14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is about to close the very last loophole allowing Windows 7 and 8.1 users to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge.
This means that those who haven’t yet upgraded to Windows 10 using either the original promo that allowed the switch at no cost in the first 12 months after the launch of OS or the accessibility loophole will have to pay $119.99 for a Home SKU license.
Microsoft allowed Windows 7 and 8.1 users to upgrade to Windows 10 at no extra cost if the switch was completed in the first 12 months of availability, with the promo coming to an end on July 29, 2016.
Shortly after that, it was discovered that laggards where still allowed to install Windows 10 at no cost by taking advantage of an offer aimed at users with accessibility features enabled on their Windows 7 and 8.1 computers. As part of this offer, Microsoft wasn’t running any checks, so it was possible for pretty much anyone to upgrade to Windows 10 without paying anything.
No extension this time
The Redmond-based giant originally announced that this loophole would be closed on December 31, 2017, when accessibility upgrades would no longer be allowed, but earlier this month, it was discovered that free upgrades were still possible.
Microsoft quietly updated the accessibility upgrade page to state that the offer will be removed on January 16, so we’re now in the final hours when users can still move from Windows 7 and 8.1 to Windows 10 without paying a single cent.
This time, Microsoft is truly expected to pull the plug on the bug and remove the offer, so unless you haven’t upgraded to Windows 10 already, there’s no better time to do it than right now in this second.
For what it’s worth, if you want to purchase a license for Windows 10 Home, it costs $119.99. Windows 10 Pro can be yours for $199.99.