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Windows 11 Global Market Share Declines as Windows 10 and 7 See Increases

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Global desktop market share data for Windows operating systems indicates a recent decline for Windows 11, with its predecessor, Windows 10, experiencing an increase. Windows 7 also registered a rise in usage during late 2025. This shift occurs as Windows 10 approaches its official end of free support, prompting considerations for users regarding upgrades and extended security updates. Regional data from Germany shows continued strong adoption of Windows 10, while gamer surveys on platforms like Steam indicate a preference for Windows 11 among that demographic.

Global Market Share Trends (October - December 2025)

Data from Statcounter, tracking global desktop operating system usage from October to December 2025, reveals significant changes in Windows market share:

  • Windows 11: The share decreased from 55.18% in October to 53.7% in November, further declining to 50.73% in December. This represents a decrease of over 5 percentage points over two months.
  • Windows 10: This version saw an increase from 41.71% in October to 42.7% in November, reaching 44.68% in December.
  • Windows 7: Its share rose from 2.52% in October to 3.83% in December.

Windows 11's share decreased by over 5 percentage points over two months, while Windows 10 and Windows 7 saw increases.

Windows 10 Support and Regional Adoption

Official free support for Windows 10 concluded on October 14, 2025. Users can opt for Extended Security Updates (ESU) until October 13, 2026, after which security updates will cease without further upgrades.

In Germany, according to cybersecurity firm ESET, 48% of private households (approximately 21 million devices) were still using Windows 10 as of late 2025. This figure excludes businesses, which also reportedly favor Windows 10.

In August 2025, German households had approximately 24 million Windows 10 installations compared to 17 million Windows 11 installations. Windows 11 installations increased by about 3.6 million in the period following August 2025. Older Windows versions, including XP and 7, collectively accounted for 840,000 devices. The ease of activating Windows 10 ESU through Windows Update may contribute to slower Windows 11 adoption in some regions.

Factors Influencing Windows 11 Adoption

Several factors have been cited in relation to Windows 11's market share trends:

Hardware Requirements

Some older devices, such as the original Microsoft Surface Studio, are incompatible with Windows 11 due to specific hardware requirements.

Technical Issues

Early 2026 included reports of "Patch Tuesday" problems, which were associated with difficulties in running basic applications or shutting down PCs without rolling back updates.

User Experience and Trust
  • Concerns have been raised regarding user trust, including Microsoft's confirmation of providing the FBI access to BitLocker encryption keys upon request.
  • An increase in integrated advertisements within the operating system has been noted.
  • The emphasis on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) features has been a point of focus for some users.
  • Industry observers have pointed to user trust as a factor, citing concerns over unexpected changes and the perception of increased integration of Microsoft's services. Some reviewers have also identified issues with Windows 11's user experience.

Microsoft's Strategy

Microsoft is reportedly considering implementing full-screen pop-up reminders to promote transition to Windows 11, particularly to Copilot+ PCs. The company also suggests recycling older PCs that do not meet Windows 11 hardware requirements to potentially offset the cost of new Copilot+ PCs.

Gamer Adoption Trends

Data from Steam's December 2025 survey indicates higher adoption of Windows 11 among gamers. Windows remains the dominant operating system on the platform, accounting for 94.23% of users.

Among Windows users, Windows 11 held approximately 71% of the total share (66.60% of all Steam users), with Windows 10 falling to 27.51%. This trend is attributed to factors such as gamers seeking performance improvements offered by Windows 11 through newer drivers and scheduling enhancements.