Confirmed: Windows 10 Enterprise does NOT qualify for free upgrade, says Microsoft

Keep paying for those enterprise licences, folks

Window 10 Enterprise is not part of any of Microsoft's free OS upgrade offers, the company has confirmed to Computing.

Following the minor hysteria surrounding the company's retracted blog over the weekend apparently offering to upgrade preview versions of Windows 10 into full versions on release, Computing asked the company whether enterprise users may be able to sneak through this gap and, effectively, provide themselves with as many free copies of Windows as they liked.

Microsoft's response comes in the context of upgrading to Windows 10 in any way - not just focused on the preview editions.

"The free upgrade offer applies to Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, and Windows 10 Mobile for qualifying Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 devices that upgrade in the first year after launch," said Microsoft.

"Once you upgrade, you have Windows 10 for free on that device. Other editions of Windows 10, such as Windows 10 Enterprise, do not qualify for the free upgrade offer, but as with prior versions, Active Software Assurance customers in Volume Licensing can upgrade to Windows 10 Enterprise as part of their existing Software Assurance benefits."

In other words, while Microsoft is still not being entirely clear on whether anyone and everyone will be able to turn a free preview into a free, full operating system, IT managers definitely won't be able to capitalise on this because they'll encounter all the usual licence restrictions that come with running the Enterprise version of Windows 10, and this manner of upgrade from preview almost certainly won't be possible anyway.

Microsoft also added:

"The free upgrade to Windows 10 offer is only applicable to individuals. Managed PCs will be subject to the systems administrator rules and restrictions".

So there you have it - you could still, perhaps, consider turning your preview edition into full Windows 10 at home, but don't try to do it at the office as it's not allowed.