Microsoft Expands Windows 10 Upgrade Alerts to Biz Users

Has your work PC been upgraded to Windows 10? If not, you might be getting a nudge from Microsoft soon.

Redmond on Wednesday announced it will soon expand its somewhat controversial "Get Windows 10" app to small business users.

The app, which pops up on your PC's desktop, has been encouraging consumers with Windows 7 or 8.1 to upgrade to Windows 10. Sounds helpful enough, except some people have complained that the app makes it easy to accidentally install Windows 10.

Still, the app will begin rolling out "later this month" to devices running Windows 7 Pro or Windows 8.1 Pro, configured to receive updates directly from the Windows Update service, and/or have joined an Active Directory doman. Microsoft said it will first unleash the app on small business users in the U.S. before launching it in "additional markets shortly thereafter."

IT admins should read this support article, which includes details on how to prevent the app from running on employees' devices. Microsoft said it will not roll out the app to PCs in large corporations running its Enterprise edition software.

"We believe these changes balance the needs of small businesses and organizations that want to take advantage of the free Windows 10 upgrade offer … while providing organizations of all sizes the tools and controls they need," Redmond said.

At this point, more than 200 million devices around the world are running Windows 10, which adds things like support for virtual assistant Cortana and the new Microsoft Edge browser. It's free, as long as you're running a valid copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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