Download links
Download Windows 10 Home

WINDOWS VERSION

Make sure your Microsoft Windows version matches the Microsoft Windows version of the key.

CHECK CONNECTION

Verify that you have a stable Internet connection during installation. Please follow these steps for a successful activation.

ONLINE ACTIVATION

If you already have Microsoft Windows 10 Home installed, try online activation 2–3 times (if successful, ignore the rest).

After installing the operating system, right-click on This PC, select Properties, then click Activate Windows and enter the product key provided.

With the following installation instructions, you can completely install or reinstall your system with Windows 10 Home .
It does not matter whether there is already an operating system on your hard drive or not.

You will need:

  • A bootable USB stick with the Windows 10 ISO.
  • Your Windows 10 Home product key.

If you have not yet created the bootable USB stick, please follow our separate guide:
“Create a bootable USB stick for Windows 10”.

Step-by-step guide

1. Open the boot menu

After you have created the bootable USB, restart the PC.
Right at the beginning you will see the manufacturer’s boot or logo screen.
Press the key for the boot menu (varies by manufacturer), for example:

  • Acer: F12, ALT + F2
  • Asus: ESC, F8
  • ASRock: F11
  • Dell: F12
  • Gigabyte: F12
  • HP: ESC, F9
  • Lenovo: F8, F10, F12, Fn + F11
  • MSI: F11
  • Samsung: F12
  • Sony: ESC, F11
  • Toshiba: F12

activation.1

2. Select the USB stick as boot device

In the boot menu, change the boot order so that the PC starts from the USB stick.
Select your USB drive and confirm (usually with Enter).

activation.3

3. “Press any key to boot from USB”

The PC now starts from the USB stick.
If the message “Press any key to boot from USB/DVD…” appears, press any key on the keyboard.

activation.2

4. Wait while Windows 10 setup loads

Windows 10 setup will load.
A loading screen with the Windows logo is displayed. This may take a moment.

activation.4

5. Set language, time and keyboard

When the setup window appears:

  1. Choose Language to install.
  2. Choose Time and currency format.
  3. Choose Keyboard or input method.
  4. Click Next.

activation.5

6. Start the installation

Click on Install now.

activation.6

7. Enter the product key (or skip)

Windows 10 now asks for the product key.

  • Enter your Windows 10 Home product key and click Next, or
  • Click I don’t have a product key to continue and activate later.

activation.7

8. Select Windows 10 Home edition

If you skipped the key or the ISO contains multiple editions, you will see a list of Windows editions.

  1. Select Windows 10 Home .
  2. Click Next.

activation.8

9. Accept the license terms

  1. Read the Microsoft license terms.
  2. Check I accept the Microsoft Software License Terms.
  3. Click Next.

10. Choose installation type

  • Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)

This performs a clean installation.

11. Delete existing partitions (optional – full format)

You now see the list of drives and partitions.

If you want to completely format the PC:

  1. Select each old Windows partition (System, Primary, Recovery).
  2. Click Delete.
  3. Confirm with OK.

Repeat until only Unallocated space remains.

Note: This deletes all data on these partitions.

12. Select target drive for Windows 10

  1. Select the unallocated space or the partition where you want to install Windows 10 Home .
  2. Click Next.

Windows will now create the necessary partitions and start the installation.

activation.12

13. Wait while Windows 10 is installed

Windows now copies files, installs features and updates.
Your PC will restart several times. Do not turn off the PC.

activation.13

14. Complete the Windows 10 first-time setup

After installation, Windows 10 will guide you through the first-time configuration:

  1. Select region and keyboard layout.
  2. Connect to the internet (optional).
  3. Choose Personal use or Work or school.
  4. Sign in with your Microsoft account or create a local account.
  5. Adjust privacy settings.

Follow the on-screen instructions until you reach the Windows 10 desktop.

 

In case you didn’t enter the license key during installation:

Step 1

After installing the Operating System, right-click on This PC in the file explorer and select the Properties option. 

Step 2

Click on Product Key and Activation.

Step 3

 Go to Change product key to enter the key you received by email. 

Step 4

Enter the key you received by email. 

Your copy of Windows is now activated.