Microsoft has recently rolled out Windows 11 25H2 to Windows Insiders within the Release Preview channel, reinforcing the operating system’s position as it continues to outpace its predecessor, Windows 10. This announcement was made at the end of last week, with the company indicating that general availability is expected “later this year.”
Windows 11 25H2 Features and Changes
The latest iteration, Windows 11 25H2, operates on the same servicing branch as its predecessor, Windows 11 24H2. This means that the installation process is primarily an enablement package, activating features that have already been downloaded but remain dormant. Microsoft has employed a similar strategy with previous updates, including Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2.
However, not all features will persist in this new version. Notably, PowerShell 2.0 will be phased out. On a positive note, administrators will gain the ability to remove pre-installed Microsoft Store applications through Group Policy, providing greater control over the software environment. The presence of this build in the Release Preview channel also allows administrators to scrutinize the code prior to its broader release.
Interestingly, the announcement did not touch upon the anticipated Windows 12, nor did it provide any official statistics regarding the current adoption rates of Windows 11. According to Statcounter’s latest figures, Windows 11 holds a market share of 49.08 percent, while Windows 10 lags slightly behind at 45.53 percent. This trend indicates a continued preference for Windows 11, despite some fluctuations in the market.
In the United States, Windows 11 has shown robust growth, capturing nearly 60 percent of the market share, while Windows 10 has dipped below 40 percent. Conversely, in Europe, Windows 10 remains the dominant operating system, presenting a contrasting picture for Microsoft’s flagship product.
One potential reason for the disparity in performance across regions could be attributed to a surge in PC purchases in the US, driven by tariffs. It’s also worth noting that Statcounter’s data is derived from approximately 1.5 million websites, a mere fraction of the over 1.2 billion websites globally. In the absence of official metrics from Microsoft, these figures provide a useful benchmark for assessing the progress of Windows 11.
As the deadline approaches for many versions of Windows 10 to lose support, a significant uptick in Windows 11 adoption has yet to materialize. This suggests that users of Windows 10 may have already accounted for the costs associated with Enterprise Security Updates (ESU), or perhaps they are exploring the option of obtaining ESU at no cost for certain users.
