Latest Windows 10 update reveals more bad news for Microsoft's operating system
The latest stats show Windows 11 is slowly gaining on the decade old software it is set to replace.
It’s now widely known that Windows 10 is not long for this world. Microsoft has confirmed that it will end support for the decade-old operating system on October 14, 2025. There has been something of a backlash to this news given statistics show millions of people are still using Windows 10.
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Launched in 2015, Microsoft originally said there would never be another new version of Windows, hinting at the idea Windows 10 would forever evolve under the same name. That proved a short-lived plan when Microsoft launched Windows 11 in 2021.
But since then, the firm has struggled to convince PC users to upgrade their Windows 10 computers to Windows 11, despite this being offered for free in most cases.
If machines do not meet the minimum system requirements, the software won’t stop you from updating to Windows 11, but your PC might struggle to function afterwards. The alternative route to Windows 11 is to buy a new computer.
Many have resisted, but the latest numbers from Statscounter show that while millions worldwide are still using Windows 10, the numbers are in steady decline - with Windows 11 numbers on the rise.
The figures for March 2025 show Windows 10 is still the most used version of Windows with 54.2 percent market share, but that is down from 58.7 percent in February.
Microsoft introduces Windows 11 in 2021
Windows 11 is now up to 42.7 percent for March, an increase over 38.1 percent in February, suggesting Microsoft’s push for PC owners to upgrade one way or another is slowly working.
Just one year ago in March 2024, the figures were 69 percent to 26.7 percent in Windows 10’s favour.
If you want to keep using Windows 10, you can, you just won’t get official security updates from Microsoft post October. That means you might be susceptible to risks such as bugs and cyberattacks without those monthly automatic updates Microsoft has been pushing out for a decade.
That said, if you are a light user and savvy about security, you could be fine for years to come. Microsoft says it will offer a yearly $30 subscription to keep Windows 10 updated, though this might just be for businesses and could also be designed to push people towards Windows 11, which is free.
In recent weeks Microsoft has stepped up its Windows 11 campaign, which might be reflected in this month’s updated usage stats. The firm recently advised Windows 10 users to sell or trade in their computers to fund buying a Windows 11 machine.
