TECHNOLOGY

Windows 11 Takes the Lead: What This Means for You

Mon Jul 07 2025

Windows 11 has become the leading desktop operating system, surpassing Windows 10, according to StatCounter.

Market Share Shift

  • Windows 11: 52% of the market
  • Windows 10: 44.59%

This shift occurred faster than anticipated, despite Windows 10 still being widely used.

Adoption Timeline

  • Windows 11 has been available for nearly four years.
  • Gained popularity for gaming in September.
  • Slow initial adoption compared to Windows 10.
  • October 2023: Over 400 million devices running Windows 11.
  • Took two years to reach 400 million devices, while Windows 10 achieved this in one year.

Reasons for Slow Adoption

  • Strict hardware requirements for Windows 11.
  • Free upgrades offered to Windows 10 users, but many machines couldn't meet CPU and security standards.
  • Microsoft pushing users to upgrade hardware with persistent prompts.

Windows 10 Support Ends

  • October 14th: End of support for Windows 10.
  • Free year of security updates for users who:
  • Enable Windows Backup
  • Sync Documents folder to OneDrive
  • Alternative options:
  • Pay $30 for a year of updates
  • Use 1,000 Microsoft Reward points

Future of Older Devices

  • Will users upgrade hardware to run Windows 11?
  • Or stick with Windows 10, risking security issues?
  • Uncertain future for older devices.

questions

    How has the market share of Windows 11 evolved since its release?
    Is it true that Windows 11's success is due to users accidentally clicking 'Upgrade' instead of 'Cancel'?
    What factors contributed to the slower adoption rate of Windows 11 compared to Windows 10?

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