end of support for Windows 10 Archives

Winsage

March 2, 2026

Windows 11 tops market share as 10 faces extended farewell

Recent data from Statcounter indicates that Windows 11 has a market share of 72.57 percent, while Windows 10 holds 26.45 percent. Microsoft claims that Windows 11 has surpassed one billion users. Statcounter's data is collected from over 1.5 million websites and may be subject to revision. Microsoft will discontinue support for many versions of Windows 10 in October 2025, leading some organizations to consider Extended Security Updates (ESU), which can incur additional costs. Windows Server 2016 has a 20.3 percent share among monitored servers, and Windows 10 2016 LTSB accounts for 0.5 percent of Windows devices, making up 19.8 percent within the LTSC/LTSB category. The higher usage of LTSC/LTSB is attributed to special-purpose devices in consumer and retail sectors, which face stricter upgrade protocols.

Winsage

March 1, 2026

Windows 11 continues gaining traction, nears 75% market share — Windows 10 finally on the way out, some five months after Microsoft axes support

Windows 11 has an installation rate of nearly 75% on desktop PCs globally, with a market share of 72.78%, up from just over 50% in late 2025. Windows 10's installations have decreased to 26.27% from around 45% during the same period. Launched in October 2021, Windows 11 gained popularity after Microsoft announced the end of support for Windows 10, although its adoption faced challenges due to hardware requirements and the need for a Microsoft account. Users have sought workarounds for these limitations, but Microsoft has tightened restrictions. Some former Windows 10 users are switching to alternatives like macOS or Linux instead of upgrading to new Microsoft-promoted PCs. Windows 11 has also encountered technical issues, including a missing sign-in password icon, reduced gaming performance on certain Nvidia GPUs, and data loss due to BitLocker recovery. Microsoft has committed to addressing these issues in the near future.

Winsage

February 25, 2026

Microsoft gives Windows laggards the ‘gift of time’ wrapped in licensing fees

Microsoft is offering up to three years of Extended Security Updates (ESU) for older Windows installations, with the expectation of compensation. Most major versions of Windows 10 will reach end of support by 2025, while Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB and Windows IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 will end support on October 13, 2026, and Windows Server 2016 will conclude support on January 12, 2027. Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows Server 2025 for Windows Server 2016 users. The pricing for ESU for Windows 10 2016 LTSB starts at a specified amount per device for the first year, with expected increases in subsequent years. Customers using Intune or Windows Autopatch may receive a reduced rate. There is no official pricing for Windows Server 2016 ESU, creating uncertainty for administrators. Historically, Microsoft has charged a premium for extended support, with previous ESU costs for Windows Server 2012 being 100 percent of the full license price for the first year. The final cost of ESU will depend on each organization’s licensing agreement.

Winsage

February 1, 2026

Windows 11 has 1 billion users

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that Windows 11 has surpassed 1 billion monthly active users, following the end of support for Windows 10. Despite this milestone, there is significant customer dissatisfaction. Windows chief Pavan Davuluri acknowledged the need for improvements in system performance, reliability, and overall user experience. Recent updates have been problematic, with glitches reported during the first Patch Tuesday update of 2026. The integration of AI features has left some users feeling overwhelmed, while the constant upsell prompts for services like Xbox Game Pass and Microsoft 365 have been criticized as bloatware. Users have also expressed frustration over forced migrations to OneDrive, where files have been deleted without consent. Additionally, there is a notable disparity in support for home users compared to corporate users, raising concerns about Microsoft's commitment to enhancing the consumer experience.

Winsage

January 29, 2026

Windows 11 has reached 1 billion users faster than Windows 10

Windows 11 has officially surpassed 1 billion users, achieving this milestone during the recent holiday quarter. This marks a faster adoption rate than Windows 10, which took nearly six years to reach the same number. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reported a year-over-year increase of over 45 percent in Windows 11 users, partly due to the end of support for Windows 10. Windows 11 reached 1 billion users in 1,576 days, compared to 1,706 days for Windows 10.

Winsage

January 19, 2026

How to run Windows apps on Linux with Wine

With the end of support for Windows 10, Zorin OS saw over 100,000 downloads within two days. Many users are looking to run Windows applications on Linux, which can be done using Wine, a compatibility layer for running Windows applications on Linux. Wine's latest version, Wine 11, includes features such as NTSYNC support, a unified 64-bit binary, enhanced Wayland/X11 integration, improved graphics via Vulkan/D3D12, better gamepad support, and smoother performance through WoW64. To install a Windows application like Notepad++ on Linux using Wine, users need to download the installer, navigate to the Downloads directory in the terminal, and run the installer with the command PLACEHOLDER62382e95b0b64d01. If 32-bit support is missing, it can be added with the command PLACEHOLDER069a94c8ac48a981. Additionally, users can install Windows applications through Winetricks, which simplifies the process by automatically downloading and running the necessary installers. Some applications may require further configuration, particularly games, which can be adjusted using Winetricks.

Winsage

January 16, 2026

Windows 11 users are still turning to third-party tools to bypass Microsoft’s push for all-encompassing AI — and “Winslop” is the most categorical example to date

October 5, 2026, marks six years since the release of Windows 11, which has struggled to gain user adoption despite the end of support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. In response to user concerns, Microsoft introduced the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, allowing continued security updates for an additional year, with free access for users in the European Economic Area. Users have been hesitant to upgrade to Windows 11 due to strict hardware requirements, design flaws, and Microsoft's focus on integrating AI into the operating system. Microsoft plans to transform Windows into an AI-driven platform, but this has faced backlash from users. The integration of Copilot AI is expanding within Windows, including potential features in File Explorer. However, skepticism remains among users, leading to a negative perception of the company, referred to as "Microslop." Additionally, a new application called Winslop has been developed to help users remove unwanted AI features and other components from Windows 11.

Winsage

January 14, 2026

Zorin OS 18 has reached 2 million downloads, with 1M+ Windows defections fueling one of Linux’s biggest growth stories in 2026

Zorin OS, a Linux distribution, has gained significant popularity among Windows users, particularly following the end of support for Windows 10. Zorin OS 18 was released on the same day Microsoft ceased support for Windows 10 and has achieved over 2 million downloads in less than three months, with around 75% of downloads from users transitioning from Windows 10 and 11. The rise in interest in Zorin OS is attributed to dissatisfaction with Microsoft’s bloatware and the need for alternatives for hardware that cannot meet Windows 11's requirements. Linux installations now account for 3.58% of total usage, while Windows holds a 94.23% share.

Winsage

January 6, 2026

Microsoft’s latest ad proves even its own marketing team won’t use Edge

Microsoft's recent advertisement for PC gaming featured Google Chrome pinned to the taskbar of a Windows computer, despite the company's promotion of its own browser, Microsoft Edge. The ad displayed Chrome prominently early in the video, which is notable given that nearly 95% of Steam gamers use Windows, with 70.83% having upgraded to Windows 11. Although Windows dominates the gaming sector, there is a growing interest in alternatives like Linux, which now supports about 90% of Windows games, though major titles remain unavailable due to anti-cheat systems. The inclusion of Chrome in the ad is seen as an anomaly, as promotional content typically avoids showcasing competitors. It is also noted that not all Microsoft employees exclusively use Microsoft Edge, suggesting a disconnect between the company's advertising and user behavior.

Winsage

December 23, 2025