Windows 10’s Declining Market Share Raises Concerns as Support Deadline Approaches
As Windows 11’s adoption continues to sluggishly progress, analysts are becoming increasingly worried about the future landscape of operating systems. With the extended support for Windows 10 set to conclude in just eight months, the situation becomes critical, especially in Germany, where approximately 48 percent of household devices—around 21 million—are still operating on Windows 10.
Officially, Windows 10’s support status ended on October 14, 2025. Users who signed up for Extended Security Updates (ESU) can still access essential security updates and minor improvements, but this extended support is only valid until October 13, 2026. Post that date, users must either upgrade to Windows 11 or replace their devices, as security vulnerabilities will no longer receive fixes.
Recent insights from ESET, a prominent cybersecurity firm based in Europe, highlight the remarkable statistic that 21 million PCs in German households are still running Windows 10. This figure does not account for business devices, which also remain predominantly on Windows 10. The reluctance of consumers to shift to Windows 11 is especially striking given the impending deadline for ESU support.
Back in August 2025, Windows 10 boasted around 24 million installations in Germany, while Windows 11 was found on about 17 million devices. In that timeframe, roughly 3.6 to 3.7 million users transitioned from Windows 10 to Windows 11. ESET pointed out an increase in Windows 11 installations, with it now present on nearly 49.5 percent—approximately 21.5 million—of desktop PCs and laptops, an increase of 3.6 million from the previous count.
The segment of computers still reliant on older operating systems like Windows XP and 7 has diminished to roughly 840, 000, suggesting a drop from about a million in August 2025. Alexander Opel, an IT security expert at ESET, remarked, “Germany struggles with change, including switching operating systems. Windows 10 remains exceptionally popular among consumers, particularly in comparison to global trends. With official support concluded in October 2025, those who procrastinate or forgo updating further risk significant security hazards.”
The Gaming Community Embraces Windows 11
While the situation in Europe appears concerning, insights from beyond the region, particularly in the gaming community, suggest a different narrative. Steam’s December 2025 survey indicates a greater preference for Windows within the gaming sector, maintaining a dominant global usage of 94.23%, although this marks a slight decrease of 0.56 points.
Notably, Windows 11 stands out with a robust 66.60% market share among gamers (an uptick of 1.01), while Windows 10’s presence has declined to 27.51% (down 1.55).The statistics show Windows 7 on the verge of obsolescence at a mere 0.08%.Within the Steam environment, Windows 11 comprises approximately 71% of all Windows machines, implying that gamers with upgraded capabilities have largely made the switch.
This trend aligns with expectations, as Steam users typically utilize more advanced hardware, and gamers are inclined to upgrade to Windows 11, primarily due to its superior performance in gaming scenarios compared to Windows 10.
It’s worth mentioning that for those still loyal to Windows 10, Microsoft has provided a straightforward pathway to extend support. The Windows Update page highlights the end of support timeline and facilitates the retaining of Windows 10 usage, implying many users are content as long as their current operating system functions effectively.
However, all users on Windows 10 with ESU need to recognize that, after October 2026, security updates will cease entirely.
Microsoft may soon initiate full-screen notifications urging users to transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11, particularly emphasizing the enhancements offered by the new Copilot+ PC model. In fact, the company advocates recycling outdated hardware to procure a new Copilot+ PC if existing devices do not meet Windows 11’s requirements.
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