While the Windows 10 free upgrade offer through the Get Windows 10 (GWX) app ended on July 29, 2016, you can still upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 for free using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool (MCT) if you upgrade from a legally activated Windows 7.
If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. Microsoft’s free upgrade offer for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users ended a few years ago, but you can still technically upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge.
The overwhelming majority of reader reports confirm that this upgrade is still available. A small number of readers have reported that the upgrade fails because of a Setup error or a compatibility block. For details on how to troubleshoot these errors, see “This free Windows 10 upgrade offer still works.
Can I still upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7?
As a result, you can still upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 and claim a free digital license for the latest Windows 10 version, without being forced to jump through any hoops. That upgrade is more important than ever, now that support for Windows 7 has officially ended.
You just have to provide a valid Windows 7 (or Windows 8) key. There’s no guarantee this will work forever, but it still worked on January 14, 2020. Microsoft may one day pull the plug and cut off new upgrades. But, for now, you can still upgrade.
, and not exactly. We’ve made it to 2021 and my readers report that you can still use Microsoft’s free upgrade tools to install Windows 10 on an old PC running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. No product key is required, and the digital license says you’re activated and ready to go.
Do I have to pay for Windows 7?
Windows 7 is dead, but you don’t have to pay to upgrade to Windows 10. Microsoft has quietly continued the free upgrade offer for the last few years. You can still upgrade any PC with a genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8 license to Windows 10.