Here's one way to get Windows 10 for free, even if you don't have a valid Windows 7 or 8 license

We already know that Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8.x users. We also know that if you missed the limited time upgrade offer, it’s still possible to buy a standalone copy that costs up to US$199 (that’s for Windows 10 Pro).

But what if you’ve just built a new PC, or if you’re a Mac user, who don’t have a valid license and don’t want to pony up the cash at the same time?

Well, according to a recent Microsoft blog post, there’s a way out: join the Windows Insider program.

To quote Microsoft’s Gabe Aul (emphasis ours):

Windows Insiders running the Windows 10 Insider Preview (Home and Pro editions) with their registered MSA connected to their PC will receive the final release build of Windows 10 starting on July 29th. This will come as just another flight. I’ve gotten a lot of questions from Windows Insiders about how this will work if they clean installed from ISO. As long as you are running an Insider Preview build and connected with the MSA you used to register, you will receive the Windows 10 final release build and remain activated. Once you have successfully installed this build and activated, you will also be able to clean install on that PC from final media if you want to start over fresh.

In short, sign up for the Windows Insider program, install the preview build (currently, it’s at Build 10130) and sign in using the same Microsoft account you used to register for the Insider program, and you’ll be able to upgrade to the final build come July 29. More importantly, after the upgrade, that copy of Windows 10 will remain genuine and activated. And yes, this works even if you’ve clean installed the preview, either on a PC you’ve just assembled, or for Mac users, on a virtual machine or via Boot Camp.

Sure, things may change, and we can definitely foresee terms in the final licensing agreement that target abuse. And it’s also unclear at this point what other restrictions this route has, and if this is yet another time limited ‘offer’. Still, if you’ve been hoping for another way to get Windows 10 for free because the upgrade offer doesn’t apply to you, you now have one.

Update (June 22): Microsoft has tweaked the wording in the aforementioned blog post. Now, there's no mention of activation; and at the end of the above quoted paragraph, there's this extra sentence, "It’s important to note that only people running Genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 can upgrade to Windows 10 as part of the free upgrade offer."

If you're stumped by the edits, you're not alone. The last sentence on needing a valid copy of Windows 7 or 8.1 in order to get the free upgrade is old news, and it doesn't gel with the text that came before it, which is a confirmation that preview builds clean installed from an ISO will be getting the final build. To clear any doubts, Microsoft's Gabriel Aul has confirmed it once again on Twitter just yesterday. In short, the delivery process doesn't look to have changed. The tweaked wording is probably at the request of the legal team, in order not to portray that Microsoft is encouraging users to take advantage of this 'loophole'.

Update x 2 (June 23): Some of you have asked whether this means Microsoft has softened its stance against pirated Windows. Well, no. In this blog post in May, Microsoft's Terry Myerson has stressed that only genuine versions of Windows 7 or 8.1 can upgrade to Windows 10 for free. If you're running a pirated (or suspected pirated) copy, you're not entitled to this free upgrade. In fact, you may even see a watermark on your desktop. If so, you should approach your PC maker to see if they've a genuine Windows 10 upgrade offer for sale. Also, if you do managed to upgrade a pirated copy to Windows 10, know that it will not turn genuine or licensed. So don't expect any form of support for that.

Of course, this doesn't really answer the question of whether Windows Insiders will get a free Windows 10 license if they've done a clean install using a preview ISO. Maybe you still need to provide a valid Windows 7/8 key during the upgrade to the final bits; maybe MSA somehow knows if you've a valid license or not - but we'd never know until Microsoft clarifies (again) or when we try it ourselves come July 29.

Update x 3 (June 23): In a clarification done right, Microsoft has just made its best attempt yet to clear up the recent confusion on whether there's a loophole to get a free Windows 10 license. In short, no. But you can keep using Windows 10 for free forever as long as you remain enrolled in the Insider program and use the preview builds that come with it. More details can be found here.

Well, just so you know.

Source: Microsoft.

Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.