 10 activation key>.

How much is Windows 10 license?

A Windows 10 Home download license costs $139, while Windows 10 Pro costs $199.99. However, visiting either purchase page reveals a note stating, "January 31, 2023 will be the last day this Windows 10 download is offered for sale.

How many times can you use a Windows license?

You can use it as many times as you want to. However there is an important point: Do you have a retail license or an OEM license? If it's a retail license you can move it from computer to computer as many times as you want to, as long as you don't have it installed on two computers at once.

What will happen if Windows is not activated?

If you don't activate Windows 10, some features will be disabled upon the expiry of the trial period. For instance, you won't be able to customize your PC or laptop, meaning features like themes, lock screen, colors, fonts, and taskbar will return to their default settings (if you customized them).