Can You Still Download Windows 10 For Free?

Microsoft's initial button to become Windows vii and 8 users upgraded to Windows 10 is over. But yous tin can withal get the Bone for gratis.

Microsoft Ended support for Windows 7 on Jan 14th, 2020. And while there is not an official channel to upgrade to Windows 10, there is a flim-flam to get it. And this is not illegal. Microsoft is allowing users to exercise this. Hither's how.

Of import: Before attempting any major upgrade, make sure all of your important data is backed up beginning. If something goes wrong (and it certainly could with this type of upgrade) yous're not going to be able to recover information technology.

Upgrade from Windows 7 to ten for Free

Before trying the upgrade make certain to update all hardware drivers and the BIOS or firmware on your PC. As well, retrieve you're electric current Windows 7 PC needs to have a valid and activated license.

To try it, head to the Windows 10 download folio. Under the Media Creation section download theDownload tool now push button and run information technology.

Accept the EULA. Then when information technology asks yous what to practise select "Upgrade this PC At present" and continue with the wizard'south on-screen instructions.

Important Notes:

There are several caveats here that might make your upgrade endeavor error out.  There might be hardware cake — peculiarly on machines congenital before 2015. Microsoft added organization compatibility blocks with Windows 10 1903. So, brand sure your BIOS or firmware and all hardware drivers are up-to-date earlier trying the upgrade.

And merely note that Microsoft can merely turn this "trick" off at any time. So, depending on your system or when you try this, your mileage may vary.

Editor Annotation 1/15/2020: This article was originally written in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the end of back up for Windows 7. Yous can read the original text beneath:

Windows ten was offset introduced to the market place with a one-year gratis upgrade offer. From July 29th, 2015 to July 29th, 2016, users could upgrade eligible Windows 7 and Windows viii devices to Microsoft's new desktop Os for free. Many users did take advantage of it, but for ane reason or another, many others skipped the offer. No surprise, a day afterwards Microsoft's free offering ended, procrastinating users popped upward all over the Internet, including our Windows 10 forums asking for information nigh how they could withal go Windows ten for free.

Last Baronial, I noticed the free upgrade offer seemed to still be bachelor and I wrote a brusk blog mail about it. Throughout the month of August, some users were however getting notifications to upgrade for free, while others saw them disappear altogether. Eleven months accept passed since the free upgrade ended; in fact, we are approaching the second ceremony of the Windows ten upgrade.

To those of you who are coming late to the party and still desire a costless upgrade: where've you been all this time? Anyway, whatsoever your reasons, let's see how nosotros tin can get you a gratuitous copy of Windows ten now that the free upgrade ship has officially sailed.

How You Can Withal Get a Free Upgrade to Windows ten

Co-ordinate to some participants on Microsoft's Customs forums, Microsoft might exist forgiving to those who skipped on the upgrade. It seems you can become a second take chances to upgrade to Windows x by simply contacting support. A Microsoft MVP responded to a participant inquiring about getting Windows 10 for free and this is what he said:

Contact MS support to request a gratis upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10. The support amanuensis will provide yous with an exception link to allow the gratis upgrade to Windows 10. Source

Bated from that, yous may also still exist eligible for a free Windows x upgrade if you utilize Assistive Technologies. Assistive Technologies users could be broadly defined as users with a particular impairment or disability using third-political party software or hardware. There is no verification process for users who qualify for the Assistive Technologies upgrade.

Note (10th September, 2021): While this complimentary upgrade promotion has long been scrubbed from Microsoft's website, you lot may find information technology still works in general. YMMV, however!

Nosotros actually mentioned this in a forum blog post last year; the option remains open and anyone it seems tin utilise it to nevertheless snag a free re-create. Of course, we urge you not to abuse this offer from Microsoft and to simply exercise this pick if you rely on Assistive Technologies.

If you are non interested in going through any support obstacles or loopholes, I discovered that you can upgrade without purchasing a license at all. You are probably wondering, "Well, why didn't yous just say so from the first?" Well, I could take, but I just wanted to provide all the options for users who wanted to go through official channels.

And then, are at that place whatever legal challenges related to this? Microsoft did say the gratis offer ended in July of 2016. It seems that it was more of a formality or possibly marketing mumbo colossal to create a sense of urgency.

I decided to examination this out by first restoring my HP Elitebooks factory Windows 7 image. I also tried it out on my HP desktop with Windows 8.0 (you read right, Windows 8.0, not 8.1 or 8.1 with Update 1). During this experiment, the first matter I discovered is your Windows 7 or Windows eight/eight.1 license must be activated. If it's non, Windows ten setup is going to prompt you for a product cardinal.

Yous can't use a Windows 7 or Windows 8 key if you are upgrading. What you tin can do though is activate it using a Windows seven or Windows 8 cardinal after setup is complete; if you choose to perform a clean install. If information technology's activated, then setup doesn't prompt you. That'south it, you can upgrade without whatsoever further hindrance. There you go, my arrangement upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 in 2017 for free. Check out the video below.

Editor's Note: I've besides done this a ton of times using my Windows 8 Pro license key that came with my installation DVD. The way I run across it: I did take Microsoft up on its offer to upgrade for free when it was available. But every now and and then, I like to do a clean Windows install. It makes sense that I should still be able to use the original license key that I paid for to get back to where I was before my reinstall.

What if my organization is not activated?

If your Windows 7 or Windows eight license is non activated and you are not interested in purchasing a license, and so your options are limited. You do have some options though. Microsoft offers a 90 day trial of its Windows ten Enterprise edition. Windows x Enterprise is commonly distributed nether Microsoft'southward book license program for large organizations that deploy Windows 10 in bulk. It'south a total-featured edition of the operating arrangement but in this case, it'due south actually an evaluation version of the software. Users must register before they tin download and install the software. This option is perfect for those users who are running Windows Vista or never had a genuine license, to begin with.

1 workaround users can use to extend the usage of the Windows 10 Enterprise trial is to join the Windows Insider Preview Plan. Be advised, when you sign upwards for Windows 10 Insider Previews, you are electing to download, install and utilize pre-release software all the same under heavy development. The run a risk is indeed high as evidenced by a contempo unintended commitment of internal rough edge builds not even intended for users interested in bleeding edge.

Users do have the recovery options like rolling back within x days of upgrading – that is if y'all can boot the arrangement. Regular backups such equally creating system images, or storing files on OneDrive should make it safe enough to apply Windows 10 Insider builds while getting a free copy of the software. Only, again, use information technology at your own risk.

For users who already accept an installed, activated copy of Windows 10, but would like a second copy setup maybe for compatibility purposes on a second bulldoze or partition, there is a loophole available. I discovered that if you already installed and activated Windows x with a Digital License, you tin practice exactly that. But install a 2nd copy and it will activate without fifty-fifty asking questions. Previously, boosted installations even on the same hardware required the purchase of an additional license in order to activate. The Terminate User License Terms still says you practice, but patently, it is non enforced – for at present.

The costless upgrade situation is a fleck ironic, and I hateful that the same style Alanis Morisette meant it: not actually ironic, but rather unfortunate for a few individuals. Microsoft has been pushing a deadline for an unabridged year and I am sure many users with eligible Windows seven and Windows viii licenses ended up buying a full Windows ten license – when technically, they already paid.

Anyhow, those are the options still bachelor if yous notwithstanding want to upgrade, let usa know what you think. We are also interested to hear from the Windows Vista, seven, or 8 holdouts: what inverse your mind after and so long?

Source: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/download-windows-10-free/

Posted by: murraytivere1995.blogspot.com

Share this post