Windows 11 adoption Archives

Winsage

June 13, 2026

Steam Survey: Increased Windows 11 Adoption, AMD GPU Detection Fix Live

Windows 11 has surpassed Windows 10 in adoption nearly four years after its launch in 2021, with projections of reaching 1 billion users by 2026. The May 2026 Steam Hardware and Software survey shows a 2.02% increase in Windows 11 gamers, while Windows 10 declined by 1.64% and Linux by 0.53%. Windows gained 0.38% overall, and macOS added 0.15%. English-language users increased by 2.71%, indicating demographic biases in the survey. The industry standard remains 16 GB of RAM and 1080p monitor resolution, with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 as the most popular graphics card. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT saw a 1.24% gain following a fix for detection issues.

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

December 5, 2025

Microsoft Confirms New Upgrade Decision For All Windows Users

Approximately 500 million users have PCs that qualify for Windows 11 but have not yet upgraded. Microsoft has announced that all supported systems can download and install Windows 11 version 25H2, available for both Windows 11 and Windows 10 users with the necessary system requirements. The update may encounter installation errors, such as the 0x80070306, and users may experience issues like disruptions to dark mode in File Explorer and complications with Intel Arc GPU drivers. Microsoft is working on a resolution for these problems, but a specific timeline for fixes is not provided. Users can check for the Windows 11 upgrade by going to Settings > Windows Update and selecting "Check for updates." This feature is exclusive to qualifying PCs.

Winsage

December 3, 2025

Windows 11 growth slows as millions stick with Windows 10

By November 2025, Windows 11 held 53.7 percent of the Windows desktop market, while Windows 10 had 42.7 percent. Statcounter's data is based on a sample of around 1.5 million websites. Many consumers have devices incompatible with upgrades or prefer not to change functioning systems. In the EU, consumers benefit from free Microsoft Extended Security Updates (ESU). Businesses face slow change management processes due to poor planning and resource challenges. Organizations use ESUs to maintain security during transitions, but costs can be burdensome for unprepared businesses. Consumers often retain older Windows 10 machines for secondary tasks, affecting usage statistics. Organizations strategically leverage ESUs for mission-critical systems and budget constraints. The cost of ESUs is often less than the potential disruptions from migration. Windows 11 lacks compelling features to prompt enterprises to upgrade, and adoption is slower than previous operating systems, lagging by 10-12 points according to Dell's COO.

Winsage

December 1, 2025

People really don’t want Windows 11 on their PCs, says Dell

Dell's COO, Jeff Clarke, reported that approximately 1.5 billion Windows devices are in use globally, with about 500 million capable of running Windows 11 that have not been upgraded and another 500 million devices too outdated to support the new operating system. He noted that Dell's sales figures for Windows 11 are lagging by 10 to 12 points compared to previous generations. One-third of the Windows user base lacks a compatible PC for Windows 11, while another third has the capability to upgrade but has chosen not to. Additionally, businesses may be hesitant to adopt Windows 11 due to concerns about stability and compatibility.

Winsage

November 27, 2025

Nearly 1 billion PCs remain on Windows 10 — Has Windows 11 adoption hit a wall?

Windows 10 reached the end of its support in October, with approximately 1 billion PCs still using it. During Dell's Q3 earnings call, COO Jeffrey Clarke mentioned that about 500 million PCs are capable of running Windows 11 but haven't been upgraded, while another 500 million are too old to upgrade. A study from July indicated that around 50% of all PCs were still on Windows 10, and Windows 11 only surpassed Windows 10 in market share in June. Microsoft provided a year of free security updates for Windows 10, which may have slowed the transition to Windows 11. A developer from Zorin OS reported that around 780,000 users switched from Windows 10 to their Linux distribution since support ended. Microsoft Windows lead Pavan Davuluri stated that nearly 1 billion users currently rely on Windows 11, with the potential for this number to double if hardware requirements are reconsidered or upgrades are encouraged.

Winsage

November 4, 2025

Windows 10 still clinging on after Microsoft pulls support

Microsoft has concluded free support for most versions of Windows 10 as of October 14, while Windows 10 still holds a market share of 41.71 percent compared to Windows 11's 55.18 percent. The adoption of Windows 11 is increasing slowly, and many enterprises using Windows 10 should have enrolled in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. Factors such as hardware replacement cycles, economic conditions, and tariffs are influencing the pace of migration from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Microsoft plans to integrate AI services into the Windows environment but has not indicated plans to impose similar hardware compatibility restrictions as seen with Windows 11.

Winsage

October 3, 2025

Google aims new ads at Windows 10 holdouts — but will users really switch to Chromebooks?

Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 will reach its end-of-life on October 14, 2025, leaving users without security updates. As of 2020, Windows 10 had over 700 million users, but many may not be able to upgrade to Windows 11 due to its hardware requirements. Google has launched an advertising campaign targeting Windows 10 users, promoting Chromebooks as a secure alternative. Windows 10 is still the operating system for nearly half of all PCs, while Windows 11 adoption is around 40%. Over 200 million PCs are estimated to be ineligible for the Windows 11 upgrade. Chromebooks are popular in educational settings and come with automatic updates, though they may lack access to traditional Windows applications. Google also offers ChromeOS Flex to repurpose older Windows hardware.

Winsage

September 30, 2025

The Windows 11 upgrade wave has yet to hit healthcare

Enterprise strategies for transitioning from Windows 10 are underway, but some sectors are lagging. Lansweeper's analysis of approximately 8.5 million Windows devices indicates that the transport and logistics sector leads with 61.2% on Windows 11, while healthcare shows only 33.5% upgraded. Delays in upgrading are often due to regulatory challenges and the need for software approval. By October 14, Windows 11 adoption could reach 70% overall, but varies by industry. Unsupported Windows 10 machines will continue to function post-end date, and some organizations may delay final patches. The healthcare sector's slow adoption is concerning due to its potential impact on human lives. Additionally, support for Office 2016 and 2019 will end alongside many Windows 10 versions. Microsoft is not expected to impose significant changes soon, and future hardware requirements for Windows 12 remain uncertain.

Winsage

September 5, 2025

HP, Dell say 50% of PCs still run Windows 10 and unlikely to upgrade soon

Microsoft's deadline for Windows 10 is approaching in less than two months. Only half of Windows PCs have upgraded to Windows 11, with the other half hesitant to do so. Windows 11 accounts for about half of global installations, while Windows 10 gained market share in August. Large enterprises are expected to prioritize upgrading to Windows 11, while small businesses are likely to delay upgrades. Rising PC prices and the impact of import tariffs are making consumers cautious about new purchases. Microsoft is extending security updates for Windows 10 with additional requirements for users.