The Fall Creators Update, the next big upgrade of Windows 10, will begin rolling out to PCs from October 17, but it could be months before it arrives on your machine.

If you don’t want to wait while Microsoft gradually rolls out the upgrade, it’s already possible to get your hands on the Fall Creators Update. And if you’re uncertain about whether you want the Fall Creators Update, check out our comprehensive guide.

Getting the update before the rollout begins

Ahead of the official launch date next Tuesday, the main way to get the Fall Creators Update is to join Microsoft’s program for testing early builds of Windows 10, known as the Windows Insider program.

Please note: the downside to being part of the Microsoft’s Windows Insider program is that Microsoft will push early application updates and driver updates to your computer, so you may experience more instability than running a regular build of Windows, although the risk is minimized by choosing ‘Release Preview’ in step 8 below. Also, be aware that Microsoft will collect more information about how you use your PC.

1. If you don’t have a Microsoft account, you first need to create one by following this link. If you do have an account you can skip to step 3.
2. If your copy of Windows 10 isn’t linked to a Microsoft account, go to Settings > Accounts > Your Info (probably selected by default) and click on ‘Sign in with a Microsoft account instead’. Now enter the details for your Microsoft account.
3. Next, to enable your computer to receive Insider builds, go to Settings > Update & security and click on ‘Windows Insider program’ and then ‘Get Started’, as shown below.
   

   

4. Click on the plus sign next to ‘Link an account’, then select your Microsoft account and hit ‘Continue’.
   

   

5. Under the banner titled ‘Let’s be clear’, hit the ‘Confirm’ button.
6. Next hit the ‘Restart Now’ button.
7. Once the machine has rebooted, click on Settings > Update & security > Windows Insider Program.
8. Under the heading ‘What pace do you want to get new builds?’ select ‘Release Preview’ from the dropdown menu.
   

   

9. Click on ‘Windows Update’ in the side menu and then the ‘Check for updates’ button. It may take several hours or longer before the latest build becomes available.

SEE: Toolkit: 21 useful Active Directory scripts for Windows (Tech Pro Research)

How to check you have the Fall Creators Update

To check you’ve upgraded to the Fall Creators Update after completing one of these methods, go to Settings > System > About and check the number next to ‘OS Build’, if it’s 16299.15 then you’re running the Fall Creators Update.

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