Windows 11 adoption slows as Windows 10 share drops
New data from StatCounter shows that fewer than half of Windows users have migrated to Windows 11, even as the window for alternative upgrades tightens outside Europe. The latest figures highlight a continuing tug-of-war between the two leading desktop operating systems, with a surprising uptick in a much older version in September.
September snapshot: the numbers in focus
In September, Windows 10 lost 5.03 percentage points of share, sliding to 40.5%. That drop marks the lowest level the OS has reached since October 2017, underscoring how the user base still running Windows 10 remains sizable even as support winds down outside Europe.
Overall Windows usage appears to have declined during the month as well, with Windows 11 slipping from 49.08% to 48.94%. The shift suggests a near-standoff in the market where neither side makes a decisive, sustained gain in the short term.
A surprising shift: Windows 7 finds new footing
One of the more notable anomalies in September is the surge in Windows 7 adoption. The user share for Windows 7 jumped from 3.59% in August to 9.61% in September. While Windows 7 is officially out of extended support, its renewed presence in the metrics signals continued reliance on legacy software among certain user groups and environments where upgrading remains challenging.
What this means for users and businesses
The data arrives at a moment when, outside Europe, official Windows 10 support is nearing its end. For many users and organizations, that deadline adds urgency to the upgrade decision, pushing concerns about compatibility, hardware readiness, and security updates to the forefront. However, the slower-than-expected migration to Windows 11 suggests that a simple version switch isn’t a universal priority—factors such as hardware requirements, perceived stability, and user inertia continue to influence upgrade behavior.
Microsoft has positioned Windows 11 as the long-term platform with ongoing feature updates and security improvements, while Windows 10 remains a still-usable option for a portion of users. The September data indicate that many households and businesses are balancing the trade-offs between staying on a familiar OS and moving to the newer, potentially more restrictive, ecosystem of Windows 11.
<h2 Looking ahead: the path to a broader Windows 11 footprint
As end-of-support timelines tighten outside Europe, we can expect pressure to rise for more decisive upgrades. The pace of migration will likely hinge on several practical factors: hardware compatibility (including requirements such as newer CPU generations and secure boot features), the smoothness of enterprise deployment, and the availability of necessary software updates. Analysts also point to the impact of feature updates on Windows 11’s perceived value; clearer visibility into performance, reliability, and management capabilities could tip the balance for some organizations.
In the near term, expect continued fluctuations in share as small business and consumer users reassess their setups. For owners of aging hardware or mission-critical software stacks, the September trends underscore the reality that upgrading remains a non-trivial undertaking even when a newer OS is available.
Bottom line
StatCounter’s September snapshot shows Windows 11 growth stalling while Windows 10 maintains a substantial presence, and Windows 7 resurges among some users. With support timelines tightening outside Europe, the clock is ticking for those on older platforms to consider their upgrade options and plan for a smoother transition—whether to Windows 11 or to a newer, supported environment.
