PC owners with Windows 7 and 8.1 installed, and also use assistive technology, can still get Microsoft's upgrade to Windows 10 for free beyond the July 29 deadline. The company has set up a web page with a link to a client that will download the OS to the PC.
In a blog post, Microsoft stated:
With the end of the free Windows 10 upgrade offer today for the general public, we want to remind customers who use assistive technologies that the deadline will not apply to you. As promised, we are rolling out a new webpage, starting today, to help customers who use assistive technologies to navigate the process and access the free upgrade offer extension for Windows 10.
With more than a billion people with disabilities in the world, we are excited for customers to experience the new accessibility features in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. These include improving the screen reading experience with Narrator, the accessibility of experiences and apps like Microsoft Edge, Mail and the Start menu, as well as better tools and resources for developers to build more accessible apps and experiences.
The web page itself also has some additional information on this extension to the free Windows 10 offer, including this note:
We have not announced an end date of the free upgrade offer for customers using assistive technology. We will make a public announcement prior to ending the offer.
It's not immediately clear just how Microsoft determines how an older PC uses assistive technology, and thus is eligible for the extension to the company's free Windows 10 upgrade.
Check out the assistive technology extension to the free Windows 10 upgrade offer
Reader comments
Assistive technology PC users will continue to get a free Windows 10 update
Ok so the obvious question would be "if I use this method to extend the free upgrade deadline and then miraculously recover from my disability, can I clean install without those features enabled?" :-)
Why would you need to extend the deadline?
There are no additional features enabled. It's just stock Windows 10.
Because you bought an old stock or discontinued PC/tablet/laptop new and boxed, running windows 8.1?
So join the Insider program, and go to the production ring.
Production ring is only available where Windows is already free (small screen sizes). It's not available on tablets or PCs.
I meant Release Preview, which is available on my 17.3" laptop.
My bad. I knew you meant Release Preview but I didn't realise it had been extended beyond phones. (I was checking regularly myself for quite a while.)
I'll miss toady's deadline for sure. This makes the deadline not an issue
This is just a way to keep W10 growing, they have too.
How do they know you are using assistive technologies?
They know.
you are using windows
Of course they have to provide an excuse to keep Windows 10 free after their so-called "deadline", so predictable...wonder if they'll now use the excuse of "We thought you were a disabled person, so we installed windows 10 free for you" to continue maliciously spreading Windows 10.
You sir are now entitled to an extended deadline. Congratulations.
>> MS employee.