In July 2025, Windows 11 achieved a significant milestone by surpassing Windows 10 in market share, marking the first time Microsoft's latest operating system has become the most widely used desktop OS globally. According to data from StatCounter, Windows 11 now holds 51.77% of the Windows market, while Windows 10 has declined to 45.02% (computing.co.uk).
This shift comes nearly four years after Windows 11's initial release in October 2021. The operating system's adoption was initially sluggish, with less than 10% market share in 2022. However, a steady increase followed: 18% in 2023, 28% later that year, and 36% by the end of 2024 (computing.co.uk). The recent surge is largely attributed to the impending end of support for Windows 10, scheduled for October 14, 2025. Microsoft has intensified efforts to encourage users to upgrade, including offering a free extra year of Windows 10 security updates for users who log into a Microsoft account and back up their settings to the cloud (windowscentral.com).
Despite the rise in Windows 11 adoption, challenges remain. The operating system's stricter hardware requirements have left many older PCs incompatible, necessitating new hardware purchases for some users. Additionally, Windows 11's requirement for a Microsoft account during setup and the presence of preloaded ads have been points of contention (computing.co.uk).
In the gaming community, Windows 11 has gained traction, becoming the most used Windows OS on Steam (theverge.com). This is likely due to optimizations for modern hardware and gaming technologies.
As the October 2025 deadline approaches, it's expected that Windows 11's market share will continue to grow, solidifying its position as the leading desktop operating system.
Source: Telegrafi Windows 11 more popular than Windows 10 for the first time
