Windows 10 S Users with Assistive Tech Can Upgrade to Pro for Free

Windows 10 S Users with Assistive Tech Can Upgrade to Pro for Free

This week, Microsoft revealed that Windows 10 S users who require assistive technology can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for free.

“Microsoft is committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities and providing choices for devices and modes for operating Windows,” Microsoft’s Jeff Petty writes. “We will provide assistive technology users with a switch to Windows 10 Pro from Windows 10 S at no charge as we continue to improve our built-in assistive technology and bring more assistive technology apps to the Microsoft Store.”

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That latter line suggests that the free upgrade may not always be free. Indeed, Petty also notes that Microsoft is working closely with its assistive technology partners to help them deploy more assistive technology apps in the Microsoft Store.

But for now, it is similar to the deal Microsoft offers such customers on upgrading from Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10. This upgrade is likewise free.

Petty also details a host of accessibility improvements that are coming in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. These include improvements to Narrator and Magnifier, color filters to aid those with color blindness, new learning tools in Microsoft Edge, a word prediction on hardware keyboards. For more information, please refer to the Microsoft Accessibility Blog.

 

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Conversation 9 comments

  • Wizzwith

    19 May, 2017 - 2:01 pm

    <p>Why don't they just stop messing around and make it a free upgrade for good, period, instead of all these back door methods.&nbsp;For that matter it needs to just be free for individual system builders as well, heck, just free in general; free to use, pay for support.&nbsp; Well, OK, this is actually a different situation than&nbsp;the 7/8-10 upgrade, they shouldn't make S-to-Pro a free upgrade, except in this case, so would&nbsp;have to commend them for this move.&nbsp; </p>

  • tarnishedtinman

    19 May, 2017 - 4:49 pm

    <p>This isn't actually news.</p><p><br></p><p>On the Microsoft website for the Surface Laptop:</p><p>https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/devices/surface-laptop/overview</p><p><br></p><p>It says this (italics are mine):</p><p>"Need to run desktop apps not available in the Windows Store? You can switch to Windows 10 Pro easily through the Windows Store. <em>Free for a limited time."</em></p>

    • NazmusLabs

      19 May, 2017 - 9:32 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#118125"><em>In reply to tarnishedtinman:</em></a></blockquote><p>Hey, thanks for sharing this! It's a good offer for those who buy a Surface Laptop. I believe, however, the assistive tech offer also applies to other PCS running Windows 10 Store, not just the Surface laptop. It is likely this over stretches long beyond 2018, but I could be wrong.</p>

  • BoItmanLives

    19 May, 2017 - 5:36 pm

    <p>So.. ship with crippled windows but the unlock to noncrippled is free. </p><p>Why not just ship the damn things with uncrippled windows in the first place?</p><p>The next RT, ladies and gentlemen. Good lord who do they have running things at MS..</p>

    • Waethorn

      19 May, 2017 - 6:46 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#118141"><em>In reply to BoItmanLives:</em></a></blockquote><p>Satay Nutella. He's nuts.</p>

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