The Countdown to Windows 10’s End of Support
Windows 10 is approaching its final chapter, with the last update set to roll out in under three months. Although Microsoft is offering an additional year of free updates, mainstream support for this decade-old operating system will officially conclude on October 14, 2025. This impending end has prompted many users to begin migrating to newer systems, as evidenced by recent data from Statcounter.
Declining Market Share for Windows 10
Recent statistics from Statcounter indicate a significant decline in Windows 10’s market share. By July 2025, its popularity plummeted, trailing behind its successor, Windows 11. The operating system’s share has diminished to 42.99%, reflecting a notable 4.99 percentage point drop within a single month. Year-over-year figures reveal an alarming decrease of 22 percentage points from 64.99% to 42.99%.
Shift to Windows 11
Amidst a surge of articles declaring transitions to Linux, the majority of Windows 10 users are opting for an upgrade to Windows 11 instead. Statcounter’s findings show that Windows 11 increased its market share from 47.98% to 53.39% in just one month, marking a noteworthy 5.41-point rise. This trend is particularly intriguing given the mixed reception of Windows 11 upon its release. Year-on-year, Windows 11’s market share has surged by 22.56 points.
Current Windows Market Landscape
As it stands, supported Windows versions collectively dominate the market with over 96% of users. The remaining users are divided among older versions: Windows 7 holds 2.04%, Windows 8 accounts for 0.88%, Windows XP at 0.44%, and Windows 8.1 lags behind with 0.23%.
Planning Your Transition from Windows 10
If you are still running Windows 10, it’s prudent to devise your transition strategy. One option is to enroll in the Extended Security Update program, providing an additional 12 months of security-only updates. This grace period allows time for further improvements in Windows 11, potential device upgrades, or consideration of alternative operating systems. Alternatively, even unsupported devices can attempt an upgrade to Windows 11. Given Nvidia’s impending end of driver support for Windows 10, many users may be compelled to make this change sooner rather than later.
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