this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2026

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Windows 11 just lost 5% market share in two months despite Windows 10 losing support. (www.windowscentral.com)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by ekZepp@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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According to Statcounter, Windows 11 held a 55.18% market share in October 2025. That share dropped to 53.7% in November and dropped again in December. Now, Windows 11 holds a 50.73% market share.

https://gs.statcounter.com/os-version-market-share/windows/desktop/worldwide

Many are rollback to Windows 10, but Linux is increasing as well.

https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop/worldwide

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[–] ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

That's a surprisingly large increase, wow. I switched back in 2017 and I've been using it ever since, but that's good to see other people are making the switch too.

[–] jpablo68@infosec.pub 5 points 3 hours ago

I won't update my perfectly usable computer just because microslop refuses to support it.

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

It's finally the year of Desktop Linux, about fifteen (or more) years after people thought it would happen. I'm happy for all the nerds who are finally vindicated. (I like Linux, but I'm an Apple guy.)

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 0 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

Apple’s media support is incredible.

I have one platform where HDR photos/video playback and editing, JpegXL, HEIFs from my camera and such all just work. And it’s definitely not my KDE desktop, nor Windows 11.

[–] Scrunge@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

That seems so strange. Why would that happen so late?

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

despite

Misspelled "Because"

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 0 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (1 children)

I like Windows 11. But only as a thoroughly neutered, disposable “secondary” OS to dual boot with Linux, to the extent that I could wipe my Windows partition without a care.

If I had to use Windows 11 as my only OS, I’d pull my hair out. Same with desktop Linux TBH. There’s stuff that’s just painful in both ecosystems.

[–] bskm@feddit.nu 2 points 3 hours ago

I share this opinion. Both OS have their strength. Haven't used Windows in a long time though. Don't really know where to get it any more?

[–] aliser@lemmy.world 21 points 16 hours ago

glad I switched to Linux, Microslop's current state is a disaster. yes it randomly implodes sometimes, mainly by my fault, but at least I can rollback! no more headache of forced updates.

[–] Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world 16 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

I switched to linux at the end of last year too! I am part of that increase and i like it.

[–] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

I switched to Linux when Windows 7 became EoL.

Anyone paying attention to what they were doing with 10, knew what would be coming with 11.. and somehow its even worse than expected.. thanks to the sudden appearance of the greatest environmental disaster of our time.. AI.

[–] Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

I was too scared to move to linux at the time. It was always something i had many misconceptions about, that only people with specialist knowledge could use and that if i wanted anything to work i would need to know how to code at an advanced level.

I cant speak for then but now at least i have found that the communities are incredible, loads of work is being done to get everything to work and easy to set up. Github is amazing and i am learning slowly to use and love linux.

So far i have only worked with raspberry pis so raspiOS and linux Mint cinnamon. But i am going to be getting a small PC to test different linux distros on until i find the best one for me. Although Mint has been great so far.

[–] everythingisanode@lemmy.zip 1 points 7 hours ago

Count me in too

[–] rustydrd@sh.itjust.works 50 points 1 day ago (1 children)

People upgrading to Windows 11 be like:

[–] RamRabbit@lemmy.world 26 points 23 hours ago

This was me. Hit the update to 11 button because I have always liked new things. About a week later went back to 10, then about a year ago saw the writing on the wall and jumped ship to Mint. Shoulda done it earlier!

[–] AI_toothbrush@lemmy.zip 33 points 1 day ago

Its the first time my peers are actually asking me about switching to linux. Sweden is an extremely techbro country, which i say because they have all the newest gadgets and then cant open a file for fucks sake.

[–] MrRandom@lemmy.zip 8 points 20 hours ago

This is Internet Explorer all over again

[–] rmuk@feddit.uk 57 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Clickbait bullshit.

The source shows that Windows 11 usage has been steadily climbing for a long time, including in January - the latest data available - but presumably that didn't fit their narrative so they ignored all the data except the data single point that they liked which corresponds to the month where every business shuts down for a week.

Statcounter shows that not only is Windows use increasing, but also that Windows 11's share is too.

I don't expect anyone here to be happy about these things - I certainly can't say I am - but pretending the Windows is in the middle of an epic downfall when it actually appears to be doing fine won't help anyone except Microsoft.

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[–] bus_factor@lemmy.world 92 points 1 day ago (26 children)

I imagine this is why MS is finally backtracking a bit on the aggressive pushing of AI in every app. They're doing Clippy all over again, but OS-wide this time.

Just impressive how hard they managed to screw the pooch here. Have they forgotten that every other Windows release is universally hated? They had a good thing going until they discontinued Windows 10 before Windows 12 was out. Now they'll probably need to rush out another version, because the name Windows 11 is forever tainted.

[–] kboos1@lemmy.world 88 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (13 children)

The thing that's driving me away from windows is how pushy it's gotten. Forced updates, ads, AI, OneDrive, and subscriptions. I just want to be able to turn on MY computer and do what I want or need without having my guard up that I can't trust my home PC with my privacy.

Windows 11 is ok, but is frustrating to use and I can't trust it not to screw with settings and there seems to be something annoying adding instead of something useful with every update. I also hate the Settings menu, it's like an unhelpful layer between you and Control Panel the eventually will take you to the same place but took 5 more clicks and searching through drop downs for a link to what you needed.

[–] Honytawk@feddit.nl 1 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago) (3 children)

The reason why Windows is pushy is because the average user needs it to be.

Updates would never get installed, unless Microsoft forces them to.

They would lose their files, unless Microsoft pushes OneDrive.

And all of them would blame Microsoft for their own ineptitude.

It is easy for techy people to keep their computer functioning properly. But Windows isn't just used by those people.

[–] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago

I like that Linux isn't designed for the lowest common denominator. Windows frustrated me as much with the stuff that was designed for the stupid as the stuff that was designed to make them money, just the second one ended up dominating in the end. But I remember the earlier frustrations often having the thought "I bet they just changed this to reduce support calls from people who don't know wtf they are doing".

[–] r1veRRR@feddit.org 1 points 2 hours ago

I'll agree on the update thing, but absolutely NOT on any of the other parts. Things like OneDrive are ENTIRELY about money.

With the update thing, even "pros" were incredibly lazy with updates in the past. Having automatic updates at least as the default is entirely correct.

[–] kboos1@lemmy.world 3 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

I would say that it's as simple as adding a prompt during initial user setup with check boxes. Would you like windows to handle XYZ for you? Instead of assuming all users just want to use their computers to become influencers and forcing frustrating problems onto everyone.

It may have started out with "hey we are doing this for your own good" to now it's "how can we exploit ignorance and data mine our users and put ads on the desktop?"

[–] Takapapatapaka@tarte.nuage-libre.fr 38 points 1 day ago (1 children)

+1. I ragequit windows when it reinstalled Teams during an OS update, just after i uninstalled it.

[–] bus_factor@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I discovered that there's a separate application which just reinstalls Teams all the time. I don't remember the name, but it had Teams in the name. After I uninstalled that it finally stopped popping up.

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[–] Decq@lemmy.world 77 points 1 day ago (6 children)

Why write this article in January when it's main source shows an increase of 12% again in that month?? If anything this article should be about how statscounter is a very unreliable metric. Honest journalism really is dead huh.

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[–] lautan@lemmy.ca 24 points 1 day ago (16 children)

I been switching everyone to Linux, specifically Mint. It's good enough now for whatever.

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[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 22 points 1 day ago

Brand new windows measurably losing ground to it's prior unsupported edition and Linux is fucking wild.

[–] Bwaz@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago

I'm sure it has nothing to do with forcefeeding AI or copying the user's screen content.

[–] herseycokguzelolacak@lemmy.ml 10 points 1 day ago

Statcounter data has a lot of shortterm noise. Longterm trends are meaningful, but do not get too excited about short term fluctuations.

At the same time Windows has been slowly losing market share over the years.

[–] anticurrent@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Please Stop using statcounter as a reliable source. Their numbers are absolutely wack.

Look at the recent surge in win7 pcs, that no economical data can back up, if you look at win7 stats of some countries you will find some weird spikes that died out this last month. why go from an os that has lost security updates to an older os that today's software can't run on anymore

https://gs.statcounter.com/os-version-market-share/windows/desktop/argentina

https://gs.statcounter.com/os-version-market-share/windows/desktop/tunisia

https://gs.statcounter.com/os-version-market-share/windows/desktop/ethiopia

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[–] Mrkawfee@feddit.uk 10 points 1 day ago

Linux Mint for desktop. Bazzite for handheld.

Bye Microsoft

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