Will Windows 7 and 8.1 get a free upgrade to Windows 11?

Recently, a leaked build of Windows 11 revealed what will change in the new operating system, with many points being preserved and even a style that closely resembles Apple's macOS. But the question for many is whether they can upgrade to the shiny new Windows without paying a dime? This detail seems to be revealed when users can do it, as long as they are not using Windows 8.

As is known, Microsoft has been quite active in rolling out Windows 10 since a few years ago, leading to situations that are both funny and embarrassing. Part of their strategy is to offer Windows 10 as a free upgrade to users of older versions of Windows for at least a year or so. The latest rumors suggest that it looks like the company will continue to adopt the same strategy for Windows 11 but with some minor caveats.

The latest discovery from XDA Developers points to Windows 11 product configuration keys for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users. This means that those versions will likely be upgraded to Windows 11 for free when it's released. Interestingly, Windows 8 is not on that list, suggesting that users will have to upgrade to Windows 8.1 before upgrading to Windows 11.

Naturally, the update will also be free for Windows 10 users, especially since Windows 11 doesn't appear to be a feature-rich upgrade over its predecessor. Most of the changes leaked so far seem to revolve around occurrences, with the Start Menu and Taskbar being the biggest behavioral changes. It wouldn't be surprising if Microsoft equips Windows 11 with a toggle for them to return to the look and feel of Windows 10.

In fact, Windows 11 looks quite similar to Windows 10X but without the fundamental architectural changes. It should be easily updated through a Windows 10 feature release. It's unclear why Microsoft decided to change the operating system's name, but that's likely to be revealed at its upcoming event. company.

Lesley Montoya

Update 16 June 2021