This was originally intended as a "free upgrade" offer that Microsoft officially ended years ago, but the activation servers have never been turned off. If you have a genuine Windows 7 key lying around, there is a very high chance it will work on a fresh installation of Windows 10.
Did you know your old Windows 7 product key might still work? Find out if you can activate Windows 10 for free using your legacy license key in 2024. can i use windows 7 key for windows 10
There are a few scenarios where this trick will fail: This was originally intended as a "free upgrade"
While Microsoft notoriously left a "loophole" open for years after the official 2016 free upgrade deadline, they definitively closed this path in . Here is a detailed look at the current state of activation, what still works, and how to move forward. The Current Status of Windows 7 to 10 Upgrades Find out if you can activate Windows 10