A surprising reversal is unfolding in the world of operating systems. Despite Microsoft’s push and the official end of support for its predecessor, Windows 11 is losing ground, not gaining it.
Recent data reveals a concerning trend: Windows 11’s market share dipped by over three percentage points in December alone, sliding from 53.7 percent to 50.73 percent. This unexpected decline comes as many users were expected to upgrade.
Even more startling, Windows 10, the operating system it was designed to replace, saw a resurgence. Its usage climbed from 42.7 percent to 44.68 percent, defying expectations of a rapid exodus.
The anomaly doesn’t stop there. Windows 8, an older and largely unsupported system, also experienced a surprising increase in users – jumping from 2.93 percent to 3.83 percent. This raises questions about user preferences and upgrade habits.
Looking back, 2025 appears to have been a challenging year for Microsoft. Beyond this operating system setback, several initiatives, including ambitious forays into artificial intelligence, failed to resonate with a wider audience.
Furthermore, a series of Windows updates were widely criticized as insufficient, potentially contributing to user dissatisfaction and a reluctance to embrace the latest version. The combination of these factors paints a complex picture for the future of Windows.
