After installing Windows 10, activate the Windows using the product key you used to activate your previous Windows version.Īn activation key is good for running Windows on only one PC. Back up your data before installing Windows as a safety measure. To do this, download Windows 10 and install it. For example, if you have Windows 7, Windows 8, or 8.1 installed, you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free.Įven though Microsoft officially ceased support for Windows 7 and 8, users report that a free upgrade to Windows 10 is still possible. One way to get Windows 10 for free is by upgrading to previous versions of Windows. Upgrade from older versions (Windows 7 and 8)

However, that is unethical and makes you liable to pay Microsoft in full if your theft is discovered. If you have your college email ID but are not currently a student, you may still be able to get an access key to Windows 10 Education through your institution. With additional security, management and deployment, and device control features, Windows 10 Education is more streamlined for education.

If your institution is eligible, you can download your free upgrade after filling in some personal information such as name, email, and student ID.Īs for features, Windows 10 Education is the same as Windows 10 Enterprise but is geared with tools designed for students and teachers, as the target audience for Windows 10 Education is academic institutions. In that case, it means that your college or university is not a participating institution, and you are not eligible for a free upgrade. Suppose the name of your institution does not appear in the drop-down menu. You can check the eligibility of your college or university by going to the OnTheHub website and entering the name of your institution. Windows 10 Education is free if available at your university or college, but your college fees would most likely include its cost. Only a select few educational institutions offer Windows 10 Education, and the availability of free Windows 10 Education also varies within institutions, i.e., between different departments.įor example, one department in your university may have access to Windows 10 Education, but another department may not. You must be enrolled in a college or university to become eligible for a free Windows 10 key. Microsoft usually has an affiliation with schools, colleges, and universities, which allows their students to use Windows 10 Education for free.

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