It's taken 1,371 days, but Windows 11 is finally the most popular version of Microsoft's desktop operating system. It now powers 52% of all desktop PCs and laptops that run on Windows, according to figures from StatCounter.
With over one billion devices running some version of Windows, these percentage increases equate to millions of new laptops, tablets, and desktop PCs.
Windows 10, which has been the dominant version of Microsoft's operating system since February 2018, now sits at 44.59% market share, StatCounter shows. It's a critical milestone for Microsoft, which has promised to end support for Windows 10 devices on October 14, 2025 — halting critical security fixes and bug patches.
After that deadline, anyone still using Windows 10 must choose between upgrading their operating system, buying a brand-new machine with Windows 11 preinstalled, paying an annual subscription fee to receive critical software updates to Windows 10, or ditching Windows altogether for an alternative, like Linux or Google's rival ChromeOS.
Launched in October 2021, Windows 11 has long struggled to convince PC users to adopt to its newest software. While Windows 10 reached 400 million devices in a single year since its launch, its successor took twice as long to reach the same milestone.
It's taken years for users to slowly turn their backs on Windows 10 in favour of its successor
STATSCOUNTER
There are multiple explanations for this sluggish pace. Microsoft marketed Windows 10 as the final version of its operating system, with the new features and design tweaks added over time, not saved up for a new version number.
"Windows 10 will be delivered as a service, bringing new innovations and updates in an ongoing manner," wrote then-Head of Windows Enterprise and Security Jim Alkove at a company Ignite event following the launch of Windows 10.
As such, many were surprised when Microsoft announced Windows 11 as "the beginning of a new generation" in late 2021. The new operating system brought with it much stricter CPU and security requirements, preventing many PCs capable of running Windows 10 without any issue to upgrade to the latest operating system free of charge.
@gbnews There are fewer than 150 days until Windows 10 reaches its end-of-support deadline. From October 14, 2025, onwards, Microsoft will no longer issue free software updates to fix vulnerabilities, bugs, and critical glitches in the desktop operating system. Without these, Microsoft warns that anyone who continues to use Windows 10 will be left "at greater risk for viruses and malware". Despite a recent U-turn to delay the same support deadline for Microsoft Office apps by three years, the Redmond-based company has refused to budge on its decision to halt vital updates for Windows 10. #News #Microsoft #MicrosoftOffice #Windows10 #Windows #UKNews #GBNews
Despite constant rumours that Microsoft would relax its unforgiving requirements, that doesn't seem to be the case. By some estimates, these new minimum system requirements will send hundreds of millions of devices to landfill.
Microsoft has battled to convince millions to make the switch, taking over laptop and desktop PC screens with a full-screen reminder to upgrade to Windows 11. Executives have branded 2025 as "year of the Windows 11 PC refresh", encouraging people to prioritise an upgrade over the purchase of other gadgets, such as a fridge-freezer, Smart TV, or mobile phone, ahead of the October deadline.
With the latest statistics from StatCounter, the tide is slowly starting to turn for Microsoft. It's unclear why we've seen such an increase in Windows 11 in recent months, but it's possible Microsoft's warnings on social media, full-screen prompts, and other cautionary messaging — coupled with the fact that October 14, 2025 really isn't that far away now — are all finally having an impact.
It's pretty normal to see a lag in the time it takes for the general public to switch to a new operating system, with concerns around compatibility with accessories, software, or other critical parts of their workflow. However, the shift from Windows 10 to Windows 11 has taken more time than previous iterations.
Microsoft has kickstarted a new category of Windows 11 PCs, known as Copilot+ PCs, that offer additional extras not available in other versions of Windows 11, thanks to their specialist AI chipsets MICROSOFT PRESS OFFICE | GBN Complicating matters, Microsoft is heavily promoting its new Copilot+ PC category as the flagship offering for Windows 11 users. These machines are "the fastest, most intelligent and most secure Windows PCs ever built", Microsoft Consumer Chief Marketing Officer, Yusuf Mehdi published a blog post.
These laptops, introduced by Microsoft, Lenovo, Samsung, and other prominent manufacturers last summer, boast a number of exclusive Windows 11 features that you won't find on machines that don't meet the specific Copilot+ PC requirements.
The company claims Copilot+ PCs are up to five times faster than popular 5-year-old Windows PCs, with top models reportedly performing 58% faster than a MacBook Air with M3. The new category features processors from multiple manufacturers, including Snapdragon, AMD Ryzen AI, and Intel Core Ultra.
Microsoft emphasises that security is "at the heart of everything" they do, with Windows 11 devices shipping with numerous security features enabled by default. According to IDC data cited by Microsoft, nearly 80% of businesses plan to refresh their PC portfolio by the end of 2025. The same research suggests 70% of everyday consumers will upgrade their PCs in the next two years.
If you want to enjoy all of the features built into Windows 11, you'll need to make sure your next purchase is labelled as a Copilot+ PC. This signifies that it meets the latest criteria from Microsoft (16GB of RAM, 256GB SSD, and NPU) to enable the latest AI tricks
MICROSOFT PRESS OFFICE
If you missed the memo, starting from October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer issue free software updates to fix vulnerabilities, bugs, and critical glitches in the desktop operating system.
Without these, Microsoft warns that anyone who continues to use Windows 10 will be left "at greater risk for viruses and malware". Once a flaw in the operating system has been uncovered, hackers can continue to exploit the vulnerability in millions of PCs with no fear that Microsoft will issue a fix.
Beyond security concerns, compatibility issues will mount. Microsoft recently extended support for its own 365 apps, including Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint, but this software was due to end in October 2025.
Since the launch of Windows 11 four years ago, the minimum system requirements have proven to be a source of controversy due to the strict hardware demands, which many older computers cannot meet.
Windows 11 reworks the design of the operating system and brings the iconic Start Menu to the centre of the screen for the first time MICROSOFT PRESS OFFICE To install Windows 11, which is free to anyone who has a legitimate version of Windows 10 installed on their PC, a computer must have a 64-bit processor, at least 4GB of memory (RAM), 64GB of storage, and specific security features like UEFI firmware with Secure Boot and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
For those who don't know, the TPM is a small hardware component designed to enhance security. It stores sensitive information, such as encryption keys and passwords, in a secure way, protecting against malware and unauthorised access.
Secure Boot is another security feature that ensures only trusted software runs when the computer starts, preventing attacks that can compromise the system before the operating system even loads.
Microsoft introduced these requirements to improve security and take advantage of modern hardware capabilities. Of course, if you buy a new desktop PC or laptop from the store with Windows 11 preinstalled, it will have all of the hardware required built-in.
But many computers with enough processing power to comfortably run Windows 10 lack these additional security features, like TPM 2.0. As a result, these PCs do not meet these new standards, despite being fully functional.
This has frustrated users who wish to take advantage of Microsoft’s free upgrade offer but are instead faced with either upgrading their hardware or sticking with Windows 10 after the operating system stops receiving updates later this year. Critics argue that the requirements are overly strict, forcing users to replace otherwise capable computers, leading to unnecessary costs and electronic waste.
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If your current Windows 10 PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements to take advantage of a free upgrade to Windows 11, there are two choices available — either switch to a brand-new machine with Windows 11 preinstalled; or subscribe to the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 to continue to receive critical security patches and bug fixes.
While enterprise users will be charged $61 (£48) for the first year of additional support, rising to an eye-watering $244 (£192) for third and final year, consumers benefit from a much more affordable deal.
Priced at $30 (£24) for an extra year of critical Windows 10 updates, this marks the first time Microsoft has offered ESU to everyday PC owners.
For those seeking alternatives, some are exploring Linux distributions to keep older hardware functional. Google is enabling disgruntled Windows 10 users to switch to its ChromeOS Flex — a variant of the software that powers its immensely popular Chromebooks.
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