Windows 11 Adoption Surges, Overtaking Windows 10?

Microsoft’s push to get PC users to switch to Windows 11 appears to be finally paying off. Recent data shows a dramatic rise in the operating system’s market share, shrinking the lead held by its predecessor ahead of the looming support cut-off.

The Tide Turns for Windows 11

Since its October 2021 debut, Microsoft has struggled to get PC users to upgrade to Windows 11. Despite the strong preference for Windows 10, the company is moving ahead with plans to end support for the older operating system on October 14, 2025. Initially, Windows 10 usage was double its successor’s.

However, recent figures indicate a change in the trend. While not surpassing Windows 10 yet, Windows 11 is rapidly gaining ground. The latest data shows that Windows 10’s market share unexpectedly increased before the decline. As of June 2025, Windows 10 runs on 49% of PCs, while Windows 11 is at 47%. These shifts translate to millions of devices.

Reasons for the Shift

It remains unclear what’s fueling the Windows 11 surge, but Microsoft’s warnings about Windows 10’s end-of-life could be having an impact. Full-screen prompts and social media messaging could be driving users to upgrade. It’s typical for users to take time to adopt new operating systems.

The requirement of strict system requirements is the reason for slow adoption. These requirements have stopped many computers running Windows 10 from upgrading to the latest operating system without additional hardware. Despite rumors, Microsoft seems firm on its hardware demands.

Microsoft is pushing its new Copilot+ PC category for Windows 11 users, machines they describe as “the fastest, most intelligent and most secure Windows PCs ever built,” according to a blog post from Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s Consumer Chief Marketing Officer. These machines feature exclusive Windows 11 features, offering a boost in speed.

To experience all Windows 11 features, a Copilot+ PC is necessary. These PCs have 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and an NPU, meeting Microsoft’s latest criteria. Despite the millions unable to upgrade, Microsoft is steadfast in its requirements, viewing them as vital for modern security. Mehdi has emphasized the company’s focus on protecting customer data.

What the Future Holds

Beginning October 14, 2025, Microsoft will halt free updates to fix vulnerabilities, bugs, and glitches in Windows 10. Without updates, users are at risk from viruses and malware. Microsoft recently extended support for its 365 apps, but this also ends in October 2025. The minimum system requirements for Windows 11 have caused controversy because of hardware demands.

Users have two options if their Windows 10 PC doesn’t meet the requirements: buy a new machine with Windows 11 or subscribe to the Extended Security Updates program. While this costs $61 for businesses, consumers can get an extra year of Windows 10 updates for $30.

As of June 2024, Windows 10 was installed on 66% of computers globally; now the number is down to 49%. The shift to Windows 11 comes as Microsoft highlights the need for new hardware. According to IDC data cited by Microsoft, around 80% of businesses plan to refresh their PC portfolios by the end of 2025.

With 114 days left until Windows 10 support ends, experts predict Windows 11 will become the most-used operating system. With over a billion devices running some version of Windows, these changes impact millions.