Microsoft has reached a significant milestone with its Windows 11 operating system, which has officially overtaken Windows 10 in market share. According to recent data from StatCounter, Windows 11 now holds a 52% share of the desktop operating system market, while Windows 10 accounts for 44.59%.
Although Windows 11 became the leading operating system for PC gaming in September 2022, its overall adoption has been slower compared to its predecessor, Windows 10. As of October 2023, Windows 11 has been installed on over 400 million devices; however, it took Microsoft two years to achieve this figure, whereas Windows 10 reached a similar milestone in just one year.
Several factors contribute to the slower rollout of Windows 11, primarily its stricter hardware requirements. While Microsoft provides a free upgrade for Windows 10 users, many computers are ineligible for the upgrade due to these stringent CPU and security specifications. To incentivize hardware upgrades, Microsoft has implemented full-screen notifications aimed at encouraging users to update their systems.
As Windows 10 approaches the end of official support on October 14, Microsoft has announced a plan to offer a free year of additional security updates to users who enable Windows Backup and sync their Documents folder with OneDrive. For those who choose not to participate, they will have the option to purchase a year of updates for $30 or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Reward points.
