Forum Discussion
Can I upgrade my windows 8.1 to windows 10 for free?
It seems Windows 8.1 is too old to run modern apps. This causes issues frequently and I need to upgrade to Windows 10 as it is much better based on the observation of my colleague's Windows 10 comput...
You can upgrade Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 for free. Microsoft offered a free upgrade to Windows 10 for users of Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 for a limited time, but even after the official deadline, the upgrade process still often works for many users.
You might find other methods online, but I strongly advise against them:
- Using an old Windows 10 "Assistive Technologies" Upgrade Page: The direct link to this page is now dead and redirects to the standard download page. The Media Creation Tool is the new vehicle for this upgrade.
- Using Windows 7/8.1 Product Keys: Sometimes you can clean-install Windows 10 and activate it using your Windows 8.1 product key. This is hit-or-miss and a clean install is more complex than an in-place upgrade.
- KMS Activators / Cracked Software: These are illegal, often contain malware or viruses, and can leave your system unstable or part of a botnet. Avoid these at all costs.