Windows 10 Resurrection: Why Users are Abandoning Windows 11 After End-of-Support.

The Great Reversal: Windows 10 Reclaims Market Share as Windows 11 Momentum Stalls

Latest data from StatCounter reveals a surprising trend in the desktop operating system market. Despite Windows 11 previously establishing itself as Microsoft’s leading OS, recent months show that Windows 10 is making an unexpected comeback, clawing back market share from its successor.

The Numbers: A Downward Trend for Windows 11

The global desktop Windows version statistics show a steady rise for Windows 10, while Windows 11 has experienced a noticeable decline toward the end of 2025:

Month (2025)	Windows 11 Share	Windows 10 Share
October	55.18%	41.71%
November	53.70%	42.70%
December	~50.70%	~44.60%

Interestingly, even Windows 7 saw a minor uptick, hovering around 3.9% in December. While StatCounter provides the raw data, it is important to note that these are third-party metrics and not official figures from Microsoft.

Why are Users Moving Backward?

Several factors likely contribute to this "retro" migration:

• Hardware Barriers: Strict system requirements for Windows 11, such as TPM 2.0, continue to block millions of perfectly functional PCs from upgrading.

• The "AI Overload" Fatigue: Microsoft’s aggressive push for AI-integrated features (like Copilot and Recall) has met with mixed reviews. Some users find these features intrusive or unnecessary, preferring the "cleaner" experience of Windows 10.

• Stability Issues: Recurring bugs in recent Windows 11 updates have led cautious users and enterprise environments to stick with the proven stability of the older OS.

Living on Borrowed Time

What makes this trend most remarkable is the timeline. Windows 10 officially reached its End of Support (EOS) on October 14, 2025. Aside from those enrolled in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, most users are now operating without official security patches. Yet, the data suggests that for many, an "unsupported" Windows 10 is still more appealing than a "forced" Windows 11.

• In 2026, general users will be able to purchase Extended Security Updates (ESU) subscriptions for the first year (starting at around $30 for the first year), which may be why people are willing to pay to "buy time" with Windows 10 instead of buying a new computer.

• The Windows Recall feature (which captures screenshots every few seconds) raised huge privacy concerns last year, causing privacy-conscious users to revert to a Windows 10 without these deeply embedded AI features.

• Many large companies still face compatibility issues with legacy software that doesn't fully run on Windows 11. Therefore, migrating back to or keeping on Windows 10 is a safer business option.

• The large circulating market for used, older (non-TPM) computers in developing countries keeps Windows 10 installations constantly evolving. 

 

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 Source: videocardz