Windows 11 surpassed Windows 10 in market share for the first time, analysts claim

Windows 11 has reached a significant milestone – according to the latest data from the analytical company Statcounter, it has surpassed Windows 10 in overall market share for the first time in history. The newer system reportedly now powers 52% of personal computers, while its predecessor has dropped to 44.59%. This change occurs just three months before the planned end of Windows 10 support, which Microsoft has set for October 14, 2025.

A Long Road to Dominance

The Windows 11 operating system was officially launched in October 2021, meaning it took almost four years to become the most used system in the world. This is a significantly slower adoption rate than the previous generation. Windows 10 needed only one year to reach 400 million devices, while Windows 11 reached this milestone only after two years.

The main reason for the slower adoption is primarily the stricter hardware requirements, which left millions of computers unable to upgrade. Microsoft requires newer processors and security features like TPM 2.0 for Windows 11, forcing many users to either stay on Windows 10 or invest in new hardware.

Data Should Be Taken with a Grain of Salt

As the ZDNET server pointed out in its detailed article from February this year, Statcounter’s data may not fully reflect reality. The service is supposed to measure only page views, not individual devices or visits. For example, if a Windows 10 user visits pages using Statcounter tracking more often than a Windows 11 user, the results can be skewed.

According to the critical analysis, Statcounter also uses data from only a limited sample of websites that use its service. Between 2009 and 2022, the number of service customers decreased from 3 million to 1.5 million, further limiting the sample’s representativeness. Currently, Statcounter tracking covers approximately only 0.4% of all websites.

The Approaching End of Windows 10

Regardless of the accuracy of Statcounter’s data, Microsoft is trying to get as many users as possible to switch to Windows 11 before it officially ends support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. The company recently announced that it will offer consumers a free year of additional security updates if they activate the Windows Backup service and synchronize the Documents folder with OneDrive.

Windows 11 surpassed Windows 10 in market share for the first time, analysts claim Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

Users who do not take advantage of this offer will have to pay 30 dollars for a year of updates or use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points. Companies and organizations will have to dig even deeper into their pockets if they want to extend the lifespan of their older Windows 10 devices.

Are you planning to switch to Windows 11 if you’re using “ten”?

Sources: Statcounter, The Verge, ZDNET