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Microsoft Windows is one of the world’s most widely used operating systems for personal computers and workplace devices. Since its debut in 1985, Windows has evolved through major releases—most recently Windows 11—while continuing to support a huge ecosystem of PC hardware, business software, games, and productivity tools.
This updated report focuses on the most reliable Windows statistics available today: Microsoft’s own device and adoption milestones, the Windows 10 end-of-support timeline, and widely referenced market-share benchmarks from StatCounter. Older, one-off stats are included only where they add useful historical context and are clearly labeled by year.
Windows Stats at a Glance (Latest Available)
- Over 1.4B monthly active Windows devices (Microsoft, June 2025)
- 1B Windows 11 users (Microsoft earnings call, Jan 28, 2026)
- Windows 10 end of support: Oct 14, 2025 (Microsoft)
- Windows desktop OS share (worldwide): 67.7% (Jan 2026)
- Windows desktop OS share (U.S.): 60.8% (Jan 2026)
- Windows version share (worldwide): Win11 62.15% / Win10 36.02% (Jan 2026)
Key Metrics Table
| Metric | Value | Year / Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly active Windows devices | Over 1.4B | June 2025 | Windows Experience Blog |
| Windows 11 users (milestone) | 1B | Jan 28, 2026 | Microsoft earnings call (FY2026 Q2) |
| Windows 10 end of support | Oct 14, 2025 | Policy date | Microsoft Support |
| Desktop OS share (Windows, worldwide) | 67.7% | Jan 2026 | StatCounter |
| Desktop OS share (Windows, U.S.) | 60.8% | Jan 2026 | StatCounter |
| Windows version share (worldwide) | Win11 62.15% / Win10 36.02% | Jan 2026 | StatCounter |
How Many People Use Windows?
Microsoft’s most reliable, consistently cited scale metric is its active device footprint. In a Windows Experience Blog post published June 24, 2025, Microsoft stated that Windows is “powering over 1.4 billion monthly active devices.”
Source: Windows Experience Blog (June 2025)
Windows 11 Adoption
Microsoft shared a major Windows 11 milestone during its fiscal Q2 2026 earnings call (Jan 28, 2026): Windows reached 1 billion Windows 11 users, with leadership also referencing strong year-over-year growth.
Source: Microsoft earnings call (FY2026 Q2)
Windows 10 End of Support
Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Microsoft notes that after this date, Windows 10 no longer receives technical assistance, feature updates, or security updates (unless covered by specific extended programs).
Windows Market Share (Desktop)
Market share varies by measurement methodology, but StatCounter remains one of the most commonly cited public trackers for OS usage share. For January 2026, StatCounter reports:
- Worldwide desktop OS share: Windows 67.7%
- U.S. desktop OS share: Windows 60.8%
Source: StatCounter (Worldwide) | Source: StatCounter (U.S.)
Windows Version Share (Windows 11 vs Windows 10)
Among Windows PCs, StatCounter’s worldwide Windows version data for January 2026 shows:
- Windows 11: 62.15%
- Windows 10: 36.02%
- Windows 7: 1.06%
Source: StatCounter (Windows version share)
Historical Stats
- 2022: Microsoft annual report stated 1.4B+ monthly active devices running Windows 10 or 11 (historical disclosure).
- 2020: Microsoft said Windows 10 was powering 1B monthly active devices (historical disclosure).
- 2016–2017: Cortana usage stats were commonly reported, but Cortana’s consumer positioning changed significantly; older figures are best treated as historical only.
FAQ
How many devices run Windows?
Microsoft said Windows powers over 1.4 billion monthly active devices (June 2025).
How many users does Windows 11 have?
Microsoft said Windows reached 1 billion Windows 11 users during its FY2026 Q2 earnings call on Jan 28, 2026.
When did Windows 10 support end?
Microsoft says Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025.
What is Windows’ desktop market share?
StatCounter reports Windows at 67.7% worldwide desktop OS share and 60.8% in the U.S. for January 2026.
What share of Windows PCs run Windows 11 vs Windows 10?
StatCounter reports Windows 11 at 62.15% and Windows 10 at 36.02% worldwide for January 2026.
Sources
- Windows Experience Blog (June 2025): 1.4B+ monthly active devices
- Microsoft Investor Relations: FY2026 Q2 earnings call (Windows 11 1B users)
- Microsoft Support: Windows 10 end of support (Oct 14, 2025)
- StatCounter: Desktop OS share (Worldwide)
- StatCounter: Desktop OS share (U.S.)
- StatCounter: Windows version share (Worldwide)
- Microsoft Annual Report 2022 (historical device metric)
