Windows 11 Continues to Catch Up to Windows 10 in Popularity

As Windows 11 struggles to gain widespread adoption, experts warn millions of functional PCs risk becoming e-waste when Windows 10 support ends in October 2025.

However, the scales appear to be shifting as StatCounter data reveals Windows 11 held a 35.55% market share in October, while Windows 10 declined to 60.97%, continuing a downward trend from its 69.9% share in April. Unless adoption significantly accelerates, Windows 11 is unlikely to be dominant when free Windows 10 updates cease.

Microsoft will offer continued security updates for Windows 10 after the end-of-support date for a fee: $30 for consumers, $61 for enterprises, and $1 for educational users in the first year.

While this move may boost Windows 11 adoption, critics, including the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), argue the extended support plan is insufficient. PIRG previously petitioned Microsoft in 2023 to reconsider the end-of-support deadline.

Lucas Rockett Gutterman, PIRG’s Designed to Last Campaign Director said:

It’s outrageous that Microsoft, while touting its environmental credentials, is planning to effectively trash 400 million working computers. This isn’t just environmentally harmful. It’s a blatant disregard for consumers who are being forced to replace functional devices.

Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 update, version 24H2, has arrived with several new features. These include the integration of the Rust programming language into the Windows kernel, support for the SHA-3 cryptographic algorithm, and the introduction of a Sudo-like command-line tool.

Despite these advancements, Microsoft continues to frustrate users by maintaining its restrictive hardware requirements for Windows 11. Many older, perfectly functional computers are still unable to run the latest operating system.

In January 2019, a year before Windows 7’s end of support, Windows 10 held a significant market share advantage, commanding 53.18% compared to Windows 7’s 35.05%. Windows 11, while gaining traction, still has a considerable distance to cover to reach similar levels of adoption.