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Microsoft to end its free Windows 10 accessibility upgrade offer by end of year

As you may already know, currently you are able to get Windows 10 for free using your Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 key. You can use it in Windows 10 and the OS will become activated. Another way to get it is a special web site which offers the OS for free for users who use assistive technologies. Now, the Redmond software giant has decided to end the free offer for assistive technology users by the end of the year.

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Free Uprade Is Over

Assistive technology users are those who are differently-abled and need ease of access features of Windows to interact with a PC better. Special accessibility features built into Windows are extremely helpful for these people because of their handicap.

Microsoft's assistive technologies website now shows a special note that Microsoft will be ending the offer by the end of 2017. The text claims:

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 December 31, 2017.

This means that you can still grab your copy of Windows 10 for free, but you need to hurry.

Starting with the Windows 10 "November Update" (version 1511), you can enter your Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 serial number right in the installer and avoid the upgrade procedure. This will allow you to install and activate the desired build of Windows 10 instantly. After the installation, Windows 10 will verify the product key and convert it into a special digital license. This process is transparent to the end user and makes Windows 10 eligible for all free feature upgrades released in the future.

Microsoft is interested in getting all their users migrated to Windows 10. This is the time to decide if you want to eventually get Windows 10 since you can still get it for free.

For now, you can use this offer, upgrade to Windows 10 temporarily, link the license to your Microsoft account and then downgrade immediately to Windows 7 or 8.

Once your Windows 10 license is linked to your Microsoft account, later if you decide to permanently use Windows 10 and dump your copy of Windows 7 or 8.1, it shouldn't be a problem as you'll only need to sign in to Windows 10 with that Microsoft account and your license should get restored.

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Author: Sergey Tkachenko

Sergey Tkachenko is a software developer who started Winaero back in 2011. On this blog, Sergey is writing about everything connected to Microsoft, Windows and popular software. Follow him on Telegram, Twitter, and YouTube.

5 thoughts on “Microsoft to end its free Windows 10 accessibility upgrade offer by end of year”

      1. being blindfolded is a handicap
        being blind is a disability

        i thought the world had moved on, but hey, what do i know? I’m handicapped!

    1. Well, according to Cambridge dictionary and some other internet sources this word can indeed be understood as insulting.

      1. Yet, I’ve to admit that for me, personally, considering that handicap originates from “a person who carries a heavier burden than normally” seems to be milder than “limited by physical condition”.

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