If you have been a PC user most of your life, then you have probably lived through all of the significant Windows updates – including the critically acclaimed Windows XP and the infamous release of Windows Vista. There have always been mixed reactions from the public about new operating systems and whether or not the updates are necessary. So if you are reading this from a computer running Windows 7, you may be asking yourself the same question.
As a bit of background information, Microsoft offers technical support, security updates, and bug fixes for current “live” operating systems before announcing the “end” of support for a particular OS – think of this as cycles for each operating system. This does not mean that an older version of Windows will no longer run; it simply means that your current PC may become vulnerable to security issues or bug fixes that system updates would typically fix. So if you are wondering how to upgrade Windows 7 to 10 for free and hassle-free, you have come to the right place.
Is it Free To Upgrade Windows 7 To 10?
One of the main reasons why people do not upgrade their systems is because of the cost. Depending on the current system you have and the version that you wish to upgrade to, it can be a costly process. So is there a way to upgrade for free?
Yes…well, kind of.
Back in 2016, Microsoft announced that support for Windows 7 was coming to an end. Because they wanted users to upgrade their system, they initially extended a limited offer for users to upgrade from Windows 7 to 10 for free. The offer technically did have an expiration date, but many users noticed that they could still upgrade long after the offer ended…and it was and still is free. Whether or not this loophole was intentional or simply a marketing tactic, it’s been the most straightforward and safest way to upgrade your operating system.
Here is how to upgrade Windows 7 to 10 for free with the Windows Media Creation Tool:
- Check that your PC meets hardware requirements:
- Processor: 1GHz or faster, compatible supported processor
- RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit
- Storage: 32GB or larger disk
- Graphics Card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
- Display: 800×600 resolution minimum
- Make sure that you are running a licensed version of Windows 7 Home or Pro.
- Visit the Download Windows 10 page on Microsoft’s official website
- Under Create Windows 10 installation media, Select Download Tool Now
- Select Run
- If you are currently using the computer that you wish to upgrade, choose Upgrade this PC now under the “What do you want to do?” section
- After you have followed the prompts (including entering your Windows 7 key) the upgrade should be complete
- Go to Settings Update & Security
- Select Activate, and a new digital license for Windows 10 should appear
Is Windows 10 The Latest OS?
Windows 10 was the latest operating system until October of 2021, when Microsoft released Windows 11. As always, Microsoft is currently offering free upgrades from Windows 10 to 11 for a limited time. Once users have upgraded from Windows 7 to 10, it will be much easier to get other system updates and OS upgrades – like Windows 11. The cycle of operating systems does not stop here, and that is why PC users must upgrade their system before Windows 11 before 2025 (the year that support will end for Windows 10.).
If you are not able to update your system at all, then it might be time to start looking for a new PC. This is not the type of news that anyone wants to hear, but there are plenty of advantages that come with upgrading your device. For starters, if you were to buy a newer PC now, Windows 11 would come preloaded on it, and you would not have to worry about downloading the latest OS.
The bottom line is that computers have become an essential part of life, and the better we take care of them, the more efficient they will be. Once you see the benefits of upgrading your system, it’s critical to keep your PC clean, updated, and secure for optimal performance and speed.