You Cannot Activate Windows 10 Using Windows 7, 8, 8.1 Product Key After July 29, 2016

When Windows 10 was first released, Microsoft made it available as free upgrade for existing Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users. At first, users only had the option to upgrade their existing Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 operating system to Windows 10. With the release of Windows 10 Threshold 2 (Build 1511), Microsoft changed this cumbersome upgrade process. Threshold 2 allowed users use their existing genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product key to clean install and activate Windows 10. But all this is going to change with the expiration of the Windows 10 Free Upgrade offer program on July 29, 2016.

Let’s see one by one, what to expect once the free upgrade offer expires. What are your options available? Will you be able to activate Windows 10 using Windows 7 or Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product key after July 29, 2016? How can you reinstall Windows 10 and activate it?

Windows 10

Can I Use Windows 7/8/8.1 Product Key to Activate Windows 10 After July 29, 2016?

That’s the first question that comes to every Windows 7/8/8.1 user. Can I activate Windows 10 using my Windows 7, or Windows 8, or Windows 8.1 product key after July 29, 2016. If you are in the impression that you can activate Windows 10 using your Windows 7, or 8, or 8.1 product key after July 29, 2016, you are wrong. According to Microsoft, users can activate Windows 10 using Windows 7, or 8, or 8.1 product key only during the free upgrade period.

Can I Use Windows 7,8,8.1 Product Key to Activate Windows 10 After July 29, 2016?

Disappointed? Well, if you planned to use your Windows 7, or 8, or 8.1 product key after July 29, 2016 to install and activate Windows 10. Time to change your plans. You still have time to install Windows 10 until July 29, 2016. Windows 10 will automatically activate online and create a digital entitlement for your device. After this, you can roll back to your previous operating system. You can reinstall Windows 10 later (even after July 29, 2016) on the same device without any major hardware changes, and your copy of Windows 10 should activate automatically.

What About Existing Copies of Windows 10 Activated Using Windows 7, 8, 8.1 Product Key?

After Successful Windows 10 Pro Activation

So, you have already activated Windows 10 using your Windows 7, or 8, or 8.1 product key. Wondering, what will happen after July 29, 2016 to your copy of Windows 10? You do not need to fear anything. Your Windows 10 will remain activated even after July 29, 2016. It will not get deactivated.

How to Reinstall/Clean Install Windows 10, Activate It, After July 29, 2016?

Windows 10

If you installed Windows 10 on your PC using your Windows 7, 8, 8.1 product key during the free upgrade period. Microsoft automatically activates Windows 10 and creates a digital entitlement for your PC. If you reinstall Windows 10 (even after July 29, 2016) on the same PC it should automatically activate. Provided, you did not make any major hardware changes, like replacing the motherboard. If Windows 10 is not activated automatically, you should contact Microsoft customer support.

Conclusion

You cannot use your Windows 7, or Windows 8, or Windows 8.1 product key to install and activate Windows 10 after July 29, 2016. If you plan to upgrade some day to Windows 10 on your PC in the future, you still have time to take advantage of the free upgrade offer now.

We highly recommend you avail the free offer and upgrade to Windows 10 before July 29, 2016. You do not lose anything if you do. You can easily downgrade after the upgrade, while your PC gets a digital entitlement. After your PC gets a digital entitlement, you can always install Windows 10 on it on any later date.

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