The world of technology does not stand still, and what was considered the undisputed leader yesterday may lose its position today. For example, Windows 10 has long been the most popular operating system on the planet. But that time has come and now it has had to give way to a new favorite… This change marks the end of an era and opens a new page in the history of personal computers. What caused the decline in its popularity, who took the top spot, and what consequences it will have for users around the world will be discussed further in this article.
According to StatCounter analytics, almost four years after the release of Windows 11, this operating system for the first time demonstrated a higher level of user popularity than its predecessor, Windows 10, topping the global ranking by the number of active users.
Since its release in October 2021, Windows 11 has faced numerous challenges, both technical and user-related. The first year of the platform’s existence was difficult: the market share did not exceed 10%. However, over time, the situation began to change. In 2023, the growth rate reached 28%, and by the end of 2024, it was 36%. This gradual progress, backed by the latest surge in popularity, eventually allowed Windows 11 to top the global operating system rankings for the first time in the first week of July 2025.
According to current statistics, Windows 11 is currently installed on more than 700 million devices worldwide. This rapid increase in popularity is due to a number of factors. First of all, Microsoft has intensified a large-scale information campaign about the upcoming termination of support for standard versions of Windows 10, which has forced many users to rethink the feasibility of upgrading. In addition, a significant part of both the corporate sector and private users have upgraded their hardware, making the transition to the newer OS technically possible. And finally, Windows 11 was favored by its tangible benefits, such as improved performance, stricter default security settings, and integration with modern artificial intelligence tools that are gradually becoming the new standard for the digital environment.
The transition of leadership in the operating system market from Windows 10 to Windows 11 marks an important milestone in the development of Microsoft software. Despite a slow start, Windows 11 has managed to overcome compatibility barriers, technical limitations, and user skepticism. Thanks to the company’s targeted strategy, hardware upgrades, and built-in innovations, including performance, security, and artificial intelligence, the system has been revitalized and deservedly ranked first in popularity. This dynamic reflects not only the evolution of the OS itself, but also the changing expectations of users towards more intelligent, secure, and adaptive digital environments.
