Windows 10 upgrade will soon be easier to reject

Microsoft is finally ending the malware-like trickery of the "Get Windows 10" upgrade offer that's shown to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users.

Mary Jo Foley reports that a clearer upgrade promotion will roll out this week. It will have three options—"Upgrade now," "Choose time," and "Decline free offer"—with the last of these options dismissing the update altogether. Critically, pressing the X in the corner of the window will have the same effect as the decline option.

This change addresses one of the most unpleasant features of the promotion: some weeks ago, Microsoft changed the behavior of the X button to make it simply defer the upgrade rather than decline it altogether. This behavior was contrary to any reasonable expectations Windows users might have, and contrary to the way the promotion behaved at its introduction.

Microsoft's statement on the change, attributable to Terry Myerson, executive vice president of the Windows and Devices Group, reads:

Our most important priority for Windows 10 is for everyone to love Windows. Since we introduced a new upgrade experience for Windows 10, we've received feedback that some of our valued customers found it confusing. We've been working hard to incorporate their feedback and this week, we'll roll out a new upgrade experience with clear options to upgrade now, schedule a time, or decline the free offer. The 'Red X' at the top corner of the dialogue box will now simply dismiss the reminder and will not initiate the upgrade. We'll continue to be led by your feedback and always, earning and maintaining your trust is our commitment and priority. We recommend people upgrade to Windows 10 as it's the most secure version of Windows and take advantage of the free upgrade offer before it ends on July 29.

The company will also offer free tech support and assistance with rolling back to Windows 7 or 8.1.

The change is a long time coming. The aggression of the Windows 10 upgrade offer has been causing discontent and annoyance since its introduction, and while many people have taken advantage of the upgrade, there are plenty who don't want it and don't like being nagged by it. Microsoft paid an unhappy upgrader $10,000 after the company was sued for loss of earnings; the new, less aggressive Get Windows 10 promotion should prevent recurrences of this problem.