How to Download Windows 10 and Install it Without a Keyįirst, you'll need to download Windows 10. Whether you want to install Windows 10 in Boot Camp, put it on an old computer that isn't eligible for a free upgrade, or create one or more virtual machines, you don't actually need to pay a cent. And you can even pay to upgrade to a licensed copy of Windows 10 after you install it. It'll keep working for the foreseeable future, with only a few small cosmetic restrictions. Microsoft allows anyone to download Windows 10 for free and install it without a product key. If you want to upgrade to a licensed version later, you can purchase a Windows 10 license from the Windows Store, ranging from $120 for the Home Edition to $200 for the Professional Edition.An unactivated copy of Windows limits your ability to customize the appearance of the desktop, menus, and taskbar.You can download the Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft for free, without a license key, to install on a PC or a virtual machine.The trouble here is that pirates are getting genuine Windows even though they didn’t previously have genuine Windows. According to industry experts, use of pirated software, including Non-Genuine Windows, results in a higher risk of malware, fraud (identity theft, credit card theft, etc.), public exposure of your personal information, and a higher risk for poor performance or feature malfunctions.” “Genuine Windows is published by Microsoft, properly licensed, and supported by Microsoft or a trusted partner. “We believe genuine Windows is the best Windows,” a Microsoft spokesperson told VentureBeat. The company also gave us a generic boilerplate statement. Update: We’ve confirmed with a source close to Microsoft that devices which the company detects as non-genuine will not be offered the free upgrade to Windows 10. We have contacted Microsoft for more information and will update you if we hear back. “We will have details on this as we get closer to launch.” “We will provide a mechanism for non-genuine Windows 10 PC devices to ‘get genuine’ via the new Windows Store, whether they are upgraded versions of Windows or purchased,” a Microsoft spokesperson told VentureBeat back in March. This would suggest that the workaround depends on the crack that was used on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Pirates were supposed to be able to upgrade to Windows 10, yes, but the expectation was that they would be prompted to pay and activate - indeed, some users are experiencing just that. In short, this was not supposed to happen. On the same day that Windows 10 launched for PCs, it looks like pirates have already managed to figure out how to get the first two without paying a dime and without having to crack Windows 10. When Microsoft revealed that Windows 10 would have seven editions, the company also disclosed that the free upgrades for genuine users were to Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, and Windows 10 Mobile. They can use every feature, run Windows Update without any issue, and overall get the full Windows 10 experience for free just like any Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 user. Just like genuine users, these pirates are even getting new Windows 10 product keys, in case they want to do a fresh install. We’re thrilled to open our call for speakers to our flagship event, GamesBeat Summit 2024 hosted in Los Angeles, where we will explore the theme of “Resilience and Adaption”. That part isn’t a huge surprise - Microsoft did say pirates would be able to get Windows 10 - but the fact that Windows 10 is showing as “activated” is eyebrow-raising: Over on these two Reddit threads in the subreddit Piracy, both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users are reporting they have managed to successfully upgrade their pirated copy of Microsoft’s operating system to the latest and greatest. In May, the company reaffirmed this stance, but today we’re learning that pirates are successfully upgrading to Windows 10 for free. In March, reports suggested the offer would extend to pirates, though when we followed up with Microsoft, it turned out the Windows licenses would stay non-genuine and would be unsupported. Over the past few months, there has been a lot of hype surrounding Windows 10, in part because Microsoft is offering free Windows 10 upgrades to those running Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1. Are you looking to showcase your brand in front of the gaming industry’s top leaders? Learn more about GamesBeat Summit sponsorship opportunities here.