Windows 10 Becomes 'Recommended Update' For Windows 7 And Windows 8.1 Users

The day of reckoning has arrived for everyday Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users around the globe. Microsoft’s free Windows 10 operating system is getting bumped to first class, moving from an Optional update to a Recommended update via Windows Update.

The move to “Recommended” status means that a lot more people will initiate the Windows 10 installer when they go through the routine process of keeping their Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 installations up-to-date. And for the uninitiated, they’ll probably just keep clicking “Next” and “OK” until they find themselves staring at the Windows 10 welcome screen. Obviously, Microsoft is hoping that this is the case, as any new install will pad its numbers on the way to a hopeful [for Microsoft] one billion Windows 10 installations over the next two to three years.

Microsoft confirmed its change in Windows 10 policy with the following statement:

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

While Microsoft might be going after low-hanging fruit with the “Recommended” status for the Windows 10 update, more seasoned Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 users have a number of options at their disposal for blocking the update from rearing its head in your Windows Update listings. But be forewarned, if you’re running a Skylake-based system, Microsoft is making it a lot harder for you to remain keep up with the newest security updates while running an older version of Windows.