According to Statcounter, in October 2025, the market share of Windows 11 was 55.18%. In November, it dropped to 53.7%, and in December, it fell to 50.73%. It seems that despite the end of support, Windows 10 is regaining market share from the stagnating Windows 11. According to Daniel Rubino, the editor-in-chief of Windows Central, Windows 11 "doesn't have a problem with features. It has a trust issue."
Statcounter does not provide reasons for the decline in market share of Windows 11 and does not offer its theories on the matter; it simply provides the data. Even considering the margin of error, the decline in Windows 11's popularity by more than 5 percentage points in just two months is a significant event. During the same period, the market share of Windows 10 increased from 41.71% in October to 42.7% in November and then to 44.68% in December. It is worth noting that Windows 10's market share is still lower than it was in the middle of last year. Perhaps the most surprising is the noticeable increase in the market share of Windows 7, which rose from 2.52% in October to 3.83% in December.
Windows 11 steadily gained market share over time, ultimately surpassing Windows 10 in June 2025, although it took significantly longer than expected. Microsoft actively encouraged users to switch to Windows 11, especially in anticipation of the end of support for Windows 10. In addition to displaying full-screen prompts with an upgrade offer, the company created tool for migration to Windows 11. Support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025, meaning that PCs running the old OS no longer receive updates unless users pay for extended support for another year.
Windows 11 finds itself in a strange position. According to Rubino, Windows 11 is a strong operating system in many ways. It is still used by hundreds of millions of people and provides accessibility and stability for a large number of users.
Windows 11 had a disastrous 2025 in terms of public perception. The growing amount of advertising built into the operating system and the increasing push towards AI usage are causing frustration. The beginning of 2026 was marked by debacles with "Update Tuesday," which led to the inability to launch basic applications or shutting down PCs without rolling them back. updates. Microsoft's confirmation of providing access to BitLocker encryption keys upon request from the FBI has further undermined user trust.
“People don't hate change. They hate surprises. They hate feeling that they are not part of the conversation. They hate waking up after 'Patch Tuesday' and finding that something they relied on has changed or been removed without warning, like changes to the Start menu. And especially they hate the growing sense that the OS they paid for is gradually turning into a billboard for Microsoft services,” believes Rubino.
The popularity of the hashtag #Microslop in social media confirms his point and raises questions about the adequacy of one of the world's most influential tech companies. Complaints about Windows 11 spread across various platforms — from social networks like Reddit and X to influencers and reviewers' channels. Given the numerous problems, bugs, and trust issues surrounding Windows 11, it's hard to pinpoint a single reason for its market share decline. However, the situation where Microsoft's flagship OS is losing to its predecessor can hardly be considered normal.
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Source: 3dnews.ru
