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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The headline described a real but short-lived movement in StatCounter’s worldwide desktop data for December 2024: Windows 11 fell to 34.10% while Windows 10 rose to 62.73%. It did not prove that users were switching back, and it is no longer the current trend. StatCounter’s July 2026 figures put Windows 11 at 68.93% and Windows 10 at 29.83%.
What the original Windows market-share report measured
A report published on January 1, 2025, repeated StatCounter’s December 2024 figures for worldwide desktop Windows versions. These are third-party market-share estimates, not Microsoft’s official count of installed Windows PCs. The report noted that Microsoft does not publish an equivalent official Windows market-share table. Neowin’s January 2025 report is the source for the original figures.
Market share is a proportion within a defined measurement, not a direct tally of computers shipped, monthly active devices, or every PC in existence. A change in share measured in percentage points does not reveal how many people changed operating systems, or whether any particular Windows 11 user moved to Windows 10. StatCounter’s figures should therefore be read as a trend in its desktop measurement, not as a record of individual upgrades or downgrades.
The December 2024 figures
The January 2025 report reproduced the following worldwide desktop Windows-version data from StatCounter. Monthly movement is shown in percentage points.
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| Windows version | December 2024 share | Monthly movement |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 | 62.73% | +0.90 percentage points |
| Windows 11 | 34.10% | −0.84 percentage points |
| Windows 7 | 2.40% | −0.07 percentage points |
| Windows 8.1 | 0.29% | −0.02 percentage points |
| Windows XP | 0.23% | −0.02 percentage points |
Those figures support the wording that Windows 11’s measured share fell and Windows 10’s rose that month. They do not establish that the same number of people switched from one version to the other: other possibilities include newly active or reactivated Windows 10 devices, seasonal shifts in measured activity, differences in the sample, and people postponing an upgrade.
Why Windows 10 could gain share before its support deadline
Windows 10 remained familiar, and replacing a working operating system can involve software compatibility, staff training, policy, and support costs. Windows 11 also has official hardware requirements that exclude some older PCs, including requirements involving TPM 2.0 and compatible processors. People unable or unwilling to upgrade immediately could keep using Windows 10 or delay a decision, even as the support deadline approached.
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The deadline created an incentive to plan a move; it did not guarantee that every user would migrate before it arrived. The December 2024 figures cannot show which of these factors caused the monthly change, and they do not prove a broad wave of Windows 11 users downgrading. Nor do they show that Windows 10 was gaining renewed long-term support.
How the trend looks in the later data
The original report is a January 2025 account of December 2024 data, not a description of the current balance. StatCounter’s worldwide desktop Windows-version page reports the following for July 2026:
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| Windows version | July 2026 share |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 | 68.93% |
| Windows 10 | 29.83% |
| Windows 7 | 1.01% |
| Windows 8.1 | 0.09% |
| Windows XP | 0.09% |
In that later snapshot, Windows 11 had become the clear majority in StatCounter’s worldwide desktop measurement, while Windows 10 was below one-third. See StatCounter’s worldwide Windows version data for the dated series.
Why Steam’s numbers are different
Steam offers another useful but distinct view. Its July 2026 Hardware & Software Survey lists Windows 11 64-bit at 70.26%, down 0.18 percentage points month over month, and Windows 10 64-bit at 23.30%, down 0.26 points. Windows overall accounted for 93.67% of surveyed Steam systems.
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Steam’s survey is optional and anonymous and reflects Steam users, a population weighted toward PC gaming. It is not a census of all Windows computers, so its figures should not be combined with StatCounter’s broader desktop-web measurement. The different samples help explain why gaming-focused coverage can show a different adoption mix. Details and figures are on the Steam Hardware & Software Survey.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Windows 10 end of support means
Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. A Windows 10 PC did not stop working on that date, but ordinary installations stopped receiving normal feature updates, quality updates, security fixes, and technical support from Microsoft. The distinction matters: continued operation is not the same as continued security support.
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Eligible consumer devices running Windows 10 version 22H2 can enroll in Extended Security Updates (ESU) for critical and important security updates through October 13, 2026. Microsoft lists consumer enrollment options that include syncing PC settings at no additional cost, redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or paying a one-time $30 USD per device, plus applicable tax. Eligibility and options vary by region, including in the European Economic Area. ESU is a limited security-update bridge, not a return to feature updates or ordinary technical support. Check Microsoft’s Windows end-of-support page for current eligibility and enrollment details.
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Choose a path based on the PC and the cost of disruption
If the PC meets Windows 11 requirements
- Back up important files before making an operating-system change.
- Check Windows Update for the Windows 11 upgrade and confirm that applications, drivers, peripherals, and security software are compatible.
- Use Microsoft’s supported upgrade path and keep recovery media or a rollback plan. Availability can vary with rollout, edition, policy, and hardware-manufacturer factors, so eligibility does not guarantee an immediate offer.
If the PC does not officially support Windows 11
- Replace it if you need several more years of supported use, or if the computer is already unreliable. Include data migration and peripheral or application compatibility in the budget, not just the cost of the hardware.
- Use eligible consumer ESU temporarily if you need time to plan a replacement or migration. Confirm the device is eligible and the regional enrollment terms before relying on this option.
- Consider another operating system if the applications and hardware you depend on are supported there.
- Continuing with unsupported Windows 10 means accepting increased security exposure without normal security fixes. Hardware-requirement bypasses should not be treated as equivalent to an officially supported Windows 11 installation.
If the device is business-critical
- Inventory hardware, applications, peripherals, and dependencies before setting a migration date.
- Test line-of-business software and drivers, then budget for replacement, deployment, licensing, and support.
- Use enterprise lifecycle and licensing documentation for managed systems; consumer ESU terms should not be assumed to cover an organization’s devices.
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