Windows 10's final free upgrade offer expires on January 16

By Dan Thorp-Lancaster
published

The final free upgrade path for Windows 10 is now set to go away on January 16.

When Windows 10 first launched, Microsoft ran a promotion offering free upgrades for a year. While that program ended in July of 2016, free upgrades have remained available through an exception for users who take advantage of "assistive technologies." Though that exception was due to end on December 31, 2017, Microsoft has quietly extended the upgrade another couple of weeks (via MSPU).

In an update to the upgrade offer page FAQ (opens in new tab), Microsoft now states that the upgrade offer will end on January 16.

If you use assistive technologies, you can upgrade to Windows 10 at no cost as Microsoft continues our efforts to improve the Windows 10 experience for people who use these technologies. Please take advantage of this offer before it expires on January 16, 2018.

Although intended for assistive technology users, the upgrade offer doesn't require any verification of whether you actually use assistive technologies of any sort. Essentially, the offer has acted as a loophole for anyone to secure a free upgrade following the official end of the general free upgrade program in 2016.

Once the offer expires, you'll have to shell out $119 or more (opens in new tab) to get a copy of Windows 10. If you still have Windows 7 or 8 PCs that are in need of an upgrade, however, you can head to the upgrade site (opens in new tab) to move up to Windows 10 for free before January 16.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster
Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl. 

23 Comments
  • I upgraded in December with no handicap
  • Shame on you. You are like the people without a handicap that park in the handicapped parking spot.
  • The last paragraph says they are turning off the Window 7/8 upgrades using previous keys and the usb installer - that doesn't seem to be directly related to the assistive technologies app, is there confirmation this is going away too? I'm going to need this soon, but not sure if before the 16th
  • If it's anything like the free Media Center Pack that was released for Windows 8.1, those keys were disabled if they had never been claimed/activated before the cut-off date
  • Does it really matter, there's plenty of other methods of getting windows 10, but then again I do believe that MSFT should allow win 10  to be a free OS instead of charging consumers for it, they should business for using windows.
  • Business will buy retail as most already do.
  • Maybe small businesses. Anything larger will get a volume license through a specialized reseller, unless they like throwing money away.
  • They wouldn't be throwing money if they're buying free
  • Try buying a computer with Windows 10 Enterprise from the store.
  • We have over 4k employees in Japan office. All devs (programmer, designer, planner, music creator, etc) use Dell's desktop. All business sidda people (cooperate, CS, international business, etc) use NBs.
    The existence of Win10 NB starts to raise and my next exchange might be a Win10 desktop too.
    * I actually think Win10ARM NBs would be popular amount business departments.
  • consumer buy the pc together with the windows included, i think there's no much different if the windows is charge or not.
    unless you are building your own pc then you might need to pay for that, i think it's fair enough.
  • Wow, still available now? I thought the free upgrade ended already......
  • Remember when people used to line up at computer retailers to buy the newest version of Windows?   Now Microsoft gives it away and still, no one wants it.   How times change. 
  • Actually, hundreds of millions of people want it and have installed it.
  • Actually, roughly a billion and a half PCs don’t have it.  
  • Funny definition of "no one."
  • Me and Windows Me.
  • Don't want it? Or because older HWs/drivers don't support it? Years later, do you think newer HW will support older Windows? Do you think OEM would choose to pre-install older Windows on those new desktops & NBs? Do you think exe will still be the center of the IT world? Will exe run on xboxes, IOT, AR, MR, Win10S, all Win10ARM? Software / API deprecate right? Can you guarantee older Windows be kept in Win10 forever for BC purposes? As a freshman or startup, would you prefer to do your own installer, updater, uninstaller, crack-proof, advertisements like in the old days? Why should any user trust your no-name-exe to do their system no harm? To leave no rubbish after uninstallation?
  • I've upgraded 4 machines using my Windows 7 retail key.
  • Free upgrade will come back again in the future 😊
  • "Free upgrade will come back again in the future" And some think Windows will be free in the future. (But don't hold your breath.)
  • It's free on Raspberry Pi!
  • MSFT is kind enough to make it so long, as most ppl that really want W10 already upgraded.
    Who still not yet upgrade might never willing to upgrade, until they realise their OS is outdated.