Microsoft’s Windows 10 remains the dominant desktop operating system, with a market share of 62.7% in December 2024, according to Statcounter figures. In contrast, Windows 11’s share fell to 34.12%, despite being slightly higher than its share this time last year.
The reason behind Windows 10’s continued dominance is unclear, but analysts suggest that it may be due to enterprises and public institutions adopting the operating system as part of their IT refresh cycles. This trend could be influenced by the upcoming Trump administration, which may prompt some device purchases in government ahead of potential budget cuts.
As users approach 10 months before Windows 10’s free support ends, Microsoft is under pressure to address its strategy. The company has yet to respond to questions about extending support for Windows 10 or tweaking Windows 11’s hardware requirements. One possible solution could be to extend mainstream support for an additional year or so, but this would require reverting to an earlier version of the operating system.
With the market share gap between Windows 10 and Windows 11 continuing to widen, Microsoft must rethink its strategy before it’s too late. The company’s reliance on hardware requirements and limited user adoption of Windows 11 raises concerns about its ability to compete in the desktop operating system market.
Source: https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/02/windows_10_grows