Earlier this week, it was revealed that Windows 7 and Windows 8 keys no longer work for activation of Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft has now officially confirmed this change in a statement to The Verge.
This upgrade method offered users the opportunity to seamlessly transition from older versions of Windows (such as Windows 7 or 8) to the more recent Windows 10 or 11 operating systems without any cost. Without buying a new key, users could opt for a system update, which would upgrade their existing Windows installation, or perform a clean install, where a fresh installation of Windows 10 or 11 would replace the older version. As a result, users received an activated system with a digital license linked to the device on a Microsoft server.
It is worth noting that officially this method was supposed to work only for a year after the release of Windows 10 in 2015. However, Microsoft didn't close the loophole. It allowed a large number of users to switch from outdated Windows 7 and Windows 8 to newer versions of Windows for free. But now things have changed.
This modification specifically pertains to fresh installations of Windows. If you have previously upgraded to Windows 10 or 11 using a Windows 7 or 8 product key, there is no cause for concern as your digital license remains legitimate. But now you must now acquire a new license key.
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