Believe it or not, you can still install Windows 10 for free even in the year 2023. The key to this lies in the “Windows 10 Update Assistant.” In this guide, we will show you how to obtain Microsoft’s latest operating system without spending a dime. Check out our 83-second video for our top 5 tips on Windows 10:
How to Still Use Windows 10 for Free
Initially, users of Windows 7 and 8 could upgrade to Windows 10 for free until July 29, 2016. Until January 16, 2018, upgrading for free was still possible using the “Windows 10 Update Assistant” if you confirmed the need for assistive technologies in Windows 10. These technologies include screen magnifier, on-screen keyboard, narrators, and speech recognition. Officially, you have to pay for all Windows 10 versions since then. However, there is still a way to install it for free.
Who Can Upgrade to Windows 10 for Free?
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Users of Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, or Windows 8 Core will upgrade to Windows 10 Home.
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Users of Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, as well as Windows 8.1 Pro will automatically update to Windows 10 Pro.
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Users of Windows 10 S should also be able to upgrade, according to Microsoft.
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Upgrading from Windows XP or Windows Vista is not possible. If you prefer to go the official route, you can find affordable Windows 10 product keys on Amazon.
How to Install Windows 10 for Free
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Download the Windows 10 Update Assistant from Microsoft.
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Run the EXE file on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 S.
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Accept the license terms if you agree.
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If your computer is compatible, the assistant will download the upgrade. This took us about an hour.
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The assistant will then check for updates and sufficient storage space.
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After that, it will start the installation of Windows 10.
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During the process, Windows will restart several times. Click on the “Restart Now” button.
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You will see the typical blue Windows 10 installation screen. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation to check if Windows 10 has been successfully activated.
Yes, it all worked! Alternatively, you can install Windows 10 using the usual method and try to activate it using product keys from Windows 7 or Windows 8. Otherwise, you can occasionally find affordable license keys for Windows 7, 8, or 10 on Amazon. If something doesn’t work or if you have more tips and tricks on this topic, feel free to share them in the comments below this article.
