Well, if you are still running your device on Windows 7, then it is high time to upgrade to Windows 10. Not only will the Windows 11 upgrade be available for Windows 10 users, but the Microsoft company has also ended the support for Windows 7 more than a year ago. To keep your data secure and perform all the operations smoothly, you need to upgrade your device. Right now, you have to make a hefty payment of 139$ to get your hands on the standard edition of Windows 10. However, it is not necessary to add stress to your pockets to get Windows 10. There is a way with which you can get Windows 10 free download for your device.
However, before diving into the ways, let us understand something about product keys and digital licenses.
Digital Licenses and Product Keys
For a free Windows 10 download, you will require a valid product key or a digital license. Earlier, When you purchased a legal Windows product from Microsoft or any other retailer, it came with a product key that further validated your product. It used to come in printed form with the product or was provided to you through email or cloud services. You had to enter the product key to unlock the whole product and use all the features.
With a digital license, the product automatically validates the installed Windows OS with the key that is embedded in the pre-built system from different companies like HP, Dell Acer, etc. The product key was valid for single use only, but with time hackers found the loopholes in it and started to use the same key for different devices.
To counter this, Microsoft introduced a digital license with Windows 8 and, with time, moved Windows 7 over it also. The license is locked to your Microsoft Account. So, if you have purchased a legal product from Microsoft, then you are eligible for a free Windows 10 upgrade. In case you are not able to find the key on your system, you can log in to your Microsoft account and check past downloads to get the key.
Till 2016, the promotional offer to get Windows 10 download free was run by Microsoft. The offer was stopped after 2016, but still, even today, Microsoft provides a free tool to download Windows 10 for free for users who have a valid product key or are running a legitimate version of Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. Here are the different ways to get a free upgrade to Windows 10.
How to Get Windows 10 for Free?
You can download Windows 10 for free from the official Microsoft website. However, the prerequisite for this step is that you should be running a legitimate version of Windows 7,8 or 8.1. Here are the detailed steps of the process.
Legal Download From Microsoft Website
1. Download the Media creation tool
Visit the official website of Microsoft. If you cannot find the link, then click here. Now from this webpage, you have to click on the Download tool now option. The downloading process will start. Wait for the downloading process to complete. Make sure you disconnect all the unnecessary peripherals from your device so that the chance of error is negligible. If you are using a laptop, then connect it to its power source.
2. Launch the tool
Once the downloading process is complete, click on the setup. Then accept the Microsoft terms to proceed. Now you will get two options in front of you. You have to select the first one that is Upgrade this PC now. Now the setup will download an image file of Windows 10 on your device. So, make sure that there is enough space(at least 4GB) on your device. If you have enough space on your device, then click on the Next button.
Now follow all the prompts that come in front of you to proceed with the setup. The tool will scan your whole system, check whether the device is compatible with the upgrade, and list all the software and hardware issues that may create an error in the process. If required, remove the software programs from your device to proceed with the setup.
Once all the issues are resolved, the setup will scan all your devices for all the data to shift it. Make sure you keep a full backup of your data for the programs you run on the previous version of Windows, as some programs may not be compatible with Windows 10.
3. Finish Installation
As the installer progresses, your device will restart several times, so don’t worry about it. If you are running a legitimate Windows with a digital license, then the installer will automatically activate Windows 10. If you have a product key, then you can activate your Windows manually after the installation process is complete.
Special Note
You will get the same Windows 7,or8.1 version in Windows 10. For example, if you are running the Home version of Windows 7, then you will get the Home version of Windows 10.
Free Upgrade to Windows 10 without activation
You can download Windows 10 free from the Microsoft website and use it without activating it. In simple words, you don’t have to pay any fee to run the windows. However, after 30 days, some features will not be available on your device. Here are the aspects that will change after 30 days.
- The “Windows is not activated” message will appear in Settings.
- Windows Activate mark will appear on the desktop screen.
- You will not be able to update the version.
- Personalization of the desktop will be disabled.
- Some apps and features will not work.
- You will not be eligible for technical support.
Buy the Windows key from a third-party vendor
If you do some comprehensive research, then you can find some vendors who sell the key for Windows 10 at a low price. After comparing some options, you can buy and use it to get Windows 10 and activate it. However, make sure that you buy it from a trustworthy vendor.
Final Verdict
Even if you are running your device on any previous version of Windows, you can upgrade your device to the latest version for free. Go to the official website and get Windows 10 free download full version without going through any unnecessary hassle.