Windows 11 is now the predominant version of Microsoft’s operating system, surpassing Windows 10. The fourth anniversary of Windows 11 on October 5 coincides with a growing divide between its usage and that of its predecessor, Windows 10.
Previously, Windows 10 held the crown of the most popular version, following its release just over seven years ago. Reasons for Windows 11’s accelerated growth include the phase-out of Windows 10 support scheduled for October 2025, leading users toward upgrading.
Adoption Rates of Windows Versions (as of July 2025)
| OS | Adoption Rate |
|---|---|
| Win11 | 51.36% |
| Win10 | 45.57% |
| Win8.1 | 0.28% |
| Win8 | 0.31% |
| Win7 | 2.15% |
| WinXP | 0.33% |
Windows 11 was introduced with stringent hardware requirements, such as TPM 2.0, impacting its adoption rate despite its organic growth through new hardware sales. As Windows 10 approaches its end-of-life, the push towards adopting Windows 11 will likely continue.
