TITLE: Windows 11 Market Share Dips as Windows 7 Unexpectedly Surges
Windows 11 Loses Momentum in Latest Figures
Recent market share data reveals a surprising trend in desktop operating systems. While Windows 11 was expected to dominate as Windows 10 approaches its support deadline, Microsoft’s current OS has instead lost ground for the second consecutive month.
According to the latest statistics, Windows 11’s share dropped to 48.94% in September 2025, down from 49.08% in August. This represents a significant decline from its July peak of 53.51%, marking a 4.57 percentage point decrease in just two months.
Windows 10 Decline Continues
Windows 10 usage also continued to shrink, falling from 45.53% in August to 40.5% in September. What’s particularly notable is that this decline comes despite Windows 10 having only two weeks of Microsoft support remaining, suggesting users aren’t rushing to abandon the established platform.
Windows 7 Makes Unexpected Comeback
The most surprising development comes from Windows 7, an operating system many considered obsolete since Microsoft ended support in early 2020. The aging platform has experienced a remarkable resurgence, jumping from 0.88% in July to 3.35% in August before soaring to 9.61% in September.
This represents a 6.26 percentage point increase in a single month, equivalent to a massive 186.9% growth compared to its August share. As detailed in recent market analysis, this unexpected revival defies conventional expectations about operating system lifecycles.
Regional Patterns Reveal Interesting Trends
The data shows that Asian markets drove most of Windows 7’s surge, with market share there climbing from 2.32% in July to 5.64% in August before skyrocketing to 18.67% in September. Germany also saw a notable increase, rising from 2.08% in August to 3.92% in September.
Possible Explanations for the Trend
Several factors may explain Windows 7’s unexpected comeback:
- Hardware limitations in regions where newer systems are less accessible
- Businesses preferring familiar software over rushed upgrades
- Users waiting to see how the Windows 10 transition unfolds
- Cryptocurrency activities using outdated PCs
- Botnets exploiting Windows 7’s lack of security updates
The timing of this shift is particularly interesting as Windows 10 approaches its final support cutoff. While Windows 11 was expected to see a surge this month, the latest figures suggest the transition may be more complex than anticipated.
Industry observers will be watching closely to see whether Windows 11 can regain momentum now that Windows 10 support has officially ended, or if Windows 7’s unexpected revival continues to reshape the desktop operating system landscape.
