As Microsoft gears up to retire one of its most beloved operating systems, Windows 10 finds itself in a curious position. Set to reach its end-of-life on October 14, 2025, the operating system is not merely fading into the background; it’s making a surprising stand against the steady migration of users to Windows 11. Recent data reveals that while Windows 10’s global market share has dipped, it remains a formidable player in the desktop arena.
According to Statcounter, in April 2023, Windows 10 held a commanding 71.6% of the global desktop market. Fast forward to April 2024, and that figure has only slightly decreased to 69.9%. However, by February 2024, Windows 10’s share fell to 58.7%, marking its lowest point since August 2019. In contrast, Windows 11 has steadily climbed to capture 38.1% of the desktop market, reflecting a healthy adoption rate.
Do gamers still favor Windows 10?
Despite the overall trend favoring Windows 11, the gaming community appears to be holding onto Windows 10 with tenacity. The latest Steam Hardware and Software Survey from February 2025 indicates a decline in Windows 11’s presence among gamers, a notable shift from previous months. While Windows 11 boasts features like DirectX 12 Ultimate and improved performance, Windows 10 still offers many of these capabilities, making it a stable choice for gamers.
Features such as DirectX 12 Ultimate, which enables ray tracing, and DirectStorage for faster game loading times are also available on Windows 10. This stability, combined with a reputation for reliability, keeps gamers loyal to the older operating system. Recent survey results show that Windows 10 64-bit users surged by 10.4%, while Windows 11 64-bit users dropped by 9.3%, flipping the previous month’s statistics and giving Windows 10 a 53.3% majority among Steam users.
What caused Windows 10’s comeback?
Examining the demographics of Steam users reveals an intriguing trend: a significant increase in users selecting Simplified Chinese as their preferred language. This surge has pushed the total of Simplified Chinese users to 50%, with English trailing at 23.8%. The influx of Chinese users may be contributing to the resurgence of Windows 10 on the platform, as Statcounter data indicates that only 26.4% of users in China are operating on Windows 11, compared to higher adoption rates in Europe and North America.
Is Windows 11’s dominance an inevitability?
As the countdown to Windows 10’s end-of-support date continues, the trajectory of Windows 11’s adoption suggests that a complete transition is on the horizon. While Windows 10 remains popular, particularly among certain demographics, the overall trend indicates that Microsoft’s strategy to unify users under Windows 11 is progressing as planned. Notably, Windows 7 still holds a surprising 16.5% share among desktop PCs in China, illustrating a preference for older systems in some regions.
In the grand scheme, while Windows 10 may be enjoying a momentary resurgence, the inevitability of Windows 11’s dominance looms ever closer, shaping the future landscape of operating systems.
