Can You Still Upgrade To Windows 10 For Free?

How to upgrade to Windows 10 for gratuitous

A free upgrade is still bachelor for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users

Anyone still using an older version of Windows should figure out how to upgrade to Windows x for complimentary. That'south peculiarly because the Home Edition nonetheless typically goes for $139/£119/AU$225, which is not cheap.

Getting that Windows x free upgrade may not seem within reach, now that Microsoft has let expire its free upgrade offering to Windows seven and Windows eight users. Yet, the actual tools for it are still available and adequately accessible. And, anyone wanting to make the leap can do then easily.

Why are you still able to upgrade to Windows 10 for complimentary in 2021? It makes sense when you lot recall about it. Microsoft probably doesn't want users to switch to a free operating arrangement like Linux or, more probable, stick with an older, unsupported version that leaves users exposed to viruses and hacks.

So, read on and allow us help yous upgrade to Windows ten for free, whether you're coming from Windows 7 or Windows 8, with this straightforward guide. If you're getting ready for Windows 11, which is on the horizon, don't worry as that is looking to be a free upgrade too.

The all-time Windows 10 deals

Is Windows 10 gratis?

Windows 10 has never actually been gratis. In fact, with Windows 10 Home costing $139 and Windows 10 Pro a hefty $200, getting Windows ten installed on your reckoner or laptop is going to cost you quite a fleck of money.

There was a menstruum of time when Microsoft offered free upgrades to Windows 7 and Windows eight.one users, just that fourth dimension has long expired. Even so, a loophole remains that allows you lot to get Windows 10 for naught.

And, we suspect that Microsoft is keeping information technology open up as it's in the company'south best involvement to become every bit many people on Windows x equally possible. We're sure that it's bully to get people to motility on from the unsupported, older, operating system to the new 1.

How to upgrade to Windows 10 for gratis

Basically, the steps for upgrading to Windows ten for gratuitous from Windows 7 and Windows viii.one are the aforementioned as when Microsoft was officially offering the update.

1. Check you meet the hardware requirements

To install the latest version of Windows 10, you lot'll need to have the post-obit:

CPU: 1GHz or faster supported processor (Hither is a list of supported CPUs (opens in new tab))
RAM: 1GB for Windows 10 32-flake or 2GB for Windows x 64-bit
Storage: 32GB of space or more than
GPU: DirectX 9 compatible or later with WDDM 1.0 drriver
Brandish: 800x600 resolution or greater
Cyberspace connection: Some versions of Windows x require an cyberspace connection during setup.

If your Windows 7 machine doesn't meet these specifications you won't be able to run Windows x – and even if your machine just meets the requirements, Windows 10 won't run that well. Nosotros'd recommend at least a 2GHz dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM (8GB ideally) and a 160GB hard drive for Windows 10 to run well.

Bank check out our choice of the best laptops for inspiration and buying advice on getting a new machine, whatever your upkeep.

Side by side, download and install the Windows Media Creation Tool (opens in new tab) and select "Download tool at present" nether the department titled "Create Windows ten installation media."

Run the Windows Media Creation Tool, and when you reach the "What practice you desire to do?" section, select "Upgrade this PC at present," and follow the remaining steps in the tool. This will also give you the option of keeping your files and apps during the installation procedure. You tin find more detailed instructions on this procedure hither (opens in new tab).)

Enter in your Windows 7 (or Windows 8) licence key, and you should presently have a Windows 10 running – for free.

Click on the 'Actuate' push if required and your PC will be activated with a digital license later on it establishes a secure connection to Microsoft servers.

If you're unable to obtain the license, you tin besides enter your Windows vii product key and manually activate the operating system.

Also check out our guide on how to use Windows 10
Observe out where to buy Windows 10 if you need a different package

Darren is a freelancer writing news and features for TechRadar (and occasionally T3) across a broad range of calculating topics including CPUs, GPUs, various other hardware, VPNs, antivirus and more. He has written about tech for the all-time role of three decades, and writes books in his spare time (his debut novel - 'I Know What You lot Did Final Supper' - was published by Hachette UK in 2013).