How to force Windows 10 Anniversary Update to download on your PC

If your PC isn't getting the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, use this guide to force the download and manually install version 1607 of the operating system.

Get Windows 10 Anniversary Update

The Windows 10 Anniversary Update has finally released. Microsoft is now slowly rolling out the second major update of its operating system to over 350 million devices.

This means that a big number of users around the world will be really busy trying to update their computers. The problem is that not everyone gets the update the same day, because Microsoft is pushing the new update gradually. Usually, it’ll starts with a select group of devices, such as Surface, then devices that originally shipped with Windows 10, and then everyone else.

If your device isn’t getting the new update and you can’t wait, there is a number of ways to force the download of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update on your PC.

How to get the Anniversary Update using Windows Update

The best way for anyone to manually trigger the download of the Anniversary Update is using Windows Update.

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on Update & security.

  3. Click on Windows Update.

  4. Click the Check for updates button.

    Windows Update settings

Once you click the update button, you should see the “Feature update to Windows 10, version 1607” downloading. This is the Anniversary Update or Windows 10 build 14393.

After the download completes, click the Restart now button to begin the installation.

How to get the Anniversary Update using Media Creation Tool

If Windows Update is stuck downloading the files or you get an error message, you can use the Media Creation Tool to update your device.

The Media Creation Tool allows you to quickly and easily upgrade your device without losing your files, settings, or applications.

  1. Download the Windows 10 Media Creator Tool to start the process from the Microsoft Support website.

  2. Select Update this PC now.

    Upgrade this PC now option Windows 10 Anniversary Update

  3. Click Next.

  4. After the downloads completes, click Accept to continue.

  5. Select Keep personal files and apps.

  6. Click Install to complete the task.

How to get the Anniversary Update using an ISO file

In addition, you can force the download of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update by doing an upgrade by downloading the ISO files directly from Microsoft.

Downloading the Windows 10 Anniversary Update ISO files directly from Microsoft save you time, and it’s also a convenient way to install the operating system on a virtual machine, or to create multiple bootable media that you can prepare for friends or coworkers.

If you prefer going this route, you can use this previous guide that helps you to download the ISO files containing the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.

It’s worth pointing out that you can also use the Media Creation Tool to create an ISO file of the new OS.

How to get the Anniversary Update using Windows 10 Update Assistant

Alternatively, you can now also use the new Windows 10 Update Assistant to force the download and install the update on your PC.

  1. Visit the Download Windows 10 page and click the Update Now button.

  2. Double-click the file to launch the Windows 10 Update Assistant.

  3. Click Update Now.

    Windows 10 Update Assistant

  4. The assistant will check for hardware and software compatibility. If your computer meets the requirements, click Next.

  5. Once download completes, the setup wizard will commence the installation, and then click Restart now.

Then the Windows 10 Anniversary Update will complete installing on your computer. One of the biggest difference between the Windows 10 Update Assistant and the Media Creation Tool is that the new tool can only update your computer. The assistant isn’t meant to do a clean installation of the operating system.

For more information, you can check the Anniversary Update coverage here. In addition, you can also check these interesting articles:

How are you updating to the Anniversary Update on your PC? Tell us in the comments below.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.