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The entire "free upgrade" offer was always accompanied by language that was, to put it politely, a bit squishy. And the language around the end of that offer was similarly vague. That's very odd language. The free upgrade through the Get Windows 10 app ended on July 29, Likewise, the discussion of product keys says a key will be necessary "for this tool to work" not true but doesn't say a word about licensing.
And unlike the weaselly "Genuine Windows" label on older upgrades, the activation screens for a Windows 10 upgrade specifically confirm the existence of a "digital license. Anyway, the free upgrade offer was extended briefly, at least for people who use assistive technologies. The FAQ on a separate page even called it a "free upgrade offer extension" and pointedly noted that it was not limited to specific assistive technologies.
I regularly use the Magnifier utility in Windows, which is indisputably an assistive technology. Of course, I'm not a lawyer, and this column isn't legal advice. But I will say that I am personally confident in the activation status of any PC upgraded using the tool on that page during the eligibility period.
This extension was, I think, a very large nod and a wink, designed to make it easy for those who wanted a Windows 10 upgrade to still get it while placating the OEM partners who were none too happy about the year-long emphasis on upgrades rather than new PC sales.
Alas, I say "was," because the extension which was itself extended officially ended on Jan. The page that formerly ran an Upgrade Assistant now returns an error message. The big question now is whether Microsoft will ever turn off the code on its activation servers that dispenses digital licenses after an upgrade from an earlier Windows version. I've continued to test that scenario, and I can confirm, long after the end of support for Windows 7, that it still works. I continue to hear from readers sharing their experiences.
If you've used this technique on a PC, click my name at the top of this post and use the contact form to let me know how it went for you. Note: This article was originally published in January It has been updated multiple times since then to reflect the most current information. Home Business Enterprise Software.
Microsoft's much-hyped free upgrade offer for Windows 10 ended years ago, right? Not exactly. ZDNet Recommends. One digital license, no product key required. You can upgrade directly using this tool, or create separate media.
Ed Bott's 10 most popular Windows 10 tips. The wording here is remarkably vague. Show Comments. Log In to Comment Community Guidelines. Related How to back up your files in Windows 10 and 11 with File History. How to back up your files in Windows 10 and 11 with File History Productivity. Microsoft: These two new tools will help you get ready for Windows Microsoft: These two new tools will help you get ready for Windows 11 PCs.
How to recover deleted files in Windows 10 or This story was recently updated. Here's how to get Windows 10 for free, if you're currently running a licensed and activated copy of Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8. Go to the Download Windows 10 website. Under Create Windows 10 installation media , click Download tool now and Run. If you're upgrading a different machine, choose Create installation media for another PC , and save the installation files.
Microsoft is encouraging Windows 7 users to upgrade to Windows 10 now support for the former has ended. It should be noted that if you have a Windows 7 or 8 Home license, you can only update to Windows 10 Home, while Windows 7 or 8 Pro can only be updated to Windows 10 Pro. The upgrade is not available for Windows Enterprise.
Other users may experience blocks as well , depending on your machine. This upgrade using the media creation tool isn't meant for the general consumer, but it works for many nonetheless.
To get the best Windows 10 experience and take advantage of features like passwordless sign-on through Windows Hello , you'll want to buy a new Windows 10 PC or one released after July with all the hardware upgrades. If you're a student or university faculty member, you may also be able to download Windows 10 for free. Search for your school's software offerings here. For more, check out the best antivirus protection of for Windows 10 , six security changes all Windows 10 users need to make , all of the big differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11 and every Windows 10 setting you should disable.
You can also get Microsoft Office online free , too. Your guide to a better future. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories?
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