Ultimate Guide to How to Download Windows 10 for Free
6 min readDon’t worry if you are using an older version of windows then this article will guide you on how to download windows 10 for free.
When Windows 10 first arrived, grabbing a free upgrade was as smooth as clicking the get windows 10 notification prompt.
Things are a bit different now, however.
Microsoft no longer supports an older version of windows, which means there is no more technical support, security updates, or bug-squashing.
In different words, the older version is now unsafe to use, making this a perfect time to switch to windows 10.
Unfortunately, the original free upgrade period for the two older versions ended years ago, and the workaround to download windows 10 64-bit full version for free with dependable technologies ended not long after that.
No need to worry, though there are still ways to get Microsoft’s latest operating system without paying for a new license or breaking any rules.
Before getting ahead while downloading Windows 10, if you ever end up losing your files & folders, then there is software that can easily restore all your important data in a go.
Well, the Software is none other than, Stellar Windows Data Recovery Software…….You Can Easily Download the Free version of the Software from the link below 👇 👇
>>Stellar Windows Data Recovery Software Free Download<<
Product Keys and Digital Licenses
It would be best to have a valid product key or a digital license to get a free upgrade.
What’s the difference? When you purchase an operating system from Microsoft or any retailer, it comes with a product key to unlock it.
It is printed and included in the packaging, emailed to you, or kept in the cloud, which is normally the case for system builders.
What is a Digital License?
A digital license connects your installed Windows platform to a key installed in prebuilt systems from Acer, Dell, HP, and many more.
For a long time, these manufacturers printed product keys on labels stuck on PCs or printed and inserted them into product packaging.
Microsoft’s product keys are work only once, but hackers sometimes find workarounds to use the same key on multiple PCs.
That led Microsoft and producers to introduce digital licenses in Windows 8 as an antipiracy measure, so end users aren’t installing the platform on additional machines.
However, Microsoft also moved Windows 7 over to this method.
This license becomes locked to your Microsoft account.
If you equally purchased and no longer use these older versions, Microsoft’s Windows 10 activation servers will accept windows 7 and windows 8.1 keys on your PC.
What if I Can’t Find My Key?
However, if you are upgrading from windows 7 and can’t find the key, you can try signing in to your Microsoft account and checking past downloads to see if your product key is there.
Sites like Amazon also keep a record of purchased downloads, but these rarely include the product key itself, though it may help narrow down where it could be.
Finally, you can have the windows 10 operating system free download the full version with key and perform a clean install.
It will then pull the valid windows 8 or 8.1 license key from your prebuilt system’s motherboard and move on.
In all other cases, you must supply an authentic, genuine product key during the setup process, or you can do it later by visiting settings>update & security>activation.
How to Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool
Despite officially ending the free update promotion in mid-2016, Microsoft quietly keeps this option available so all windows PC owners can run the latest version.
Again, unless you have a valid digital license or product key to get a free upgrade, you will need to pay for a new Windows 10 home product key.
Step 1:
Your first step in acquiring a free windows 10 upgrade is to visit Microsoft’s download windows 10 webpage.
Step 2:
Select the Download Tool Now button.
You’ll see MediaCreationTool21H1.exe download onto your PC, which shouldn’t take longer than a minute to occur.
Disconnect any unnecessary accessories to help reduce the chance of errors.
Step 3:
Launch the media creation tool.
Step 4:
Once Windows 10 is downloaded, open it, and accept Microsoft’s terms.
As mentioned above, you have two options upgrade the current PC, or create installation media that will either upgrade another PC or perform a clean install on the current PC.
However, in both cases, the tool will temporarily download a disk image of Windows 10, so be sure you have enough space for the file (around 4GB, at least}.
Step 5:
Select the Upgrade this PC now option and follow the prompts.
The tool will scan your computer to see if it’s compatible and may present a list of problematic programs or hardware that could stall the upgrade.
If needed, uninstall programs to address the installer’s concerns.
Step 6:
With all issues resolved, the installer will try to port over all the data it can.
Keep in mind, however, the vast gap between windows 7 and windows 10 in terms of the software you use.
If you are ditching Windows 7 after using it for many years, you probably have a lot of data stored in files and apps.
We can’t assure that all files and apps will be compatible with windows 10, and some may stop working.
Step 7:
It is important to be aware of this and prepare before upgrading.
Back up or convert any important data before you continue.
Step 8:
Finish installation.
Step 9:
As the installer progresses, your PC will restart a few times. As part of the process, it will pull your existing digital license from your hardware during the setup, you won’t need to activate it.
If prompted for a valid product key, enter it now or do so later by visiting settings>update & security>activation.
Keep in mind that this won’t work for windows XP or windows vista, as these versions of windows never qualified for the free windows 10 upgrade.
Step 10:
You’ll also receive the same flavor of windows that first shipped with your PC-Home, pro, enterprise, or education.
If you’d rather use windows 10 pro instead of the windows 10 home update, you must purchase a new product key.
However, by following these steps you can easily download the Windows 10 media creation tool which will help you to run your windows smoothly.
Note: Before moving forward, we want to tell you that with the free version of Stellar Windows Data Recovery Software, You can only preview your files, for the full recovery, you have to buy the Softaware.
Though, if you are facing the issue of data loss, then you must consider buying this Software, to get al your data back safely.
Download Stellar free unlimited data recovery software
Buy Stellar – Best Data Recovery Software
Other Methods for Getting Windows 10
The above mention methods are the best way to get windows 10 for free, at least for now.
There are other ways you can get windows 10 free download 32 bit if you need it, including free and low-cost options that may be worth exploring.
Download Windows 10 Without Activating
Technically, you can download windows 10 from Microsoft and not activate it, which means you don’t pay for it.
It turns out this is safer than it sounds because Microsoft is pretty lax about enforcing activation.
Your copy of windows shouldn’t shut down, but some limitations kick in after your 30-day evaluation:
- An activate windows watermark appears in the bottom-right corner.
- A window isn’t activated, activate windows now notification appears in the settings.
- Personalization features such as changing the wallpaper and accent colors are disabled.
- Updates may discontinue in the future.
- Various apps and features stop working.
- You will receive daily notifications to activate.
- No technical support.
We want to stress that using an unactivated version of Windows 10 is not permitted by Microsoft.
Although, it may appear like a fantastic steal (sounds about right), in reality, you are breaking the rules and defying Microsoft’s licensing agreement.
Microsoft would be completely within its rights to pursue legal damages against anyone using the windows 10 OS unactivated, though they have not done so yet as far as we know.
Better safe than sorry. In the end, if Microsoft wanted to stop people from using these versions, they could do it.
Buy a Third-Party Windows 10 Key
You can find third-party vendors who sell windows 10 manufacturer keys at a bargain.
Going through these companies enables you to purchase the keys at half (or even lower) of the full Microsoft price.
While it may sound like a scam, you can find reliable vendors who just happen to have a good price, but you need to stay on your toes.
What customers need to do is hunt for trustworthy key vendors who offer incredible bargains.
Easier said than done, though.
Windows 10 Pro Free Download
Microsoft allows everyone to download windows 10 pro for free and install it without a product key.
It will keep working for the foreseeable future, with only a few small cosmetic restrictions.
And you can even pay to upgrade to a licensed copy of Windows 10 after you install it.
Download windows 10 ISO
To use the media creation tool, visit the Microsoft software download windows 10 page from a Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 device.
You can use this page to download a disc image (ISO file) that can be used to install or reinstall windows 10.
Summary
So from the above article, we get the complete idea about downloading windows 10 for free and using it smoothly.
However, it is compulsory to have a product key and digital license of your windows 10 because without finding this you are unable to download it.
You must follow the above-mentioned detailed steps to download the Windows 10 media creation tool which will become beneficial for you in several ways.