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

168 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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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[–] bus_factor@lemmy.world 149 points 1 week ago (8 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 133 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (14 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 added 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.

[–] Takapapatapaka@tarte.nuage-libre.fr 64 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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

[–] bus_factor@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week 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.

[–] techt@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/answers/questions/5605606/how-to-stop-ms-teams-launching-at-startup-and-rein

Apparently:

This behavior is usually caused by two things:

A background installer from Microsoft Office called the Teams Machine-Wide Installer, which automatically reinstalls Teams for each user.
Windows 11’s built-in Chat feature, which is powered by Teams and may reinstall the app during updates or restarts.

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[–] Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz 28 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Win10 LTSC IOT has support until like 2032, and doesn't have any of that pushy bullshit. It's free to pirate btw.

[–] sturmblast@lemmy.world 13 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This is the way

[–] Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz 25 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Eh, if you're not able to make the jump to linux ig.

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[–] Tetsuo@jlai.lu 18 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

That's probably my main issue with Windows : Its ability to change settings on its own.

I feel like I have almost not control over my OS. It's not a tool that helps me do stuff, it's a dumb assistant that thinks he understands what I'm trying to achieve.

"Oh you plugged a PS5 Dual Sense controller I see, let me switch your microphone to the controller even though you are actively already using another one".

"Oh you put your computer in sleep before going to bed? Let me switch it on In the middle of the night to update, we will call that a mandatory maintenance because you can't disable that feature".

I really need to spend more time on my Linux boot rather than this shitty W10 setup".

[–] Bytemeister@lemmy.world 18 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I finally kicked Windows after 30 years because I have to use windows 11 for work, and it fails at almost everything an operating system should be. Search doesn't work right. Applications don't work right. Basic UI is buggy and inconsistent. It's the most expensive piece of software I use. Using 2 cores and 7GB of RAM at idle is unacceptable for an operating system. It's the equivalent of running Skyrim all the time in the background. It actively tries to undermine my privacy, and instead of using that data to enhance my UX, it spams targeted ads at me in my fucking taskbar. Windows 11 is basically a SmartTV in terms of privacy and functionality at this point. It actively gets in the way of you using the hardware, and to no tangible benefit. Worse, it's become clear that Microsoft recognizes this, and is actively pursuing and expanding the capabilities, with no intent to make a good OS in the future.

I'm out.

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[–] hddsx@lemmy.ca 20 points 1 week ago

I liked Clippy. I hate AI

[–] RedstoneValley@sh.itjust.works 16 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Do you have a source for that backtracking about AI? I think they did not mention that explicitly. Instead they were talking about unrelated improvements. The CEO is still in denial about AI bloat. He seems unable to comprehend that people don't like to be force fed AI everywhere across the OS.

[–] artyom@piefed.social 14 points 1 week ago (4 children)

They're not in denial. They know no one wants it. They all do. They just don't care because pretending like they do is extremely profitable in the fucked up modern economy we live in.

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[–] Damage@feddit.it 11 points 1 week ago (4 children)

It's not just AI, W11 is slow and unfriendly in general

[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yep. Everything that runs in windows 10 runs worse on Windows 11 and y are getting nothing in return. My work PC can barely manage a big spreadsheet now.

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[–] Decq@lemmy.world 102 points 1 week ago (2 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.

[–] Imhotep@lemmy.world 23 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

That’s why I liked the "misleading?" tag mods can add to Reddit posts, it’s a good anti clickbait tool.

[–] darkdemize@sh.itjust.works 13 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Because a ton of people got new devices for Christmas with Win 11 pre-loaded. Prior to that, Win 11 adoption rates were declining. It's highly likely that future results will show Win 11 adoption continues to slide.

[–] Decq@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I highly doubt 12% of the pc market got a new laptop for Christmas. But maybe a lot of corporations got new pc's for the 2026 budget to phase out windows 10? I still I find a 12% jump huge, especially in the current RAM shortage climate.

[–] Bytemeister@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Doesn't seem that crazy. I usually got about 4-8 years out of my laptops. So a little over 10% turn over makes sense to me statistically.

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[–] rmuk@feddit.uk 80 points 1 week ago (1 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.

[–] Rooster326@programming.dev 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

How do they measure these stats?

They aren't reaching into my PC so they're only checking when I [X].

So it isn't it always just measuring "Os percent from user who [X]"

E.g. Steam only check people with Steam. Slash Dot can only going to measure PCs who go to Slashdot. AOL.com is only checking Boomers.

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[–] rustydrd@sh.itjust.works 67 points 1 week ago (1 children)

People upgrading to Windows 11 be like:

[–] RamRabbit@lemmy.world 37 points 1 week 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 37 points 1 week 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.

[–] ClassyHatter@sopuli.xyz 34 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Windows 11 market share went from 55% on October 2025 to 62% on January 2026. That's an increase of 7 percentage units, not a drop of 5 percentage units.

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[–] lautan@lemmy.ca 30 points 1 week ago (16 children)

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

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[–] Pollo_Jack@lemmy.world 30 points 1 week ago (17 children)

Just switched to Linux. Convinced sis in law to try linux as she was having driver issues. Wife is about to try it on our laptop. Linux has reached a point of, it just works. It can play windows games better than windows, so no reason not to.

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[–] jpablo68 25 points 1 week ago (4 children)

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

[–] yetAnotherUser@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 week ago

Please be careful when using Windows 10, because any security vulnerabilities envolving Windows itself will not be fixed, and your computer will be more vulnerable to attacks. I'm not saying this to scare you off, but to advise you to take extra precaution and to remind you that most computer security experts do not recommend using and connecting to the Internet systems that will get no further security updates. I'm no expert myself, but I'm pretty sure that things like making sure you web browser is always updated, being careful with the programs you choose to download, and using updated antivirus software are the most common tips for this kind of situation. You might want to do more your research on this topic yourself if you haven't yet. Stay safe!

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[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 25 points 1 week ago

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

[–] Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world 24 points 1 week ago (3 children)

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

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[–] aliser@lemmy.world 21 points 1 week 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.

[–] GodofLies@lemmy.ca 19 points 1 week ago (6 children)

Swapped to Linux Mint over the weekend. No major issues. Steam works, LLMs work, web browser stuff all transferred over...it wasn't perfect but pretty easy to figure it out with a few online searches. The best part - it actually runs better. No more f*cked up bluetooth and audio as well.

A lot of customization can be done on it, but I think for most people, Linux is fine for the vast majority of users already out of the box. Some criticism is that I think the UX can be improved and a more layman-friendly streamlined partition mounting + file security management.

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[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 18 points 1 week ago (2 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.)

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[–] ErmahgherdDavid@lemmy.dbzer0.com 17 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Love to see it

screenshot of msft share price showing 14% drop in the last 5 days

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[–] Bwaz@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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

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[–] Lemminary@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago (5 children)

Been using Linux for a while. The only thing I miss is League of Legends, but other than that we're chilling.

[–] Breezy@sopuli.xyz 13 points 1 week ago

I view that as a pro. Switching to Linux made it easy to quit that addiction lol.

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[–] anticurrent@sh.itjust.works 14 points 1 week 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 14 points 1 week ago

Linux Mint for desktop. Bazzite for handheld.

Bye Microsoft

[–] bfg9k@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

Really hope windows market share has peaked and it's all downhill from here. Totally done with their BS.

[–] Lorka@feddit.dk 10 points 1 week ago

With Window 11, Microsoft AND America being horribly at the same time, whole countries are looking to replace their OS.

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