Have you ever wondered how an operating system evolves to attract a billion users? Windows 11 recently reached this symbolic milestone, but it did not lead to the expected increase in its market share. Let’s find out how Microsoft achieved this milestone and what the implications are for the future.
The 3 key facts not to miss
- Windows 11 now has a billion users, a figure reached thanks to a significant push in the last quarter.
- Despite this growth, Windows 11’s market share has not increased, with Windows 10 even regaining shares.
- Microsoft’s ESU program encourages many users to stay on Windows 10 beyond the expiration of initial support.
A major milestone for Windows 11
Microsoft recently announced that Windows 11 has reached a billion users. This impressive figure was disclosed by Satya Nadella, the company’s CEO, during a conference call with investors. It represents a 45% increase compared to the previous year, thanks to rapid growth in the last quarter. This success is partly due to the expiration of Windows 10 support in October, prompting many users to migrate to the latest version.
Comparison with Windows 10
Reaching this billion-user milestone was faster for Windows 11 than for its predecessor. Windows 11 achieved this feat in 1,576 days, while Windows 10 took 1,706 days to do so. However, this success did not translate into an increase in Windows 11’s market share.
Indeed, although Windows 11 crossed the symbolic threshold of a billion users, its market share decreased from 55% to just over 50% between October and December 2025. Meanwhile, Windows 10 increased its market share, rising from 41% to nearly 45%.
Role of Microsoft’s ESU program
Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program plays a crucial role in allowing users to stay on Windows 10 longer. A survey conducted by ITdaily reveals that half of IT professionals continue to use Windows 10 even after the end of support. These users express a preference for extended updates, highlighting a potential continuation of Windows 10 in the computing landscape.
Microsoft: a company with remarkable innovations
Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft has become a pillar of the technology industry. Known for its Windows operating systems, the company has significantly influenced personal computing. In addition to its successes with Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft has also scored points with its Azure cloud service, positioning itself as a direct competitor to Amazon Web Services. Furthermore, innovations like Microsoft Teams and the Office 365 suite have solidified its reputation in the professional software sector.
Despite some failures such as Windows Phone, Microsoft continues to adapt and innovate, always seeking to meet the growing expectations of its users while facing formidable competitors like Apple and Google in various market segments. With current and future challenges, it will be interesting to see how the company approaches the next technological steps.
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