Get Windows 10 prompt without “no thanks” option

0
185

Microsoft’s Get Windows 10 application is deployed on computer systems running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to advertise and push the new operating system as a free upgrade on those devices. It appears, that Microsoft has modified the app leaving the crucial option to decline the update behind in the dust.

A screenshot posted by PC World’s Brad Chacos on Twitter highlights the new Get Windows 10 prompt.

The prompt displays whether the underlying computer is compatible, and advertises the advantages of the Windows 10 operating system.

The two core buttons provided by the app are “upgrade now” or “start download, upgrade later”. An option to decline the update is missing, and while experienced users may close the prompt by simply clicking on the x-icon window control, users who are not nearly as experienced may inadvertently select one of the two buttons instead which will upgrade the system to Windows 10.

get-windows-10

screenshot by Brad Chacos

The main difference between the two buttons is that the upgrade is run right away if the “upgrade now” button is selected, and downloaded to the local system first if “start download, upgrade later” is selected.

Brad did not go through all pages of the app and it is possible that one will display options to deny the upgrade, but we don’t know that for sure.

So, if you don’t want to upgrade but get the prompt, click on the close window icon at the top to decline the upgrade.

It is unclear right now if the Get Windows 10 app has been redesigned or if Microsoft is testing a variant. Nevertheless, the way it is presented is customer unfriendly to say the least, and it is likely that some systems will get upgraded because of it even if customers did not have any intention of doing so.

Microsoft’s strategy is aggressive, and the modified Get Windows 10 application is just one indicator of it. Recently, we have reported that the company reset user preferences on systems where users blocked the upgrade so that it was offered again to them.

If you combine that with the new Get Windows 10 application, and the intention on making Windows 10 a recommended upgrade via Windows Update, it will get difficult to block the upgrade from being deployed on older Windows systems.

While experienced computer users will find a way to decline the upgrade, for instance by disabling Windows Update and updating systems manually instead, less-tech savvy users will have a hard time staying on their current OS.