Skip to main content

Despite what Microsoft says, you can still upgrade to Windows 10 for free

Laptop running Windows 10.
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
After repeatedly warning users that time was running out to make the jump, Microsoft revoked its offer of free upgrades to Windows 10 on July 29. However, it seems the company didn’t slam the door shut, and there are still a few ways to take advantage of the offer.

Multiple users are reporting that Windows 7 and Windows 8 product keys can still be used to upgrade to Windows 10 for free, according to a report from ZDNet. The process apparently works whether or not Windows 10 has previously been installed on the system in question.

Recommended Videos

A Microsoft representative declined to respond when the site asked whether this method would be clamped down upon, so it’s possible that older keys might not yield a copy of Windows 10 going forward.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Users can also get Windows 10 for free by enrolling in the Insider program. The drawback here is that the program exists to test new versions of the operating system ahead of their public release, so preview builds may bear some bugs, glitches, or other issues related to ongoing development.

You’ll also be running an inactivated version. This has no major downside, and many users do utilize Insider builds of Windows 10 without incident. But it’s worth noting that there is no way to transfer to the stable build without a valid licence.

Finally, users can still grab a free copy of Windows 10 by using a Microsoft program designed to help individuals that make use of assistive technologies including screen readers and on-screen magnification. This offer is still open as of the time of writing, and doesn’t require any authentication on the user’s part, according to a report from Extreme Tech. However, Microsoft has indicated that it plans to close this loophole soon.

At present, these are the easiest ways to obtain Windows 10 without paying a dime. It seems clear that Microsoft is still allowing interested users to upgrade for free without much difficulty, but it remains to be seen whether that will change in the near future.

Brad Jones
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…
Is Windows 11 acting up for you? This might be why
The Surface Pro 11 on a white table in front of a window.

This year's big Windows 11 update, 24H2, started a phased rollout in October and just became available to more PCs yesterday, December 4, as spotted by Windows Latest. To check if your PC is ready for it, just head to the settings page and check for updates -- if an update is not there for download yet, you'll have to wait until later in the rollout process.

Getting new things first isn't always a good thing when it comes to software, however. It can take quite a while for a new Windows build to be announced as "stable," and 24H2 is far from earning that title at the moment.

Read more
Microsoft won’t back down on Windows 11’s biggest hurdle
The Surface Pro 11 on a white table in front of a window.

Microsoft has reaffirmed that it will not lower the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11, solidifying the need for a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 and a compatible CPU. This decision leaves many older PCs ineligible for the upgrade. Microsoft emphasizes that these standards are vital for improved security and performance.

As per a recent blog post titled “TPM 2.0 – a necessity for a secure and future-proof Windows 11,” Microsoft reaffirmed its decision not to relax Windows 11’s strict hardware requirements. TPM 2.0 is a hardware-based security feature that protects sensitive data and ensures secure boot processes. Microsoft argues that such measures are nonnegotiable as the company continues to address rising cybersecurity threats. The minimum requirements include a list of approved CPUs, starting from AMD Ryzen 2000 and Intel 8th Gen processors, that offer advanced security features and better performance efficiency.

Read more
Microsoft warns that the latest Windows 11 update may crash PC games now
Gaming PC on a desk.

Microsoft has once again temporarily halted the rollout of its latest major Windows 11 update, also known as 24H2. This time it is for systems running select Ubisoft games following widespread user reports of crashes and performance issues. The affected titles include Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Assassin's Creed Origins, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

Common complaints include black screens, freezing, and unresponsiveness during gameplay or while loading these titles. "I just bought a new gaming laptop with RTX 4080, Intel i9 14900hx. I can't play the game (Origins) even for 5 minutes because it crashes to a black screen, with audio, and the only way to close it is from task manager. Impossible to play," one user shared on Reddit. Others reported similar frustrations, citing the persistent error “NTDLL.dll” that renders their games unplayable.

Read more