You can do this with Microsoft’s Windows 10 media creation tool. It’s always a good idea to have backups, especially when installing a new operating system.Ĭreate Windows 10 installation media if you don’t already have it lying around. Even if you plan on performing an upgrade install, something could go wrong. Write it down.īe sure you have backups of your important files before continuing. If you don’t, you can use a tool like NirSoft’s ProduKey to find the key currently in use on your Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 PC. If you have one of those lying around, great. First, you’ll need a Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 key. RELATED: How to Find Your Lost Windows or Office Product Keys

How to Use a Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 Key to Get Windows 10 It’s possible that Microsoft will disable it soon, but it’s also possible Microsoft will look the other way and keep this trick around to encourage more Windows 10 upgrades for a long time to come. Microsoft hasn’t released any sort of statement about this upgrade method at all. Enter any Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 key that hasn’t previously been used to upgrade to 10, and Microsoft’s servers will give your PC’s hardware a new digital license that will allow you to continue using Windows 10 indefinitely on that PC. It works when installing Windows 10 with installation media or by entering the key after installing Windows 10. Now, even though the free upgrade offer is technically over, this method still functions in every version of Windows 10, from 2016’s Anniversary Update to the November 2019 Update. Your PC will receive a digital entitlement.

Even if you don’t provide a key during the installation process, you can head to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and enter a Windows 7 or 8.1 key here instead of a Windows 10 key. Windows 10 would then report that key to Microsoft’s servers, and Windows 10’s activation servers would give your PC a “digital entitlement” (now a “digital license”) to continue using Windows 10 for free, just as if you had upgraded. This allowed users to perform a clean install Windows 10 and enter a valid Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 key during installation. RELATED: You Can Still Get Windows 10 for Free from Microsoft's Accessibility SiteĪs part of Windows 10’s first November update in 2015, Microsoft changed the Windows 10 installer disc to also accept Windows 7 or 8.1 keys. You Can Still Use an Old Key with the Anniversary Update

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