For users with computers running on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 who procrastinated on downloading and installing the free upgrade to Windows 10, the sad news is that the offer has been ended by Microsoft on July 29.
With the end of the free upgrade program after a year of notifications, users will have to pay $119 for the Windows 10 Home Edition and $199 for the Windows 10 Pro Edition.
Fortunately, there is still a way to get the free Windows 10 upgrade, as Microsoft is still offering the update at no cost for users of assistive technologies.
To launch the update process, users will have to access the Windows 10 free upgrade page for customers who use assistive technologies. Users will then have to click on the Upgrade Now button, which will download an executable file that users should then run to begin the download and installation of the free update to Windows 10.
The method is meant for users who utilize Microsoft's assistive technologies, as the website states. However, at no point in the process does the system ask for proof of such, meaning that users with computers still on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 can take advantage of the method to make up for missing the full year of the official free Windows 10 upgrade that Microsoft offered.
The free upgrade into Windows 10 for users of assistive technologies was flagged earlier in the year, though the official offer was still in place back then. With the expiration of that offer, users who missed it for whatever reason will have to resort to this backup plan.
A spokeswoman for Microsoft, however, said that this method is not intended to be a workaround for users who missed the free offer, which expired on July 29, and who do not use assistive technology.
As for a deadline to this method, the website states that there is no announced end date yet for the offer. Microsoft will be making a public announcement before it ends the free Windows 10 upgrade for assistive technology users, but just to be on the safe side, it would be best to not procrastinate any longer and start the Windows 10 upgrade process as soon as possible.
Microsoft is about to release the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, which is expected to be one of the biggest updates for the operating system. The update includes security improvements, enhanced Cortana abilities, improved Microsoft Edge browser, more promoted apps and Windows 10 Mobile fingerprint support.
