Still running on Windows 8.1? If so, you should know this is your last chance for a free upgrade to Windows 10, as Microsoft is about to pull the plug on the "assistive technology loophole."
The thing is, you don't have that much time either since it's about to go down on Jan. 16, so it's pretty much a do-or-die situation at this point.
Assistive Technology Loophole
Microsoft stopped offering a free upgrade to Windows 10 since July 2016, but those who were using accessibility features of the OS had until Dec. 31, 2017, to upgrade. That has been extended to until Jan. 16, as PC World points out.
It's called the assistive technology loophole by some, and from the look of things, the company doesn't really mind if you take advantage of it, even if you don't use its accessibility tools.
Now if you're ready to take the plunge and upgrade to Windows 10, all you have to do is head on over to Microsoft official accessibility page and hit Upgrade Now.
Why You Should Upgrade To Windows 10
There isn't exactly an issue in using Windows 8.1, but it's worth noting that Microsoft has shut down support for it on Jan. 9. That means users of the OS won't get bug fixes, and they shouldn't expect any new features coming their way anymore.
However, the company did say that it's on "extended support" for five years, so security updates will still roll out until 2023.
Any Chance For An Extension?
Considering that Microsoft first announced that the assistive technology loophole would expire on Dec. 31, 2017, but was extended to Jan. 16, it's only natural to think that there's a chance the company will push the deadline to a later date.
Of course, without an official word from Microsoft itself, there's no way of knowing whether or not that's happening. In other words, those who have been on the fence about nabbing a free upgrade to Window 10 have to make a decision now to be on the safe side.
The Bottom Line
Long story short, Microsoft is about to stop offering free Windows 10 upgrades to everyone, including those who use its accessibility features.
If you're one of the people holding out on it, you better make up your mind whether you want to stay on Windows 8.1 or not because the deadline is Jan. 16.
