Microsoft allows anyone to download Windows 10 for free and install it without a product key. It will continue to operate for the foreseeable future, with only a few small cosmetic limitations. You can also pay to upgrade to a licensed copy of Windows 10 following you install it.
whether you want it Install Windows 10 in Boot CampPut it on an old computer Not eligible for a free upgradeor Create one or more virtual machinesYou don’t actually need to pay a single cent.
Muhaddith, 18/7/22: We’ve reviewed this article and made sure that it still works with the latest version of Windows 10.
How to download and install Windows 10 without a key
Related: Where to Download Windows 10, 8.1, 7 ISO Legally
First, you will need to Download Windows 10. You can download it directly from Microsoft, and you don’t even need a product key to download a copy.
there Windows 10 Download Tool It works on Windows systems, which will help you to create a USB drive to install Windows 10. If you are not using Windows, you can visit Windows 10 ISO Download Page To download the ISO file directly (for example, if you are installing Windows 10 in Boot Camp on a Mac). If you visit that page on a Windows device, you will be redirected to the download tool page instead.
Simply start the installation process and install Windows 10 as you normally would. One of the first screens you’ll see will ask you to enter your product key so you can Activate Windows. However, you can just click the “I don’t have a product key” link at the bottom of the window and Windows will let you continue with the installation process. You may be asked to enter a product key later in the process as well – if you are, just look for a similar little link to skip that screen.
If you don’t see this option, you can also provide a file KMS Client Setup Key to complete. These keys will not give you an active copy of Windows unless you are in an organization with a key management service, but they will allow you to go through the Windows installation process.
When you select this option, you will be able to install either “Windows 10 Home” or “Windows 10 Pro”. Keep in mind that if you plan to pay to upgrade to the paid version later, it will be cheaper to upgrade to Windows 10 Home, so you may want to install the Home version. Whatever version you choose, Windows 10 will install normally.
cosmetic restrictions
Related: How does Windows activation work?
After installing Windows 10 without a key, It won’t actually be activated. However, there are not many limitations to the inactive version of Windows 10. With Windows XP, Microsoft used Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) to disable access to your computer. These days, Windows is complaining regarding you in many simple cosmetic ways.
At first, you won’t notice any difference. Eventually, Windows will start to annoy you a bit. First, you will notice a watermark in the lower right corner of your screen. You will also see the message “Windows is not activated. Activate Windows now.” At the bottom of the Settings app. This is the only form of nag you’ll see – no popups, for example.
Second, you will not be able to change the desktop background and from the Personalization screen > Background in the Settings app. You’ll see a “You need to activate Windows before you can customize your PC” message at the top of this window, and the options for changing your wallpaper will be greyed out.
However, you can still change your wallpaper in other ways. For example, you can right-click an image in File Explorer and select “Set as desktop background.” You can also open an image in the Photos app, tap the menu button, tap Set As, and tap Set As Wallpaper. Windows 7 eventually brought you back to a black background, but Windows 10 doesn’t seem to do that.
You’ll find Windows 10 wallpapers included under the C:WindowsWeb folder in File Explorer.
Aside from these basic limitations, Windows 10 will continue to run forever. There are no nag prompts apart from the watermark, you get all system updates, and everything else is fully functional. The only thing that might change this is updating Windows 10, but Microsoft has become increasingly lax since Windows 7.
How to upgrade Windows 10 to an active version
With Windows 10, you can now pay to upgrade a “non-genuine” copy of Windows to a licensed copy. Open the Settings app and head to Update & Security > Activation. You will see a Go to Store button which will take you to the Windows Store if Windows is not licensed.
In the Store, you can purchase an official Windows license that will activate your PC. The Home edition of Windows 10 costs $120, while the Pro edition costs $200. This is a digital purchase, and it will instantly activate your existing Windows installation. You do not need to purchase a physical license.
We installed Windows 10 Professional as an example here, so the Windows Store will allow us to purchase a Windows 10 Pro license for only $200.
This option may not be available in all countries. Prices here are for the US version of the Windows Store. Microsoft charges different prices in different countries and currencies.
Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 worked pretty much the same way. Microsoft didn’t officially allow you to download Windows without a product key, and there was no way to fully upgrade to a licensed system from within Windows. This makes it even more tempting with Windows 10 – for example, you can install Windows 10 in Boot Camp on your Mac for free, and if you find yourself using it frequently, you can quickly push to remove the watermark if it’s worth it It’s like a demo It’s free, and you can use it to create all the virtual machines you want for testing purposes.
Sure, the license agreement might say you’re not supposed to use it without a key, but Microsoft’s license agreements say all sorts of confusing things. Microsoft licensing agreement still It is forbidden to use popular “OEM” versions of Windows 10 On computers that you build yourself. If Microsoft doesn’t want people to use inactive copies of Windows 10 for long periods of time, it can release a system update that disables that.