Microsoft's Windows 11 Surpasses Windows 10 in Desktop OS Market Share
Microsoft has achieved a significant milestone with its operating system, Windows 11, which has now been recognized as the most widely used desktop operating system. According to data from Stat Counter, as noted by Windows Central, Windows 11 commands a market share of 52 percent, surpassing Windows 10’s 44.59 percent. This development comes just months ahead of Windows 10's end of support deadline, scheduled for October 14, 2025.
Over the past few months, Windows 11 has indeed made strides, particularly in the realm of PC gaming, where it became the leading operating system as of September. However, up until this recent surge, the overall adoption of Windows 11 had been lagging when compared to its predecessor, Windows 10. Despite being released nearly four years ago, Windows 11's transition to the forefront has taken longer than expected.
Recent leaked data from October 2023 indicates that Windows 11 is currently in use on more than 400 million devices worldwide. This figure, while impressive, highlights a slower adoption rate than that of Windows 10, which reached the same milestone in just one year. In contrast, Windows 11 has taken two years to achieve this level of penetration into the market.
A significant factor contributing to the slower uptake of Windows 11 is its stringent hardware requirements. Although Microsoft has extended a complimentary upgrade option for users of Windows 10, millions of older machines have remained incompatible, primarily due to the enhanced CPU and security specifications mandated by Windows 11. To encourage users to upgrade their hardware, Microsoft has employed various tactics, including full-screen prompts designed to nudge users towards making the necessary upgrades.
As the end of support for Windows 10 looms closer, Microsoft has announced a strategy to ease the transition for users. The company revealed it would offer a year of free security updates for Windows 10 users if they enable Windows Backup and allow their Documents folder to sync with OneDrive. For those who prefer not to take advantage of this offer, an alternative exists: they can pay $30 for a year of updates or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Reward points. This initiative aims to ensure that users maintain secure and updated systems as they navigate the changes ahead.
