Windows 10 decline continues as Microsoft finally | Tech News

It has taken nearly 5 years however there are finally indicators that Microsoft is succeeding in its want of getting people to decide to Windows 11. The newest knowledge from Statcounter reveals that as of February, Windows 11 is now put in on 72.77 p.c of Windows PCs globally, up significantly in only one month from 62.4 p.c.

That means Windows 10 utilization is in notably sharp decline, with the working system now solely operating on 26.27 p.c of Windows computer systems internationally, down significantly from January’s determine of 35.77 p.c.

Microsoft ended its official help of Windows 10 in October 2025, bringing a symbolic finish to the working system’s ten yr run.

The finish of help means Microsoft no longer sends month-to-month – or any – software program and security updates to Windows 10 PCs, that means all at the moment are technically inclined to bugs and system flaws that would in time imply machines don’t run as easily.

More pressingly, it opens up Windows 10 computer systems to the likelihood of vulnerability to hackers and cyber criminals, who can now study the system’s weak factors and goal customers.

The solely approach to proceed to get security updates for Windows 10 is by becoming a member of Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates program. This opt-in option offers customers an further yr of updates, ending in 2026. You would possibly be capable to get it without spending a dime in case you are signed into a Windows account, however some customers should pay a roughly £30 payment.

Now that it’s March, we’re more than 4 months in to Windows 10’s retirement, and these newest figures show Microsoft’s aggressive pushing of Windows 11 appears to be working.

All Windows 10 PC house owners have been provided Windows 11 asa free software program replace, however the problem for a lot of may very well be that they’re operating Windows 10 on ageing {hardware} that merely can’t deal with Windows 11. Windows 8 PCs have been provided Windows 10 updates, so some of the computer systems on the market on Windows 10 may very well be very previous certainly.

Windows 10 PCs received’t stop working, although, In reality, they are going to keep working indefinitely. It’s simply that after this October and the tip of the ESU program, there received’t be an official approach to keep Windows 10 up to this point – and for those who can’t improve to Windows 11 as your {hardware} can’t cope, the one approach to get onto Windows 11 can be to buy a new laptop.

That’s one thing the Windows 10 online neighborhood has been vocally outraged about, particularly as Microsoft is aggressively focusing on these customers with Windows 11 replace messaging.

But step back from the problem, and it’s exceptional that Microsoft supported Windows 10 for a decade. Most business software program and {hardware} doesn’t get updates for that long. Though you could not need to buy a new PC, it doesn’t appears as although there are lots of methods across the scenario in case your previous laptop can’t run Windows 11 – and the stats within the coming months will seemingly verify the continued decline of Windows 10.