In the realm of technology, the discourse surrounding Windows 11 has become a familiar refrain, particularly among enthusiasts who take to the Internet to voice their grievances. From those who have made the leap to Linux to the myriad guides detailing adjustments to enhance the user experience, the sentiment often leans toward frustration. Complaints range from the seemingly trivial, such as being prompted to sign in to an app after clicking a sign-in button, to more substantial critiques of the operating system itself.
Yet, despite the chorus of discontent, Windows 11 stands tall as the most prevalent operating system across desktop and laptop computers globally. This enduring popularity is underscored by a significant milestone recently announced by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella during the company’s latest earnings call. Windows 11 has surpassed the impressive threshold of 1 billion users worldwide, achieving this feat just a few months faster than its predecessor, Windows 10.
Windows 11 reached this milestone 1,576 days post its public launch on October 5, 2021, while Windows 10 took 1,692 days to reach the same mark after its debut on July 29, 2015. This acceleration is particularly noteworthy considering that Windows 10 was initially available as a free upgrade for users of Windows 7 and Windows 8, with no significant changes in system requirements. In contrast, while Windows 11 is also a free upgrade for Windows 10 users, its higher system requirements have rendered many Windows 10 PCs ineligible for the transition.
Windows 10’s long goodbye
Determining the exact number of PCs still operating on Windows 10 presents a challenge, as public data can often be inconsistent. However, informed estimates suggest that hundreds of millions of devices continue to run this older version, even after its official end-of-support date last October. According to Statcounter, a widely referenced source for operating system and browser usage statistics, between 50 and 55 percent of Windows PCs globally are now utilizing Windows 11, while approximately 40 to 45 percent remain on Windows 10.
Interestingly, Statcounter has noted a slight uptick in the usage of both Windows 10 and Windows 7 in recent months, which underscores the variability of the data. By late 2025, Dell COO Jeffrey Clarke indicated that around 1 billion active Windows 10 PCs were still in use, with about 500 million of those unable to upgrade due to hardware limitations. This context suggests that Statcounter’s depiction of a nearly evenly split user base between Windows 10 and Windows 11 may not be far from reality.
