Windows 10 Becomes a Recommended Update on Windows 7 and 8.1

As promised, Microsoft has changed the Windows Update-based Windows 10 upgrade on Windows 7 and 8.1 PCs from an “optional” update to a “recommended” update. This means that more users will be prompted to upgrade to the latest Windows version.

As discussed in Microsoft Makes It Even Easier to Upgrade to Windows 10, Microsoft revealed this change as part of a broader plan to make it easier for people to upgrade to Windows 10. At the time the firm said that it would switch the Windows Update-based Windows 10 upgrade to a “recommended” update sometime in early 2016.

Well, that day is today.

“As we shared in late October, we are committed to making it easy for our Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 customers to upgrade to Windows 10,” a Microsoft spokesperson told me. “We updated the upgrade experience today to help our customers, who previously reserved their upgrade, schedule a time for their upgrade to take place.”

That representative also reminded me that “customers remain in full control and can easily decline the upgrade if they choose.”

As I wrote back in October, however, the change from “optional” to “recommended” is somewhat controversial, since Windows Update is considered a trusted source for updates. That is, it will probably cause the Windows 10 upgrade to automatically start on many PCs because most users configure Windows Update to automatically install recommended updates.

But Microsoft tells me you will be clearly prompted to choose whether or not to continue. And as always, you can always roll back to your previous Windows version (during the first month or so) if you’re not satisfied with the upgrade.

You will be assimilated.