Windows 10 will be free for Windows insiders

Jun 22, 2015 10:22 GMT  ·  By

Update, July 23: Microsoft has just confirmed that Windows 10 would be free only for users with a genuine Windows 7 or 8.1 license. The aforementioned steps are still valid if you have such a license and if you install the preview builds of Windows 10 by upgrading from Windows 7 or 8.1. Windows 10 RTM will be automatically activated on your PC. Original story below.

Windows 10 will be offered as a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8.1 users who install it in the first 12 months after launch, and starting this weekend, it appears that it'll also be free for all those installed the Windows 10 preview builds on their computers.

In other words, anyone who runs a preview build and updates it to RTM when it becomes available will get a fully-genuine and activated copy of Windows 10.

Microsoft hasn't said it clearly and there's still some confusion out there, but Gabe Aul, head of the Windows insider program, said that a Microsoft account enrolled in the Windows insider program and a Windows 10 preview build is all you need to update to Windows 10 RTM.

So if this is the case, Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users are not the only ones that can get Windows 10 free of charge, but absolutely anyone, no matter if they run Windows XP, Windows Vista, Linux, or Mac OS X.

Getting Windows 10 free of charge through this process basically comes down to just two steps:

Register for the Windows Insider program

First and foremost, you need a Microsoft account that's registered for the Windows Insider program, so go here and become part of the Windows 10 testing effort.

This is absolutely mandatory because Microsoft accounts will become must-have for running Windows 10 preview builds until RTM comes out. Local accounts will be available in the final version of Windows 10, but Microsoft could be using accounts to ship and activate RTM to preview users.

What's more, the license could be tied to the Microsoft account and the PC.

Install the latest Windows 10 preview build

Basically, you must be running the latest Windows 10 preview build to be offered the RTM version and right now this is 10130. Just download the ISO and clean install it on your PC, log in with the Microsoft account you just created and you're good to go.

“As long as you are running an Insider Preview build and connected with the MSA you used to register, you will receive the Windows 10 final release build and remain activated,” Microsoft explained.

Once Windows 10 RTM becomes available, your copy of Windows 10, be it 10130 or a newer one (expected to launch this week), should get the upgrade to RTM. Microsoft will check your MSA to see if you're a registered insider, and your copy of Windows 10 should be then activated.