Microsoft officially dropped support for Windows 10 in October last year. There are ways of extending support, most notably through the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, giving users an extra year of Windows 10 support. This is available for free in the European Economic Area, but is a paid model elsewhere in the world.

Although Windows 11 usage began to rise in the lead-up to October 2025, new data reveals that it has actually been regressing ever since, and Windows 10 is back on the up. We may presume some of that market share is thanks to the ESU program, though it’s impossible to tell the exact percentage split between ESU users and those sticking it through without support.

Windows 10 usage is climbing again, Windows 7 is also up

According to Statcounter, Windows 11 makes up 50.68% of all Windows users as of December 2025. This is down nearly 5% compared to October that year, which is when Windows 10 dropped to just 41.71% market share. In the months since, Windows 10 has now climbed back up to 44.68% and is closing the gap yet again.

The last time Windows 10 was the most widely used Microsoft operating system was back in June 2025 – that’s evidently around the time when people started upgrading as the end-of-life date loomed large. Interestingly, Windows 7 (which lost official support back in 2020), has also climbed to 3.83% market share, jumping 0.9% between November and December 2025.

Aside from those who continue to favor Windows 10, it has to be said that Windows 11 is seeing much more competition from Linux lately. Even in gaming spaces, where Windows has long been preferred for its compatibility, PC gaming platform and distributor Steam reveals 3.58% of its users are now on Linux, with steady growth per month. While the biggest chunk of that is Steam Deck owners (Valve’s handheld that runs on SteamOS, a custom Linux distro), Linux gaming is making strides in 2026.

In contrast to Statcounter’s numbers, Windows 11 does indeed continue to grow on Steam, where practically two-thirds (66.60%) of its users have Windows 11 installed. As of the December 2025 survey, just 27.5% are using Windows 10. This is a massive drop-off compared to around this time last year, when nearly half were still on Windows 10. Major game developers have previously recommended players upgrade to the latest Windows version, one example being when Capcom warned Monster Hunter players that support isn’t guaranteed on Windows 10 following end-of-life.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.