Nearly a billion PCs are still running Windows 10, and half are too old to upgrade

[Shawn Knight]

In a nutshell: Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 10 in October but the aging operating system still has a strong install base. According to Dell, roughly a billion PCs are still running Microsoft's last-gen OS, and it could be a struggle to get users to make the switch to the newer version.

During the PC maker's latest earnings call, COO Jeffrey Clarke said there are around 500 million Windows machines in the wild that are too old to run Windows 11. Another half a billion are capable of running the newer operating system but haven't been upgraded yet. Both situations, Clarke notes, represent opportunities to upgrade to newer platforms.

According to the latest data from StatCounter, Windows 10 is installed on 42.62 percent of desktops. For comparison, Windows 11 accounts for 53.79 of worldwide Windows installs. The next most popular version, Windows 7, has less than a three percent market share.

A mass exodus from Windows 10 was never going to be a reality. Microsoft launched an extended security update program that guarantees critical patch delivery for an additional year. The program is free for OneDrive users, or can be purchased for a one-time fee of $30 (or 1,000 Microsoft Reward points).

Even if Microsoft hadn't rolled out the extended update program, getting every Windows 10 user to upgrade at the same time wasn't going to happen. Many PC users are stubborn or simply ignorant to the dangers associated with not installing the latest security updates. Furthermore, many apps and services are expected to continue supporting the legacy operating system for a while longer.

Windows 11 arrived in late 2021 as a direct successor to Win 10, but the upgrade path hasn't been as smooth as with previous releases. Microsoft implemented strict hardware requirements that prevent many seemingly capable machines from installing the latest version of the operating system, forcing those with an eye on upgrading to consider purchasing new hardware instead.

Predictably, it's a situation that has rubbed a lot of users the wrong way.

Image credit: Clint Patterson, freestocks

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Nearly a billion PCs are still running Windows 10, and half are too old to upgrade

 

[Ephebus]

"Many PC users are stubborn or simply ignorant to the dangers associated with not installing the latest security updates."

Installing them on the cancerous mess you keeping calling an OS is much more dangerous.

 

[amstech]

Anything Kaby Lake and older has been cut off. Lots of folks still running 7th Gen or earlier still.

 

[human7]

Microsoft shot itself in the foot on this one. Upgrade limitations aside, they worsened the desktop experience for no good reason (removing options in the taskbar, making the context menu slow, etc.). At least the Settings apps is more consolidated (still not sure why they didn't move everything to the Settings app from the beginning - they should not have delivered something half baked, even if it took them 5 more years before announcing it).

Still a long way from Linux as the default, but as it gets more and more popular thanks to Steam, perhaps Microsoft will stop telling users what they like and instead give them what they want. But, since they seem to be in bed with Intel and the manufacturers - and thus look for reasons to encourage people to buy new systems - doesn't seem like that is going to change within the next 2 years.

 

[pnntmp]

There is no such thing as "too old to upgrade".
*Any* computer capable of running Windows 10 can be upgraded to Windows 11, or have Win11 installed clean.

 

[Dreadcthulhu]

There is no such thing as "too old to upgrade".
*Any* computer capable of running Windows 10 can be upgraded to Windows 11, or have Win11 installed clean.

Many older computers that run Windows 10 just fine lack the TPM 2.0 support Microsoft requires for a simple Windows 11 update. While there are ways of forcing Windows 11 to install on non-supported hardware, those workarounds are complicated enough that the average user will not be able to do them. Any upgrade process that is more complicated than hitting the update button and next a few times will be too much for at least 90% of the population.

 

[coolblue]

Well, this is the straw that broke the camel's back, gor me anyways. I'm switching to Linux...

 

[OrangeNero]

So many lies about Windows in the past.

Windows 10 is the "last" windows.

honestly screw microsoft they are the most incompetent company in the world. I can tell. I have so many issues. Even on Windows 11.

For example right now I can NOT set the language of my keyboard to stay in the language I desire because of a bug. Also the Xbox App doesn't always work.

Also that godawful piece of crap in the bottom left of the taskbar infuriates me. The people that came up with it should be fired immediately. I can't even get rid of this special Window sometimes. The demons at Microsoft couldn't even come up with an X in the top right of it to close it.

In all honesty they should hire me. I would know how to improve Windows 10 fold and I am a nobody amateur.

Also I miss the tiles. Tiles were cool. Especially on tablets and laptops with touchscreen.

 

[OrangeNero]

Many older computers that run Windows 10 just fine lack the TPM 2.0 support Microsoft requires for a simple Windows 11 update. While there are ways of forcing Windows 11 to install on non-supported hardware, those workarounds are complicated enough that the average user will not be able to do them. Any upgrade process that is more complicated than hitting the update button and next a few times will be too much for at least 90% of the population.

Exactly because of TPM my old PC with an intel... 8000 something and a GTX 1080 can't upgrade. It is still a fantastic machine but nooo.

 

[noel24]

"Many PC users are stubborn or simply ignorant to the dangers associated with not installing the latest security updates."
And many Americans are ignorant to the fact that some regions got extra year of free support for Windows 10.

Besides, Windows 11 is such a sh*tshow, that I already started using Linux on My work laptop. Fonts look different, colours are off, but It works, when 99% of Your work is in the cloud anyway.
Who needs Windows then?
And after year expires, It's gonna be Linux for work and some cut down and cracked out of telemetry Tiny11 for gaming.

 

[Win7User]

And, another 10 million are still using Windows 7

 

[ZedRM]

Microsoft intentionally created this artificial problem. Microsoft needs to be harshly punished for doing so.

And many Americans are ignorant to the fact that some regions got extra year of free support for Windows 10.

Everyone can get the extra year of updates, they have to jump through a few of Microsoft's hoops to get them, but they are available to everyone. Your veiled insults at "Americans" are what is ignorant.

And, another 10 million are still using Windows 7

Given the percentages, it's more like 50 or 60 million if not more.

 

[dualkelly]

Don't need to upgrade for personal pcs as much as Microsoft complains. Plenty of machines still running xp embedded around the world.

 

[p51d007]

Wonder how many of these "haven't upgraded" have switched to Linux?
Most "older" users don't need the fluff. Just a browser, file manager, video
player, music player etc. They can get all that on Linux and be done with
Windows.
Also, I wonder how many of these "billions" of PC's that are still on Windows 10,
are "point of sale" type machines where there isn't anyone actually using the
computer other than to control a display, ATM, cash register etc.

 

[daffy duck]

Virtually none of them are too old to upgrade. That's total M$ BS as we all know. Already downgraded my old PC to Win 11 with zero issues and full working updates.

 

[human7]

Wonder how many of these "haven't upgraded" have switched to Linux?
Most "older" users don't need the fluff. Just a browser, file manager, video
player, music player etc. They can get all that on Linux and be done with
Windows.
Also, I wonder how many of these "billions" of PC's that are still on Windows 10,
are "point of sale" type machines where there isn't anyone actually using the
computer other than to control a display, ATM, cash register etc.

I know your comment is on upgrades, but I think new systems need a bit of attention, too, as the landscape is changing, albeit slowly.

I have Linux on one laptop (and my RPis, but that's a different matter). However, on the most recent laptop I bought, I kept Win 11 for two reasons:
1. It was included in the price (and it was Pro, wasn't an option to downgrade, seemed a shame to pay for it and not use it). But, this isn't entirely fair, as my one Linux laptop originally shipped with W11 home (though I never used it).
2. Admittedly, Windows makes it easy. Wifi and other drivers can be a pain on Linux. Had to clone from github (over an ethernet cable, always fun with a laptop) to get wifi working on my current Linux laptop. Full system encryption on my Linux laptop also took a bit of work, and even then I'm not entirely happy with it (takes longer than Bitlocker, CPU runs at full blast and heats up the system until the decryption is done, so that's about a minute per boot).

My desktops are also Windows, and that's also because they are my primary systems, and thus I wanted the comfort of them (plus warranty and all that jazz - if I'm paying a lot of money for them I want a warranty, which is also why I do prebuilds rather than building them myself, though my older desktop is out of warranty so I might switch it to Linux someday. Maybe I'll do actual builds when I have the extra money laying aorund to not care if things go badly).

In any case, the comfort issues are the real one. I consider myself a power user and still find it hard to switch everything to Linux. I think Linux could be widespread, but only when manufacturers give it first class status and support, when filesystem encryption is on by default and easy, when OS version upgrades don't mean total re-installs, when wifi and other driver installs don't happen by the user (they just work like in Windows) and a few other nice things that we've come to expect from the Windows ecosystem.

But I won't deny, on my Linux laptop, it's nice knowing exactly what is on it and what it's doing, without all the nag ware that one has to disable in Windows.

For older systems though, like my older desktop out of warranty support, a bit of cleaning (of the filesystem) and a reinstall to Linux seems like a fun future project. Not sure many are willing to do that. I think you'll find Windows 10, supported or otherwise, vulnerable or otherwise, on the majority of those "haven't upgraded" systems next year.

 

[trparky]

With RAM prices climbing, upgrade cycles are only going to slow down further.

If Apple was smart, they'd take advantage of this and release a wave of low to mid-range hardware to capture the users abandoning Windows hardware requirements.

It would be hilarious to watch if Apple gained PC market share simply because Microsoft pushed people away with unnecessary hardware restrictions.

 

[human7]

Don't need to upgrade for personal pcs as much as Microsoft complains. Plenty of machines still running xp embedded around the world.

Honestly, Microsoft should be thankful for the security mess that is their OS. Without it, there wouldn't be a very compelling reason to upgrade so many systems. I'd be happy running Win XP or 7 on a laptop or what have you. But I also need to login to websites, and that means I need to know my passwords are safe, and there you have it...a "necessary" upgrade to a newer OS since it gets patched.

 

[dualkelly]

Honestly, Microsoft should be thankful for the security mess that is their OS. Without it, there wouldn't be a very compelling reason to upgrade so many systems. I'd be happy running Win XP or 7 on a laptop or what have you. But I also need to login to websites, and that means I need to know my passwords are safe, and there you have it...a "necessary" upgrade to a newer OS since it gets patched.

security is an illusion. there is hundreds if not thousands of examples that every time windows get patched they create another opening. Windows is not exactly a safe OS. if your super concerned about security you should be on Linux. Not even mentioning that most data loss is from massive hacks like the one that hacked the IRS and leaked all SS# not personal pc attacks.

 

[redgarl]

The day I will need a Microsoft Account for installing windows, will be the last day I will be installing windows.

As long as I stay on Windows 10, I will be fine.

 

[brucek]

"Security patch" is a polite word for "our product had a defect that we finally noticed and fixed."

So Microsoft knowingly created a situation where 500,000,000 devices, a great many of which are still quite capable at fulfilling their intended use cases, will be left with no reasonable path to continue receiving fixes for problems that Microsoft is responsible for, some in a year, others now. This despite the fact that those devices absolutely could run Windows 11 or a minor fork thereof, and many of these withheld fixes will be in code that is shared between Windows 10 and Windows 11 anyway.

I hope governments around the world are not shy about holding Microsoft accountable for their reckless and negligent actions here.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

I upgraded 1 of my 3 personal Win 10 desktops to 11 a month ago. Even with disabling a bunch of the stupid stuff, it has been such a shtshow that I am considering going back to 10 on that machine.

 

[scoffer]

Well luckily "Windows 11 is evolving into an "agentic OS," which means it will integrate AI agents that can perform tasks on your behalf, such as organizing files or scheduling meetings, while you continue to work. "

This will, I'm sure, encourage many more products......oops...I mean customers to seek it out. And who could blame them?


/s (Just in case).....

 

[Theinsanegamer]

security is an illusion. there is hundreds if not thousands of examples that every time windows get patched they create another opening. Windows is not exactly a safe OS. if your super concerned about security you should be on Linux. Not even mentioning that most data loss is from massive hacks like the one that hacked the IRS and leaked all SS# not personal pc attacks.

Windows is a pretty safe OS, by virtue of it having such a wide attack surface and being so popular. At hack a thon events Windows usually does better then MacOS or linux.

Most people who still use PCs use Windows, if it were so insecure, people would be getting cracked open every day like the XP days.

There is no such thing as "too old to upgrade".
*Any* computer capable of running Windows 10 can be upgraded to Windows 11, or have Win11 installed clean.

Not true. Core 2 and first gen core cannot physically run modern windows 11 because of extension requirements. Both can run 10, although core 2 is getting real old.

https://www.hwcooling.net/en/micros...equirements-will-no-longer-run-on-core-2-pcs/

"Many PC users are stubborn or simply ignorant to the dangers associated with not installing the latest security updates."

Installing them on the cancerous mess you keeping calling an OS is much more dangerous.

People used windows 7 for years after end of support without getting hacked.

Intelligent use of antivirus, adblocker, and common sense does a better job of securing PCS then MS's security updates do. It'll be years before 10 is dangerous.

Sounds to me like MS is getting increasingly pissed people dont want their shitheap of an OS eating their now extremely expensive RAM.

 

[Axeia]

Besides, Windows 11 is such a sh*tshow, that I already started using Linux on My work laptop. Fonts look different, colours are off, but It works, when 99% of Your work is in the cloud anyway.

I much prefer Linux (or KDEs at least), or Mac OSs font rendering over that of windows. You might be able to change it more to your liking by fiddling with some settings (font aliasing).
Colours should look the same though.