Microsoft officially ends Windows 10/11 free upgrade path from Windows 7/8

Microsoft has finally closed the chapter on the Windows 10 and Windows 11 free upgrade option for Windows 7/8 users.

In a support document dated September 20, 2023, it was announced that the installation path to obtain the Windows 7/8 free upgrade is “now removed.” This marks the end of an era for those hoping to upgrade without paying.

When Microsoft released Windows 10 in 2015, they initially offered free upgrades to users running Windows 7 or Windows 8 until July 29, 2016.

Even after the deadline had passed, users discovered that they could still upgrade without paying.

This trend even continued with the release of Windows 11 in 2021, allowing users to upgrade for free, primarily from Windows 10.

The upgrade path remained open for anyone with compatible hardware.

DeskModder’s report states that as of the time of writing, it is still possible to activate an installation of Windows 11 version 22H2 using a Windows 7 product key.

However, this method does not work in the latest Insider build in the Canary channel.

The specific timeline for the removal of this upgrade path from stable versions of the operating system remains unclear, though.

Ultimately, it’s worth noting that users can still upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free.