Best 3 Ways to Upgrade to Windows 10 for Free

by Alexa Is McAfee Cloud

The Microsoft’s free offer for upgrading to the Windows 10 for free is officially ended. Interestingly, it is not entirely true at all. There are still not only one but several ways to upgrade to Windows 10 for free. Alternatively, you can do a clean reinstallation of Windows 10 on your computer and use it free.

Method 1: Using Windows 7, 8.1 or 8 key

Now you can’t use the Get Windows 10 application to upgrade to Windows 10 on your Windows 7 or 8 PC. Still, you can use the Windows 10 installation media tool to install it from scratch and when you asked to enter the activation key just put in your Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 key to continue the installation and activate the product.

When you enter the old version key, it will communicate with Microsoft activation server and then authenticate your installation and activation. By installing this way, your operating system will remain licensed and completely activated.

Once the installation is done, you can easily check whether it is activated or not by navigating to Settings > Update & security > Activation.

Method 2: Upgrading to Windows 10 while Ignoring the Activation Alerts

In fact, you don’t have to enter a product key in order to install the Windows 10 on your PC while upgrading from previous Windows versions. Follow the below-mentioned steps to upgrade to Windows 10 without a product key:

1. Download Windows 10 Installation Media tool.

2. Install Windows 10 using it.

3. When asked to put in the activation key, just skip that and continue the installation.

4. Now you can freely use the Windows 10 even without the key.

However, you will every time see a warning that you are using inactivated Windows 10.In case you don’t want to see the constant warning from Microsoft, then you can buy a product key right there, and your Windows 10 will be activated. Keep in mind that there are no issues in using the Windows 10 without activation, not even a single one problem is there.

But if you want to put your own background in an inactivated Windows, then you will see the black screen again on next startup. Users also get 30 days free trial and afterwards you will begin seeing the activation warning.

Method 3: Re-installing Windows 10 If You has it Already

In case you already installed the Windows 10 for free during the free upgrade offer by Microsoft, even then you can re-install the Windows 10 if you want. There can be some reasons for re-installing the Windows 10 on your computer even though you have it on your device.

Keep in mind that you can freely install it again on your device without worrying about anything at all. Your Windows 10 license will not void no matter how many time you re-install Windows 10 on your device as you possess the license. But you might lose your Windows 10 license, in case you don’t have a Microsoft account linked to your device.

Make sure that you have signed in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account, and that account should be set as an administrator account.

To make sure that you don’t lose your Windows 10 activation during the installation, follow this guide:

1. On your Windows 10 PC in which you want to re-install Windows 10, go to Settings.

2. Then head to Accounts.

3. Make sure you have signed in with your Microsoft Account, and the account is set as administrator.

4. Then head to the Sync your Settings tab from the left menu.

5. Make sure it is enabled.

6. After that, you can use any method to re-install your Windows 10.

7. Once the installation finishes, sign in with the same Microsoft account in your computer and sync the settings.

8. Your Windows 10 will be activated.

Jaxson Harry is an avid technical blogger, a magazine contributor, a publisher of guides at mcafee.com/activate, and a professional cyber security analyst. Through her writing, she aims to educate people about the dangers and threats lurking in the digital world.