Windows 10 Update Assistant: Upgrade to May 2021 Update today!

On May 18th, 2021, Microsoft began distributing the May 2021 Update for Windows 10 through Windows Update and the Media Creation Tool. The update, also known as Windows 10 version 21H1, is also available through the Windows 10 Update Assistant - a small file that acts as an upgrade wizard for people who already have Windows on their computers. Not all systems receive the May 2021 Update at once because Microsoft rolls it out gradually. If you don’t want to wait, you can use the Windows 10 Update Assistant and upgrade right now. Here’s how:

Run the Windows 10 Update Assistant and upgrade your Windows 10 PC:

1. Download and run Windows10Upgrade9252.exe.

2. A UAC prompt pops up next, where you must confirm that you want to run the Windows 10 Update Assistant by pressing Yes.

3. The Windows 10 Update Assistant loads and tells you to update to the latest version. Click or tap on the “Update now” button.

4. The Windows 10 Update Assistant automatically starts the download of the latest update in a couple of seconds. You can also start it manually by clicking or tapping Next.

5. Windows 10 Update Assistant begins downloading all the files required to install the May 2021 Update. You can see the download progress displayed as a percentage.

6. After a while, you are notified that “Your update is ready. Your PC needs to restart to complete the update.” You can wait 30 minutes for the automatic reboot to happen, or you can press Restart now.

7. Press Close, and your computer or device restarts in a couple of seconds.

8. After the restart, the Windows 10 update process continues.

9. After you sign in to Windows 10 again, the final waiting screen comes.

10. Once the installation finalizes, the Windows 10 Update Assistant greets you with a “Thank you” message. Press Exit, and you are done.

Download the Windows 10 Update Assistant

To upgrade Windows 10 to May 2021 Update, open your favorite web browser and go to Download Windows 10. Find the section called “Windows 10 May 2021 Update” and the Update now button. Click or tap on it.

This action triggers the download of a tiny 5.93 MB executable file called Windows10Upgrade9252.exe. Save it somewhere on your Windows 10 computer or device. Any location is okay.

Run the Windows 10 Update Assistant and upgrade your Windows 10 PC

Make sure that you are using an account that is an administrator on your PC, go to where you saved the file, and double-click or double-tap on it. A UAC prompt pops up next, where you must confirm that you want to run the Windows 10 Update Assistant by pressing Yes.

The Windows 10 Update Assistant loads and tells you to update to the latest version.

Since you want to install the May 2021 Update, you probably do not have the latest version. You should see something similar to the image below, letting you know that “[...] This PC is currently not running the latest and most secure version of Windows 10. This PC is running version 20H2. The latest version is 21H1.” Version 21H1 is the Windows 10 May 2021 Update. Click or tap on the “Update now” button from the bottom right corner of the Windows 10 Update Assistant.

NOTE: If you find Windows 10 versions confusing, we recommend this article to check the Windows 10 version, OS build, edition, or type.

Before continuing, you should make sure that you have at least 10-12 GB of free space on your Windows 10 partition. Your PC should also meet all the requirements for installing the May 2021 Update because you already have Windows 10. The Windows 10 Update Assistant automatically starts the download of the latest update in a couple of seconds. If you are in a hurry, you can also start it manually by clicking or tapping Next.

Windows 10 Update Assistant begins downloading all the files required to install the May 2021 Update. As this is a relatively large update, it takes a while until everything is downloaded. If you use a laptop or a tablet, make sure that its power cord is plugged in. Then grab yourself a cup of coffee or tea and relax. You can see the download progress displayed as a percentage, like in the screenshot below.

If you change your mind and no longer want to download the latest update, you can press on Cancel update, written in small blue letters in the bottom-left corner. When you do that, the Windows 10 Update Assistant creates a shortcut on your desktop, which you can later use to continue the process. After the files are downloaded, the Windows 10 Update Assistant begins verifying them for integrity, and then it installs the update. The progress for updating Windows 10 is also shown in percentages.

This part of the update process can take up to 90 minutes to finish. Unfortunately, a clean Windows 10 installation of the latest update is somewhat faster. However, you don’t get to keep all your apps, files, and settings, as you do with the update.

After a while, you are notified that “Your update is ready. Your PC needs to restart to complete the update.” You can wait 30 minutes for the automatic reboot to happen, or you can press Restart now. However, before you do that, make sure you don’t have any apps or files open.

When it is time to reboot or right after pressing the Restart now button, you get this message: “You’re about to be signed out. Windows 10 Update Assistant will reboot your device to complete the update.” Press Close, and your computer or device restarts in a couple of seconds.

After the restart, the Windows 10 update process continues. Note that your PC might reboot a couple of times. All that’s left for you to do is wait.

After you sign in to Windows 10 again, the final waiting screen comes: a minute or two is required to make the final configurations.

Once the installation finalizes, the Windows 10 Update Assistant greets you with a “Thank you” message. Press Exit, and you are done.

How well did the Windows 10 Update Assistant work for you?

The May 2021 Update brings a few new features and some bug fixes to Windows 10. Some people probably want to get it onto their devices as soon as possible. If you do not want to wait, now you know how to upgrade with the help of the Windows 10 Update Assistant. As you have seen from our guide, although it does take a while to download and install everything, the process is not that difficult. Before closing, let us know if everything worked well. Comment below and share your experience.