The Windows 10 Anniversary Update is set to be released next week, August 2, which means that the Windows 10 free upgrade is rapidly drawing to a close. After Friday, July 29, if you have not upgraded to Windows 10 you will need to fork out $100 for Windows 10 Home.

Windows 10 has been installed on over 350 million devices, as of end June, but if you haven’t fallen in love with Windows 10 yet, we look at how you can downgrade before time runs out.

How to upgrade from Windows 7 and 8 to Windows 10

Step 1: Before you start the upgrade to Windows 10 it is important to make a backup of all your important files, photos etc. if they are not stored in a Cloud service.

Step 2: Go to the Windows 10 download page > click the Download tool now button > Run > Upgrade this PC now.

Note: Depending on your internet speed the Windows 10 download can take between 20 and 60 minutes.

Step 3: Accept the license terms. The installer will check your PC is compatible with Windows 10, that there is enough free space and will start the download.  

Step 4: Click Install Windows 10 and your machine will reboot.

If you are not completely sold by the idea of upgrading to Windows 10, but don’t want pay for the operating system from next week, then there is a solution. Read our article for step-by-step instructions on how you can get a free upgrade of Windows 10 post-July, 29, which requires you to upgrade to Windows 10 and then roll back to either Windows 7 or 8. However, as the upgrade gives your PC digital entitlement, you will be able to download Windows 10 for free post-July 29.

Image credit: MattysFlicks; Flickr