

However, if the user got an upgrade key before the discontinuation date, the tool still works on Windows 7.Īll editions of Windows Vista (excluding Enterprise) are stored on the same retail and OEM optical media-a license key for the edition purchased determines which edition is eligible for installation. Support for this feature was discontinued on October 31, 2015. In Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 it was rebranded as Add Features to Windows and was used to purchase an upgrade license for the Pro edition or to add Windows Media Center to an existing Pro installation. Windows Anytime Upgrade is included in Windows 7 to allow users to upgrade to Windows 7 editions. Prices for upgrades purchased through Windows Anytime Upgrade were lower than prices for upgrades purchased at retail. Windows Anytime Upgrade ( Add Features to Windows) was a discontinued service by Microsoft introduced in Windows Vista that facilitated upgrades across successive editions of Windows Vista.

If you don't have a valid Windows license, you'll need to buy Windows 11, just as with Windows 10.Discontinued service by Microsoft Windows Anytime Upgrade Also, most laptops you can buy do include a Windows license, so you won't have to buy it again. You still need a valid license, but if you're using Windows 10, that license will transfer over. It's also worth noting that this doesn't mean Windows 11 itself is free. In that sense, you could have to buy a new PC or upgrade some components to use it. However, Windows 11 has higher system requirements that not every PC will meet. It wouldn't make a ton of sense for the company to split its userbase again. Since it released Windows 10, we've often heard the company talk about how many devices are running the OS. You might even be able to do it if you're using an older version of Windows. This is because Microsoft wants Windows to be as unified a platform as possible. In conclusion, yes, you can upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free. You can use the Media Creation Tool to upgrade to Windows 10 right now, then get the Windows 11 upgrade once it's available. Even if you can't upgrade directly to Windows 11, another option is to go through Windows 10 first.
