The share of Windows 11 users has risen to over 72 %, thanks to the accelerated spread of the system

Windows 11 strengthens its position in the desktop OS market

According to StatCounter data, the share of Windows 11 among all Windows devices has risen to 72.78 %. At the same time, the percentage of Windows 10 users fell to 26.27 %. This sharp change compared with the end of 2025, when Windows 11 held just over half the market and Windows 10 remained almost balanced.

Why is the ecosystem changing so quickly?
The speed of adoption of a new OS is not directly related to demand. Most users are forced to switch because support for older versions ends and strict hardware requirements apply. In addition, ongoing updates to Windows 10 continue to create problems, prompting people to look for alternatives—macOS or Linux.

New security requirements
Windows 11 introduces a number of mandatory features:

* TPM 2.0
* Secure Boot
* Modern processors (Intel Core i5/AMD Ryzen 5 and above)
* UEFI firmware
* Continuous online identification

These measures strengthen the interconnection between hardware, the operating system, and Microsoft’s cloud services.

User and company reactions
Experienced users and corporate clients note:

* Complicated updates
* Limited system recovery options
* Reduced device control

In response, specialists have found workarounds: registry changes, special boot media, and modified installation files. With these methods, Windows 11 can be installed even on computers without TPM 2.0, with outdated processors or insufficient memory.

How Microsoft responds
Microsoft is gradually closing the discovered loopholes: it’s now harder to force the system to accept a local account during installation and to use non‑standard hardware. Nevertheless, as long as workarounds remain available, many users continue to install Windows 11 using their own solutions.