As we approach March 30, 2017, when Microsoft is very likely to release the first stable version of Windows 10 Creators Update on the Dell Canvas, a lot of people might be looking to upgrade to Windows 10 but don’t want to spend the money for a full license. Is there still a legal and ethical way to get a free Windows 10 upgrade directly from Microsoft?
Yes, there is.
We’ve been urging our readers to utilize one of the “windows” that Microsoft has left open for people to upgrade to Windows 10 for free before Windows 10 Creators Update comes. That window is called Assistive Technology, and is part of Microsoft’s Accessibility solutions for those with disabilities.
That said, Microsoft is very loose in its definition of assistive technology users. In fact, even those who use keyboard shortcuts of any kind are considered eligible for the free Windows 10 upgrade.
We’ve written extensively about Microsoft’s need for more widespread adoption for Windows 10 by consumers as well as businesses, but that’s yet to happen.
In fact, at the recent Developer Day event hosted by Microsoft, the company commented on the 400 million devices worldwide now running Windows 10. Interestingly, that’s the exact same figure they announced back in September 2016, nearly two months after the free Windows 10 upgrade deadline on July 29, 2016.
That means Windows 10 hasn’t penetrated much deeper or wider than that since September, and that’s got to be a major disappointment for Microsoft.
That is bound to change in 2017 as new devices are shipped with Windows 10, and the amazing new features on Windows 10 Creators Update start enticing more Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users to move to Windows 10.
For now, Microsoft is keeping the assistive technology channel open for eligible users of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 to upgrade to Windows 10 for free.
Go to Microsoft’s Free Upgrade Page for Windows 10
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