Microsoft will launch Windows 10 on 29 July, the company’s executive vice-president of operating systems, Terry Myerson, said in a blog post on Monday.

The operating system, which will be available free of charge for the first year to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users, is already being used by millions of users around the world on Microsoft’s Windows Insider programme.

“Through the feedback and testing of over 4m Windows Insiders, we’ve made great progress on Windows 10 and we’re nearly ready to deliver this free upgrade to all of our Windows customers,” Myerson said in the blog post.

TechCentral has been running Windows 10 on several machines in its newsroom for some months now, and recent builds of the software are stable and appear almost release-ready.

Windows 10 brings back the Start menu, which was ditched in Windows 8, though the new version also includes the live tiles Microsoft introduced in the Windows 8 start screen.

Watch a Microsoft video introducing Windows 10

Also included in the software is a brand new Web browser called Microsoft Edge (Internet Explorer is still included, too) and the Cortana voice assistant that Windows Phone users will already be familiar with.

“On 29 July, you can get Windows 10 for PCs and tablets by taking advantage of the free upgrade offer, or on a new Windows 10 PC from your favourite retailer. If you purchase a new Windows 8.1 device between now and then, the Windows 10 upgrade will be available to you and many retail stores will upgrade your new device for you,” Myerson said in the blog post.