Microsoft to end free Windows 10 upgrades

Microsoft will stop prompting users to upgrade to its Windows 10 operating system when its offer to migrate for free expires on July 29 US time.

In a blog post on Friday, Microsoft said upgrading to Windows 10 would cost US$119 once the free promotion ends.

The company told WinBeta that prompts on Windows 7 and 8.1 PCs to upgrade to Windows 10 would cease at the same time.

“Details are still being finalised, but on July 29th the Get Windows 10 app that facilitates the easy upgrade to Windows 10 will be disabled and eventually removed from PCs worldwide. Just as it took time to ramp up and roll out the Get Windows 10 app, it will take time to ramp it down," it said.

Microsoft has been criticised by users for an aggressive Windows 10 upgrade campaign, using frequent pop-ups and even installing Windows 10 components in the background for users who haven't opted in to get them onto the new operating system.

Third-party apps have been created to disable Windows 10 upgrade prompts, while IT administrators have been given tools to block the notifications for business users.

The notifications famously interrupted a live weather broadcast on a TV station in the United States, and Microsoft annoyed businesses by bringing the prompts to Windows Pro and Enterprise machines in January after previously limiting them to home users.

Microsoft said it has around 300 million PCs running the new operating system 10 months after launch.