Microsoft is no longer allowing users to activate Windows 11 using a Windows 7 or Windows 8 key. The company had quietly announced the change two weeks ago, but Paul’s own testing showed that it was still possible to use Windows 7/8 keys to activate the latest stable version of Windows 11 (22H2) as well as the version 23H2 that’s available in the Release Preview channel.
However, Microsoft has now confirmed to The Verge that the loophole has been closed for good. Windows 7/8 keys no longer work to activate Windows 11, so users will need to purchase a new license. However, upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is still free if your PC meets the minimum hardware requirements.
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Microsoft’s free upgrade offer for Windows 7/8 devices officially ended July 29, 2016, but until now, the company still allowed these users to upgrade to the latest version of Windows for free. While you can actually install and use Windows 10 or Windows 11 without a valid license, you won’t have access to all features, including basic ones such as personalizing your desktop background or accent color.
It’s now been two years since Windows 11 has been on the market, and Microsoft has just released a big update with over 150 new features including the new AI-powered Copilot assistant. According to Statcounter, the OS currently has a 24.73% market share, with Windows 10 still dominating at 71.03%. The latter will be supported until October 2025, so it will likely remain the most popular version of Windows 10 for quite a while. The fact that core Windows 11 features such as the Taskbar and File Explorer have been rebuilt from the ground up and are still being worked on may also push some Windows 10 users to be patient.
With Microsoft now expected to go back to a three-year development cycle for Windows releases, we may see Windows 12 launch next year with an increased focused on AI. Windows 11 left many devices behind with a strict set of hardware requirements, and it will be interesting to see if Windows 12 will do the same.
