Time is running out to get your free upgrade to Windows 10

The official deadline for getting your free upgrade is July 29 at 11:59pm UTC-10
WIRED

Microsoft's drawing its free Windows 10 upgrade period to an end tomorrow, marking a year since the OS first went on sale.

For the past year, users wanting to upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8 have been able to get the newest version of the operating system for free, but from tomorrow the upgrade will cost from $119 (£99), depending on the version you need.

Of course, if you don't update before that deadline, you also won't get the planned anniversary update included for free either, which is due for release on August 2.

This update plans to include improved security features, new Windows Ink functionality that makes better use of a stylus or smart pen, and more features for its Cortana voice assistant.

This last change doesn't come without controversy, however - you can no longer disable Cortana in the new update, according to PC World. In itself that perhaps wouldn't be too much of a problem, but in order for Cortana to work, you have to grant it all sorts of permissions to access your data, location, microphone and more.

Microsoft said last month that 350 million have already jumped across to Windows 10 and that figure has likely seen a late surge with tomorrow's deadline approaching.

The official deadline for the free upgrade is 11:59pm UTC-10 and its equivalent in the respective time zones. The UK is UTC-0, or simply UTC/GMT, but as the UK is currently on British Summer Time, it moves forward to UTC+1. Consequently, UTC would be 9:59am so BST moves it to 10:59am on July 30.

The free upgrade offer isn't available for devices running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Enterprise editions of Windows and Microsoft has warned that not every device eligible for upgrade will run every feature of Windows 10.

Instructions on how to download and upgrade to Windows 10 are available from Microsoft's official support pages, as well as more information about eligibility.

This article was originally published by WIRED UK