HOW TO DOWNLOAD A FREE WINDOWS 10 FULL VERSION OS

Editors' note, Nov. 3, 2017: This story was updated to specify that the free upgrade for those seeking assistive technologies will expire Dec. 31. After that, all users will need to pay for the Windows 10 upgrade, which starts at $119. 

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Yes, there's still a way to get Windows 10 for free.

screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET

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Microsoft hasn't yet closed the door all the way for those in search of a Windows 10 freebie.

Until Dec. 31, you can get your hands on a no-cost upgrade to Windows 10 through an exception made for those who seek assistive technologies.

You qualify for the free upgrade if you use assistive technologies, which include such features as a magnifier to better see the screen, a narrator to read text aloud, keyboard shortcuts and an on-screen keyboard. Such tech is "designed to provide additional accessibility to individuals who have physical or cognitive difficulties, impairments, and disabilities," according to Microsoft.

Following the trials and tribulations of Windows 8, Microsoft has been working hard to coax people to jump to Windows 10. The free upgrade offer for users of Windows 7 and 8.1 was a huge part of the company's strategy to push Windows 10. That freebie has since expired and people must now pay $119 for the Home edition or $199 for the Pro edition -- with the exception of assistive tech users.

Here's how to get the upgrade at no charge:

From a Windows 7 or 8.1 device, go to the webpage entitled "Windows 10 free upgrade for customers who use assistive technologies." Click on the Upgrade now button. Run the executable file to install the upgrade.

Microsoft then displays a series of screens that take you step by step through the setup process. Follow the screens until Windows 10 is comfortably nestled into your device.

Ever since Microsoft launched Windows 10, it’s made the OS officially or unofficially available. Officially, you stopped being able to download or upgrade your system to Windows 10 on July 29, 2016. Unofficially, you can still download an upgrade license for the OS. And despite statements from Microsoft that it would absolutely-no-fooling-really-truly kill the Windows 10 free upgrade offer on December 31, 2017, that offer is still good.

Microsoft’s first giant push to convince customers to use Windows 10 was marred by an increasingly heavy hand as the campaign went on, to the point that it was both accused of malware tactics and later admitted to the same. We’ll never know exactly how many people avoided the upgrade for this reason alone, but some readers have indicated they were disgusted by the company’s behavior and refused to update.

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Without implying that Windows 7 or Windows 8 users have to change their mind on that, it’s worth noting Windows 7 exits support by 2020, with Windows 8.1 out of long-term support in 2023. Windows 8 users have a little while, Windows 7 users have less. Microsoft also now locks out updates on Intel and AMD systems based on Kaby Lake, Ryzen, or Bristol Ridge, though there are some ways to bypass that block. Either way, Windows 10 may be a nice OS to have as an option, even if you don’t immediately start using it.

Here’s how you can still get a free copy of Windows 10 directly from Microsoft: Visit this webpage, attest that you use assistive technologies baked into Windows, and download the executable provided. It’s that simple. Maybe it’ll still vanish soon, maybe it won’t, but we don’t recommend waiting. Better safe than sorry and whatnot.

As for why Microsoft keeps threatening to pull the rug, I’m guessing the company has seen adoption rates from already running computers fall off over time. It’s been over 2.5 years since Windows 10 launched, and MS was never going to leave this backdoor in its own policy open forever. If you haven’t upgraded by now, I suppose Microsoft thinks you’re never going to actually upgrade, and OEMs would probably be happier if MS shut down the option since it competes with their ability to offer Windows 10 as a new OS on their devices.

Microsoft has also plowed ahead with the idea of Windows-as-a-service, in a bid to convince customers that being upgraded to the latest and greatest is the best way to be. Closing this loophole at some point may be an attempt to shove customers towards new hardware as opposed to letting them upgrade existing installations — though again, I’m not sure the volume is high enough to matter either way.