How to Manually Download and Install Windows 10 1803 April 2018 Update
Microsoft today is allowing anyone to download and install the Windows 10 April 2018 Update. Here’s how to download and install it.
After being delayed a few weeks, Microsoft announced that the latest Windows 10 feature update is ready for launch. In addition to security and overall system improvements, this version includes some new features. There are improvements to the Fluent Design UI, a new Timeline feature, and new Microsoft Edge abilities. To find out more, check out our article on the notable new features in version 1803.
Starting today, Microsoft is making Windows 10 version 1803, aka “April 2018 Update,” available for the public to download and install on their PCs. It will then begin rolling out in staggered stages globally starting May 8th, but if you’re an early adopter and don’t want to wait, you can get it now. Here is a look at where you can find it and manually install it.
Manually Install Windows 10 1803
Of course, you want to make sure your computer is ready for the update. For more on that, read our article on 12 things to do before upgrading. Head to the Windows 10 Download page. Click on the “Update now” button to download the Upgrade Assistant tool.
Click “Update Now” to use the Update Assistant to walk you through the upgrade from the download page. The second option is for creating install media on a drive or disc.
Launch it, and follow the on-screen instructions that walk you through the installation process. It’s straightforward, and it will check your system for compatibility, download the update, and keep all your current files, apps, and settings.
The Update Assistant will walk you through the upgrade process but keep in mind it will take some time, and your system will restart several times.
If you’re a more experienced user and want to do a clean install, grab the Media Creation Tool from the same page. That allows you to download a full ISO image of Windows 10 1803 and then create physical install media on a USB drive, for example.
It’s worth noting that today some users are reporting the update is available via Windows Update, and you can manually check for the update by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and see if it’s waiting there for you. If you’re not manually checking for updates, you will start seeing it on or after May 8th as it comes automatically.
No matter how or when you upgrade your Windows 10 system this cycle, we cannot stress enough how important it is to make sure you back up your system first. And make sure to follow the advice explained in our article on prepping your PC for the Windows 10 Upgrade.
Now, on the other hand, you might want to hold off on this update at least until the first cumulative update is released. If so, check out our article on how to delay or defer Windows 10 1803 Update. There you will find steps to delay the update for up to a full year on Windows 10 Pro and Home.
If you are an early adopter and are installing this new update this week, let us know how things are going in the comment section below. Or, for more discussions and troubleshooting help, check out our Windows 10 Forums.
15 Comments
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Aly
May 2, 2018 at 2:08 am
Have tried the upgrade assistant as first option the downloads was more than 6 Gbs but windows upgrade fails with error message that files may be corrupted error code 0x8007000d with an option to try again, it was possible to downloads windows 10 v1803 as iso file with the media creation tools, but which option is better to upgrade windows with the upgrade assistant or with the media creation tools?
Ziggy
May 2, 2018 at 3:03 am
It took me almost 5 hours to install this update on two of my laptops – constant error messages and the like. I downloaded the Windows Ten Update Troubleshooter from Microsoft and this eventually fixed the download and install problems on both machines.
I tried the native troubleshooter that comes with Windows 10 but that did not work! Figure that out!! I think what also may have helped was to run the Hide/Unhide tool from Microsoft as well – I had to hide the update first and then unhide it before the troubleshooter worked its magic. I’m still scratching my head as to how Microsoft get these version updates so monumentally wrong. Arrgh…
Larry
May 4, 2018 at 5:53 pm
Got mine thru the regular Windows Update on May 2nd. It took about 30 to 45 minutes to complete. So far no problems and all external drives and wireless printers and Internet connections are working fine. I’ve even discovered the keyboard shortcut to restart the PC’s graphics drivers without having to reboot: [press Win Key+Ctrl+Shift+B – the screen will momentarily go black, you’ll hear a beep and then the screen will reappear and everything will be just the way it was before – whether playing a game or working with files! hat tip HTG]
Hubert Capp (fred hale)
May 7, 2018 at 12:01 pm
Updated 5/3 without a hitch until I tried to use Cortana, The microphone and speaker (built-in Realtek) had driver update that caused the speakers and mike to have excessive feedback and echoing. To the point that I have to silence both. Two MS techs worked on the problem going through all of there usual tools with no change. I am now back to 1709
Larry
May 17, 2018 at 5:25 pm
Hubert, every since mine updated to 1803 on May 2, I would venture to guess my Realtek audio driver has updated at least 3 times. Below is the driver version from my last update:
Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Date: 04/30/2018
Driver Version: 6.0.1.8437
Geoff
May 9, 2018 at 8:38 pm
I have been trying for 4 hours to get 1803 to upgrade on my ACER Aspire and at first it kept failing with the blue screen and restarting and finally gave me Error 0xc1900403. Did a search on that and tried to follow the instruction, but some of the command they said to do gave me ACCESS DENIED even though I rand the command prompt as Administrator. Ran thr troblehooter and it tells me Windows Update Database error detected and can’t fix it.
I guess my only choice now is to try and manually update and if that doesn’t work do a clean install and reinstall all my programs.
Ziggy
May 9, 2018 at 11:00 pm
Geoff have you tried the Media Creation tool for this particular edition? If not you can simply google it and get it from the Microsoft site from your search results.
Make sure to download the appropriate tool – that is 64 bit or 32 bit depending on what you have already installed.
Once downloaded, put it on your desktop and run it from there. When the option is given to keep all your programs tick that so you don’t have to reinstall them.
What you are basically doing here is an upgrade over an upgrade, as silly as that may sound. Good luck…This has worked for me in the past but expect the process to take some time.
Geoff
May 11, 2018 at 1:11 pm
The Notebook was running fine with Build 1709, but refused to upgrade from Windows Update to 1803.
It was originally OEM installed Windows 7 Home premium and did the upgrade to Windows 10 last year with no problems. It was just the up upgrade to 1803 that kept crashing. I’ve been doing computer stuff since the 8008 and 8088 and 6502, so I know quite a bit about hardware and software. There wasn’t much on the Notebook that could not be replaced and there is a backup of the entire system on another external drive. This was my Wife’s computer and it is now mine after she died last year.
When I tried to upgrade from the Microsoft website it asked for the CD Key and after I entered it Microsoft said F YOU, that is an OEM KEY, contact ACER.
LAST RESORT was taken as I did on another computer. Like it or not it was the only way to get Build 1803 installed. I used a DVD of a Windows 7 All-in-One Activated from bittorrent that I got years ago and installed that as Windows 7 Home Premium. Then I used the Media Creation Tool I downloaded on my main computer, put it on a 8GB SD Card and booted Windows 7 and ran the upgrade to 1803 and it installed and tells me Windows 10 Home is activated with a Digital License. Reinstalled all my programs. Pain In The Ass, but had to be done.
Ziggy
May 11, 2018 at 8:58 pm
Geoff, what an extraordinary measure to have to pursue just to get version 1803 installed and activated! Pretty clever (if you ask me) and one that I’ll definitely add to my set of notes in case I ever run in to a similar scenario. Thanks for the steps to be followed and sorry to hear about the passing of your wife. Good luck in all that you do…
Geoff
May 12, 2018 at 4:37 am
In case you’re wondering, the Digital License is the same as when it was legitimately upgraded to Windows 10 Home from the original 7.
Aduro
May 16, 2018 at 4:03 pm
I run Windows 10 Professional and right now I’ve been getting the error code (0x8007000d) which means there’s a missing file of some kind, preventing me from installing it. It gets to about 25% and just restarts and goes to login.
Anyone have a solution for me?
Aly
May 17, 2018 at 10:23 am
Which method you used to upgrade to build 1803 windows 10? I used the direct windows update and the upgrade run swift with no issue? I also tried the downloaded iso file and the upgrade run swift on my other PC.
Murray
June 10, 2018 at 2:05 pm
I used your windows 10 download link and i spent a few (many) hours upgrading my system to 1709. Hey, wasn’t i already using 1709? YEAH I WAS. Where is 1803?
Now, this may be my issue… i had 1803 on my computer and i rolled it back to 1709 because, i use 2 monitors and windows 1803 would only display one monitor at a time, either this one or that one, never both at the same time. i thought that i had found a fix, so i wanted to try 1803 again.
what’s the secret to getting a second shot at 1803?
thanks
HEVIHITR
September 3, 2018 at 6:28 pm
This media creation tool fails every single time I use it, downloads fine but installing on USB fails every single time, why can’t I just download the file directly, I know this tool is for morons who have no clue how do anything more than turning their PC on, but i’m not one of those losers, I have no clue why I can’t DL the file, I know how to install windows, been doing it for like 15 years, this tool is retarded and needs to die.
Jesse
October 31, 2018 at 1:00 am
The drivers for my EVGA GTX 1070 GPU are not even compatible unless Windows 10 64-bit is fully updated I’ve been told! Right now I can’t even get my Windows 10 Pro 64-bit PC fully updated let alone my new graphics card installed! Talk about suck!