After a prolonged battle for dominance in the desktop operating system market, Microsoft has achieved a significant milestone as Windows 11 has finally overtaken Windows 10 to become the most widely used Microsoft operating system globally. This transition marks the end of an era for Windows 10, which maintained its leading position for nearly four years since Windows 11's initial release in October 2021.
Key Timeline Events
- October 2021: Windows 11 initial release
- 2021-2025: Nearly 4 years of Windows 10 dominance
- July 2025: Windows 11 overtakes Windows 10 globally
- October 14, 2025: Windows 10 end-of-life support date
The Long-Awaited Market Share Victory
According to data from StatCounter, Windows 11 has officially dethroned Windows 10 as the world's most popular Microsoft operating system as of July 2025. This achievement comes after years of slow adoption rates that had previously frustrated Microsoft's efforts to migrate users to their newer platform. The shift represents a crucial turning point for the company, which has invested heavily in promoting Windows 11's enhanced features and security improvements.
Windows 10's Approaching End-of-Life Drives Migration
The primary catalyst behind this dramatic shift appears to be Windows 10's rapidly approaching end-of-life date on October 14, 2025. With security support ending in just a few months, users are increasingly recognizing the necessity of upgrading to maintain their system's security and functionality. This timeline pressure has created urgency among both individual users and businesses who had previously delayed the transition.
Mixed Sources of New Windows 11 Adoption
The methodology behind StatCounter's data collection makes it challenging to determine exactly how users are transitioning to Windows 11. Some growth undoubtedly stems from consumers purchasing new computers that ship with Windows 11 pre-installed, as all new Windows laptops have included the operating system since 2021. However, a significant portion likely represents existing Windows 10 users who have either upgraded naturally or used third-party tools like Rufus or Flyby11 to bypass hardware compatibility restrictions.
Regional Variations in Operating System Preferences
The global shift to Windows 11 follows similar trends observed in key markets including the United States and United Kingdom, where Windows 11 had already gained dominance in recent months. These regional victories provided early indicators of the broader worldwide transition that has now materialized. The pattern suggests that developed markets with newer hardware tend to adopt Windows 11 more readily than regions with older computer infrastructure.
Broader Operating System Landscape Remains Stable
Despite the internal Microsoft operating system shuffle, the broader desktop OS market shows remarkable stability. Windows collectively maintains its dominant position with 70.14% market share, while Apple's macOS holds 9.87%. Both Linux distributions and macOS occupy approximately 5% of the market each, indicating that the Windows 11 versus Windows 10 competition primarily represents internal migration rather than users switching to alternative platforms.
Global Desktop Operating System Market Share (July 2025)
| Operating System | Market Share |
|---|---|
| Windows (Total) | 70.14% |
| macOS | 9.87% |
| Linux | ~5% |
| Other | ~15% |
Future Outlook and User Options
As Windows 10's support deadline approaches, Microsoft has provided some flexibility by offering free extended support options for users who need additional time to transition. However, these measures represent temporary solutions rather than long-term alternatives. Users with hardware incompatible with Windows 11 may need to consider alternative operating systems such as Linux distributions or potentially upgrade their computer systems entirely to maintain security and functionality.