Windows 11 finally overtakes Windows 10 in global market share, a mere 1,371 days after launch

[midian182]

What just happened? It's been 1,371 days, or 3 years and 9 months, since Windows 11's general-availability launch. But it's only now that the OS has surpassed Windows 10 as the most popular version of Microsoft's operating system globally. The reveal comes as Windows 10's October 14 end-of-support date draws ever closer, likely influencing many holdouts' decision to make the upgrade.

Windows 11's adoption among users has been slow. Its hardware demands, such as the requirement for a TPM 2.0 module – essentially making most pre-2017 CPUs unsupported – meant many users, especially businesses, have held off moving away from Windows 10.

But Windows 11 has been closing the market share gap on its predecessor in recent times. StatCounter had its share at 47.8% in June, less than a percentage point away from Windows 10.

Related reading: No Windows 12 yet: Microsoft rolls out Windows 11 25H2 preview build

In its July update, StatCounter's figures show that Windows 11 is finally the most popular version of the OS. It has reached a 52% global share while Windows 10 has dropped to 44.5%.

 

Source: StatCounter Global Stats - Windows Version Market Share

Windows 11 has long been the more popular OS among Steam survey participants. It moved above Windows 10 back in August 2024 and now commands a 58% share as Windows 10 shrinks to 37%.

Microsoft recently boasted that Windows 11 is up to 2.3x faster than Windows 10, though its claim is based on a single Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmark score. Most outrageously, the Windows 10 PCs in the test were running Intel Core 6th-, 8th- and 10th-generation processors, while the Windows 11 PCs used Intel Core 12th- and 13th-gen CPUs.

In reality, there's almost no difference between the two operating systems in terms of performance – we benchmarked Windows 11 vs Windows 10 several times. The first time was in 2021, and then again with variations of gaming tests and CPUs here, and here, and last time was in 2024.

Come October, Windows 10 users who still refuse to let go will have the option of paying $30 for an additional year of security updates, receiving them for free by enrolling in Windows Backup, or obtaining unofficial updates through 0patch. They could always switch sides and install Linux or buy a Mac, something more people are doing these days.

Image credit: Rui Silvestre

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Windows 11 finally overtakes Windows 10 in global market share, a mere 1,371 days after launch

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Just in time for Windows 12...

 

[Thatsdisgusting]

I’m sorry, but how they did the count? I reinstalled win11 twice a month ago and plan to do it third time, cause damn thing is broken in its core even right after clean install.
So if they counted number of installations, but not unique machines…

 

[BobHome]

I’m sorry, but how they did the count? I reinstalled win11 twice a month ago and plan to do it third time, cause damn thing is broken in its core even right after clean install.
So if they counted number of installations, but not unique machines…

Actually another article pretty much explains this: Windows loses 400 million users as mobile, Linux, and Mac use grows (June 30)
Windows 10 users are jumping ship instead of going to 11.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

I’m sorry, but how they did the count? I reinstalled win11 twice a month ago and plan to do it third time, cause damn thing is broken in its core even right after clean install.
So if they counted number of installations, but not unique machines…

Various telemetry metrics. They are looking recently and while double counting could occur it doesn't matter as such doubling is as likely to happen on any OS so the percentages aren't really impacted.

Actually another article pretty much explains this: Windows loses 400 million users as mobile, Linux, and Mac use grows (June 30)
Windows 10 users are jumping ship instead of going to 11.

That article is overblown.

It assumed that because MS earlier claimed over 1.4B users and then claimed over 1B users in another place that they lost 0.4B users. Except 1.4 is over 1 so the change in wording could mean absolutely nothing. The truth is probably that the user count slipped below 1.4 to 1.3+ and that is why the wording specificity changed to hide that loss.

I mean do you really think 1/3 of all Windows PCs went to Linux or bought a Mac and threw away the PC in a few months? Unlikely. Windows shrinking from 1,415M to 1,375M? Believable.

Switching is happening but not at warp speed.

 

[toooooot]

I do not believe we will stay for long more on 11. It was obviously less than comparable to 10.
Windows 12 here I come. Or perhaps they might change naming by then. Something similar to what Apple does.

 

[Anton Longshot]

"Windows 11 finally overtakes Windows 10 in global market share".

I don't believe a word of it.
Suddenly HALF the Windows users own PC hardware that qualifies for 11? Gimme a break. People with OLD PC's are the majority and that's not going to change any time soon unless Microsoft buys all these people new PC's (ha ha).

 

[AnilD]

It’s not so much a victory as it is everyone else being dragged to the finish line by end-of-support deadlines.

 

[ActualViking]

I’m sorry, but how they did the count? I reinstalled win11 twice a month ago and plan to do it third time, cause damn thing is broken in its core even right after clean install.
So if they counted number of installations, but not unique machines…

There is so much spyware functionality in Win11 that coming up with a number is nothing, besides you can be sure if there different ways to count they'll pick the one that shows the biggest number.