Windows 11 Market Share Shake Up

Windows XP Surprises, Windows 11 Soars, and Windows 10's Decline

The latest Stat Counter data for March 2025 has revealed some fascinating shifts in the Windows operating system landscape. Unpack what they mean for users and the tech industry at large and their numbers

The Unstoppable Rise of Windows 11

Windows 11 has hit an all-time high, surging by over 4% to claim a 42.66% market share. This significant jump can be attributed to several factors

Pre installation of new devices

Microsoft's aggressive marketing push

The rollout of Copilot Plus PCs

Looming end of support for Windows 10

This growth trajectory suggests Windows 11 could overtake Windows 10 in the next 3-4 months, marking a pivotal moment in Microsoft's OS strategy.

The Rapid Decline in Windows 10

Once the undisputed king, Windows 10 is now in a nosedive. Its market share plummeted from 58.83% to 54.23% - a staggering 4% drop that mirrors Windows 11's rise.

This decline is likely fueled by

Upcoming end of support in October 2025

Users upgrading to Windows 11

New device purchases with Windows 11 pre-installed

Old But Not Forgotten The XP Phenomenon

Windows XP has climbed to become the fourth most used Windows version, surpassing Windows 8.1. With a slight increase to 0.33%, XP's resilience continues to baffle and impress.

This endurance raises questions about

Legacy system dependencies in certain industries

The challenges of upgrading in some regions or sectors

The robustness of XP's design, still relevant decades later

Some Notable Changes

Windows 7 decreased slightly to 2.22%

Windows 8.1 dipped to 0.28%

Windows 8 saw a minor increase to 0.24%

Things for Users and Businesses

Upgrade Pressure With Windows 10 support ending soon, the push to adopt Windows 11 or find alternatives will intensify.

Hardware Considerations Users with older hardware may need to consider new devices to run Windows 11.

Security Implications Those clinging to outdated systems like XP face increased security risks.

Software Compatibility Businesses need to ensure their critical applications are Windows 11 ready.

Training and Adaptation as Windows 11 becomes dominant, organizations should prepare for the learning curve.

The Windows landscape is clearly in flux. As we approach the end of Windows 10 support, we can expect

An even steeper rise in Windows 11 adoption

Potential growth in alternative OS markets (Linux, macOS)

Increased focus on cloud-based and cross-platform solutions

Are you part of the Windows 11 wave, or holding onto an older version? And how do these shifts align with your experience