The latest data shows a surprising picture of computer usage at the end of 2025.
Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10 in October 2025, ending a decade of support for the operating system. While Windows 10 computers will continue to work, the lack of security updates leaves users more vulnerable to cyberattacks than those who upgrade to Windows 11.
Windows 11 was launched in 2021 and Microsoft offers it as a free update to most Windows 10 users. However, according to Window Central, something unusual has happened since Windows 10's retirement: global Windows 11 usage has begun to decline, while Windows 10 is recovering ground.
According to the latest statistics from Statcounter, Windows 11 reached an all-time high in April, with 55.18% of the global Windows market. But that figure dropped to 53.7% in November 2025 and then to 50.73% in December.
At the same time, Windows 10 dropped to 41.71% in October, before rising to 42.7% in November and 44.68% in December.
Given that Windows 10 has officially reached the end of its lifecycle and Windows 11 is offered for free, one would expect these numbers to move in opposite directions. But reality is showing the opposite.
Statcounter doesn't explain the reasons behind these changes, so it's all speculation. However, the fact that Windows 10 is growing in the very month it lost official support is particularly significant.
One possibility is that Windows 10 users are enrolled in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which offers an additional year of updates until 2026.
On the other hand, Windows 11 has started 2026 with some difficulties. Reports have confirmed a technical issue that prevented computers from turning off or going into "sleep mode". Also, the increasingly visible presence of artificial intelligence through Microsoft Copilot has caused dissatisfaction among some users.
There was also confusion regarding the naming of Microsoft Office, when some users thought it had been completely rebranded as the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, only to realize later that this only applied to certain functions and not to the brand as a whole.
All of this suggests that many consumers are frustrated with Microsoft's push to push them to Windows 11 at all costs, especially those who are still using Windows 10 computers and are not happy with the pressure to upgrade. For some, Windows 11's new system requirements mean buying a new computer just to have updated software.
Whatever the reason why users are moving away from Windows 11 and staying with Windows 10, it remains interesting to see how the market share between these two operating systems will evolve by the end of 2026. /GazetaExpress/
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