How To Update To Windows 10 For Free

How to upgrade to Windows 10 for free

(Epitome credit: Laptop Magazine)

Editors Note: Windows xi arrived in 2021. See our Windows 11 system requirements guide to meet if your laptop or desktop is compatible. Windows 11 is a free upgrade, much similar Windows x.

Microsoft shut down its gratis Windows x upgrade programme in Nov 2017. If yous didn't get your free version of its all-time operating organization to engagement, you were pretty much out of luck. Or, and so we thought. It turns out, you tin however upgrade to Windows 10 without spending a dime.

It turns out there are several methods of upgrading from older versions of Windows (Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1) to Windows 10 Home without paying the $139 fee for the latest operating system.

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Continue in mind that this workaround won't necessarily work all the time. If it doesn't, y'all'll demand to pay the Windows 10 Home license fee or, if your arrangement is older than iv years, you might want to buy a new one (all new PCs run on some version of Windows x). Y'all will certainly need to upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8 if you are still running those legacy operating systems as Microsoft no longer supports them.

How to Upgrade to Windows 10 for free

1. Ensure yous're using a genuine copy of Windows seven or later. Annihilation older will non work (delight, if possible, purchase a new system if yous're using Window XP or Vista). If you're using Windows 7, write down the activation central (yous may need this later). A free tool similar NirSoft'southward ProduKey will help you find it.

2. This is a practiced stop to pause and dorsum up annihilation you'd like to salvage on your electric current PC before continuing. Follow our Windows ten backup instructions on how to do so.

iii. Visit the Windows ten download page (opens in new tab) . This is an official Microsoft page that may allow y'all to upgrade for free. One time you're in that location, open the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool (press "download tool at present") and choose "Upgrade this PC now."

iv. Accept the terms and choose the upgrade options that lets yous proceed your files and preferences. Again, having a backup ready at this indicate is very of import and so save everything to the cloud or to an SSD or USB.

v. Reboot your computer and connect it to the internet. Open Settings and cull "Update & Security" and click "Activation." From here, you lot tin can see if the Windows x upgrade worked. If not, press an "Actuate" button (if there is one); this volition create a digital Windows x production key. Effort using your Windows 7 or Windows viii license key.

Now that you know how to upgrade to Windows x for gratuitous, exist certain to cheque out our other Windows x tutorials below, including tips on how to uninstall programs on Windows x, how to find your MAC address in Windows 10, how to create a new folder in Windows 10 and more than.