Windows 11 has been available for quite some time now, but there have been a very large number of people hanging on to Windows 10. The reasons for not upgrading are myriad, but the result has been that Windows 11’s market share has been significantly smaller than Microsoft would have hoped.
But now this seems to be changing. The latest figures from StatCounter shows that there have been a marked shift in attitudes to Windows 11, with Windows 10’s share dropping as Windows 11’s soars.
The figures from StatCounter are instantly visible in the graph above with dramatic shifts in the popularity of Windows 11 as Windows 10 declines. The change coincides with the end of support for Windows 10, although it still took a while for the shift to become noticeable.
Back in December, Windows 11 had just over 50 percent of the Desktop Windows Version Market Share Worldwide. In January, this jumped to over 62 percent, and the most recent figures for February have it sitting at an impressive 72.57 percent.
The rise in Windows 11’s popularity mirrors Windows 10’s decline. In December the older operating system commanded 44.68 percent of the Desktop Windows Version Market Share Worldwide, dropping dramatically to 35.77 percent in January. The steep drop continued in February where the figure is now just 26.45 percent.
Although Microsoft has not publicly shared information about its dreams and goals for Windows 11 adoption, what has happened in the first few weeks of 2026 is surely much more in line with what the company was hoping for – perhaps even expecting.
Windows 11 has definitely proved to be something of a slow burner, but things are now working much more in Microsoft’s favor. The surge in interest in Windows 11 comes despite the fact that it is possible to continue to receive security updates for three years via the Extended Security Updates program, and in spite of the complaints from users about the amount of AI that is being crammed into the operating system.
