Microsoft has banned free upgrades from Windows 7 and 8 to Windows 10. You will now need to purchase a new license key to switch to a new operating system, reports Neowin portal.
Until now, users could upgrade to Windows 10 for free from older systems and then install existing Windows 11 using the same scheme. This feature has been unofficially available since the free update expired in July 2016. However, Microsoft did not block the workaround until the end of September 2023, allowing users to upgrade to new versions of Windows for free.
This scheme worked in such a way that after 2016 users could download the official image of Windows 10 from the company’s website and activate the license key from previous operating systems.
Despite the resulting restrictions, Neowin journalists managed to activate Windows 11 Pro 22H2 using a key from Windows 8 Pro. However, they were unable to activate the new Windows 11 Canary (24H2) test build. Apparently MIcrosoft has banned such upgrades to the latest OS builds, and early versions of Windows 11 are still available.
Microsoft said the free update is available for Windows 10 users who can upgrade to Windows 11 for free. The validity period of this offer has not yet been determined.
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Source: Gazeta
Jackson Ruhl is a tech and sci-fi expert, who writes for “Social Bites”. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of technology and science fiction.