How to Fix Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant Errors Easily
Microsoft provides users two ways to upgrade Windows 10; Windows Updates and the Window 10 Upgrade Assistant app.
Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant
The Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant app is a stand-alone app that users can download from the official Microsoft website. It does two things; checks the system for compatibility issues, and downloads and installs the next version of Windows 10. If you don’t want to wait for the update to become available through Windows Updates, you can normally force the update with the Upgrade Assistant.
The Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant has to connect to Microsoft’s servers in order to download the next version of the OS. As such, during the download and installation process, it can run into problems.
Fix Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant errors
If you’re having trouble running the Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant app, try the following first.
- Quit the app. Restart the system, and run the app again.
- Delete the app and download it again.
- Make sure you have at least 20GB of free space on your Windows drive.
- Run through our checklist to make sure your system is ready to upgrade.
- Wait a day or two to upgrade. Microsoft’s servers may be under too much load from too many people trying to upgrade at once.
If you’re still unable to run the app, or it stops mid-way, try the fixes below.
Resolve compatibility issues
The Upgrade Assistant checks your system for compatibility issues. If you have hardware that will no longer get driver updates, outdated drivers, or apps that can interfere or block the upgrade, get rid of them.
If there are compatibility issues you cannot resolve e.g., legacy hardware, you can force the upgrade with the media creation tool.
Compatibility issues will effectively block the update.
Use the Media Creation tool
The Media Creation tool can also be used to upgrade to the next version of Windows 10 and it does not run a compatibility check.
- Download the Media Creation Tool (make sure it has been updated for the next release).
- Run the tool and select your current Windows 10 edition e.g. Home 64-bit.
- Burn the ISO to a USB.
- Once the USB has been created, open it and run the Setup.exe file inside it.
- Windows 10 will perform an in-place upgrade.
Wait for the update
If you’re unable to use the Upgrade Assistant tool and the Media Creation tool hasn’t been updated, you can wait for the update to roll out via Windows Update. Normally, an update rolls out to all users after a month so the wait isn’t that long.
Conclusion
The Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant was initially meant for users who were upgrading to Windows 10 from Windows 7. The app hasn’t been discontinued but really isn’t needed given the Media Creation Tool works just as well.
