Windows 11 is now installed on 400 million active devices

[Shawn Knight]

What just happened? Microsoft's latest operating system has gained more traction since its October 2021 launch than most people give it credit for. Sources familiar with the matter told Windows Central that Windows 11 is now in use on more than 400 million monthly active devices. Internal data seen by the publication revealed the milestone was recently eclipsed, and that Microsoft expects to hit 500 million active monthly by early 2024.

Some may be surprised at the install rate thus far, but it is not all that great compared to earlier operating systems. It took roughly 14 months for Windows 10 to hit 400 million active installs, and just under five years to reach one billion active installs.

StatCounter reveals that Windows 10 is still in firm command of the desktop Windows space with a healthy 71.62 percent of the pie. Windows 11, meanwhile, accounts for 23.64 percent of all Windows desktop installs. Former front runner Windows 7, for those keeping score, is down to just 3.33 percent market share and Windows XP barely registers a blip at 0.34 percent.

Windows 11 had the cards stacked against it from the get go. When Windows 10 arrived, it was accompanied by a free upgrade promotion and a massive marketing campaign. Windows 11 did not get nearly as much attention, and was limited out of the gate thanks to its TPM requirement.

As for what is next, Intel's CFO seemingly let slip earlier this month that they're expecting a "Windows Refresh" in 2024. Windows 12 wasn't mentioned by name, but most seem to agree that is exactly what the executive meant by his comment.

Rumors from over the summer suggested the next version of Windows might arrive in the fall of 2024 with a host of new features including a floating taskbar. Another report details a feature involving multiple "states" of the OS that will live on different partitions on a storage drive, perhaps to make updating the OS faster and easier for end users.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/100526-windows-11-now-installed-400m-monthly-active-devices.html

 

[VitalyT]

Microsoft's latest operating system has gained more traction since its October 2021 launch than most people give it credit for

Forced traction, doesn't count. Windows updates have become a plague, one that can be only eradicated by switching over to Linux.

Windows 11 is exceeding expectations

Whose expectations? Microsoft marketing team's, for sure, not of end users. I've had nothing but regret since I was forced to upgrade from Windows 10, through Microsoft insidious upgrade enforcement practice.

Microsoft upgrade policy is as friendly as this bull:

 

[loki1944]

I've got 15 modern PCs that will never have that disaster touch them.

 

[thelatestmodel]

I would have switched to Linux entirely but VR flight simming just isn't there yet. Literally the only reason why I keep Windows around

 

[RandomWAN]

It's funny to see this after everyone just had articles lamenting how low the Windows 11 adoption rate is. Even with that revised percentage, it's still less than half what Windows 10 was at the same point in its life cycle. Windows 11 is the OS no one asked for with changes that all originated from a bunch of focus groups.

Hopefully this will finally create some major shift in the OS balance in the market. Outside of my gaming rig, I'm abandoning Windows two years from now.

 

[pgcharlie]

I can say.. out of 400 million, 90-95% are company based system which are being forced to implement Win 11 and not on personal computers.. I recently had to re-image my Win 10 work system and told Win 11 is only option.

 

[Mr Majestyk]

A more accurate statement would be: "Windows 11 is NOT installed on about 2 billion devices".

 

[dangh]

I would have switched to Linux entirely but VR flight simming just isn't there yet. Literally the only reason why I keep Windows around

I do hope with new valve index they will address this functionality.

 

[Biostud]

To me it is all the same. Granted I had to buy a 3rd party app to change location of the Taskbar.

 

[Uncle Al]

Since they have made it all but impossible to use my past license keys I've moved everything but one computer over to linex and frankly, I couldn't be happier! MicroSludge is determined to drive themselves out of business and I'm doing my part to help! LOL

 

[thelatestmodel]

Since they have made it all but impossible to use my past license keys I've moved everything but one computer over to linex and frankly, I couldn't be happier! MicroSludge is determined to drive themselves out of business and I'm doing my part to help! LOL

For all the hate MS gets, I'll tell you one thing, they're likely never going out of business. Too ingrained in the IT ecosystem, it's just not happening.

 

[Guillermo Belli]

All new computers give you the option to either have Windows 11 or Windows 11. With so much choice it's not surprising that Windows 11 marketshare has grown.

And let's not forget that it install itself on Win10 computers that meet the requirements.