The decline of Windows 10 continues, while Microsoft finally seems to be achieving its goal: the mass migration of users to Windows 11.
According to the latest data from StatCounter, in February Windows 11 was installed on 72.77% of Windows computers globally – a significant increase compared to 62.4% a month earlier. In parallel, the use of Windows 10 has suffered a sharp decline: from 35.77% in January to 26.27%.
Microsoft ended official support for Windows 10 in October 2025, symbolically ending a decade of the operating system's life. The end of support means the company will no longer provide monthly updates or security patches. As a result, devices that continue to use it are more exposed to system errors and, more worryingly, to vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers or cybercriminals.
There is an alternative: the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which offers another year of security updates, until 2026. For some users this service may be free if they are linked to a Windows account, while others have to pay around 30 pounds.
It's been more than four months since Windows 10 was "retired," and the numbers show that Microsoft's continued push to promote Windows 11 is paying off. All Windows 10 users have received the free upgrade offer to Windows 11, but the problem for many of them is their old hardware. Many computers running Windows 10 may be several generations old — some have even upgraded from Windows 8 to Windows 10 — and don't meet the technical requirements for the new version.
Windows 10 computers will not stop working; they can be used indefinitely. But after the ESU program ends, there will be no official way to keep them up-to-date and secure. If your device can't handle Windows 11, the only solution is to buy a new computer.
This situation has caused strong reactions in the online communities of Windows 10 users, especially due to the constant messages urging the update. However, from a broader perspective, ten years of support for an operating system is relatively long compared to the typical life cycle of most software and hardware products.
If the current trend continues, the statistics of the coming months will most likely confirm the further decline of Windows 10 and the final consolidation of Windows 11 as the new standard. /GazetaExpress/
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