Windows 11 update for free? Here’s why these users may not have to pay for the upgrade

Windows 11 update could be free for some users, based on analysis of Microsoft’s upcoming operating system. Here’s why some users might be able to carry out a Windows 11 upgrade at no extra cost. Windows 11 event 2021 is being held today at 11 AM Eastern Time or 8:30PM Indian Standard Time.

Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system was available as a free upgrade for users running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, well over the promised one year upgrade deadline. (Pixabay)

Windows 11 is right around the corner, with Microsoft expected to announce the arrival of the “next generation” of Windows later on today at its Windows 11 event 2021. But the question foremost in people's minds is this - is it a free update? The new version of Microsoft's popular Windows operating system comes six years after it officially launched Windows 10. Since then, support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 has officially ended, while support for Windows 10 is scheduled to end in 2025. This means that Windows users will eventually need to upgrade to Windows 11. There is no other option available. Windows 11 event 2021 is being held today at 11 AM Eastern Time or 8:30PM Indian Standard Time.

So, what is Windows 11 price? When Windows 11 launches, will Microsoft offer a free upgrade for users on Windows 10 and older versions of the operating system. After all, Microsoft released Windows 10 as a free upgrade for existing Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users when it launched in 2015. The answer may well be positive. Yes, it is possible that Microsoft may allow users to upgrade to Windows 11 for free later this year. But then there is nothing official about. It is also being reported that Microsoft could charge a small fee for Windows 11 upgrade.

 

Here's why it's possible that Windows 11 could also be a free Windows upgrade this year:

A leaked build of Windows 10 recently started doing the rounds on the web, and users have been installing the build, even though it might not be the safest thing to do. Microsoft has raised a protest against this and wants it to be removed. Meanwhile, according to a report by XDA Developers, it looks like Windows 11 might actually allow users to upgrade from Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 to Windows 11 after all.

Upon examination of the product key configuration (PKeyConfig) files on Windows 11 by XDA, it was revealed that Microsoft has added support for upgrading from Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, while there is no reference to Windows 8 – this suggests that Windows 8 users will need to upgrade to Windows 8.1 before they can upgrade to Windows 11.

It is interesting to note that Microsoft had initially announced that Windows 10 would remain free to upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users -- but only for one year, and only if they had an existing valid Windows licence. While it looks like that one-year deadline was never enforced for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users who have still been able to upgrade, we will soon find out whether Microsoft will continue down the path it began with Windows 10 and offer a free upgrade to Windows 11 at the Microsoft event that is set to take place later today.