Free Windows 10 upgrade: is it still possible in 2026?

No. Since fall 2023, Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 licenses no longer activate Windows 10 or Windows 11 for free. On top of that, Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025: it no longer gets security updates except through the paid ESU program. In 2026, the right move is upgrading to Windows 11, which is free for Windows 10 computers that meet the requirements.

What has changed since 2020

When we published this article in April 2020, the official free upgrade offer had ended a few years earlier, but Microsoft was still activating Windows 10 on computers upgraded from a Windows 7 or 8.1 license. ZDNet’s Ed Bott tested this method year after year. Microsoft shut it down for good in 2023.

Back then, we also recommended upgrading because Windows 7 was no longer getting security updates. Today, the same goes for Windows 10.

What do you do with computers still running Windows 10?

• Computers compatible with Windows 11 move to Windows 11 for free (the steps are below).
• Computers that can’t be replaced right away can get Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) for a fee, until October 2028 at the latest. ESU is a temporary fix, and the cost rises every year.
• Incompatible computers get replaced. Those still running Windows 7 or 8.1 also need a new license.

What are the Windows 11 requirements?

In short, according to Microsoft’s specifications:

• a compatible processor of at least 1 GHz with at least 2 cores (generally, 8th-generation Intel and AMD Ryzen 2000 or newer);
• 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage;
• UEFI firmware with Secure Boot;
• TPM 2.0.

Microsoft’s PC Health Check app tells you in a few seconds whether a computer is compatible.

How do you upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11?

The most important thing to remember: back up your data first. The upgrade keeps your files and apps, but a problem during installation can leave you without them. RezolvIT’s Backup as a Service backs up your data on your network and in the cloud.

1. Back up your important documents, apps and data.
2. Check compatibility with PC Health Check.
3. Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. If the Windows 11 upgrade is available for your computer, it shows up here; choose “Download and install.”
4. If it doesn’t show up, use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from Microsoft’s download page.
5. After the upgrade, check activation under Settings > System > Activation. Your Windows 10 license carries over to Windows 11 automatically.

In a company, the upgrade is planned, not done one computer at a time. It’s first tested on a few workstations with the apps used every day (accounting, ERP, printers), and then the rest are moved over.

RezolvIT offers companies a free IT audit, computer checks and operating system upgrades to Windows 11.