Windows 11 already dominates PCs: Windows 10 faces its imminent end

Between January and February 2026, an unexpected movement occurred in the operating systems market: Windows 11 It gained ground rapidly and now dominates most Windows computers. This change alters the migration roadmap for businesses and home users just as the support deadline for Windows 10 approaches.

The latest usage data makes the progress clear. According to Statcounter, in the first two months of the year Windows 11 added 22 percentage pointsdisplacing a good part of the Windows 10 installed base.

What the figures show

The global panorama points to mass adoption: currently Windows 11 is present at approximately 72.78% of Windows computers, while Windows 10 occupies about 26.27%. Other older versions have been relegated to a residual quota.

• Global participation: Windows 11 ~72.78%, Windows 10 ~26.27% (Statcounter, enero-febrero 2026).
• Situation in Spain: Windows 11 around 62% and Windows 10 around 35%.
• Key deadline: Windows 10 extended support ends in October 2026.

The contrast is notable compared to the end of 2025, when both versions were almost even and Windows 10 even showed signs of recovering. The pivot occurred in the first months of 2026, with a sustained flow towards the most recent version.

Factors behind the jump

Several elements explain the acceleration. The Christmas season commercial campaign, the renewal of equipment and the expectation of increases in the prices of components – especially RAM – due to demand linked to artificial intelligence projects, seem to have driven purchases that were accompanied by pre-installed Windows 11.

On the other hand, Microsoft reinforced the promotion of AI-focused functionalities on the desktop, with integrated tools such as Copilotwhich have been an axis of communication for the company. Public reception has been mixed, with some users appreciating the new capabilities and others questioning changes to experience and privacy.

Implications for companies and users

The advancement of Windows 11 has practical consequences. For IT administrators, increased adoption makes support and deployment planning easier, but also accelerates the need to evaluate legacy software and hardware compatibilities.

For home users, the main read is economic: if you have older machines, upgrading may involve spending on new equipment; If they already have recent devices, the migration will be more direct.

Microsoft also made regulatory and support decisions in response to adoption and criticism. In 2025, it offered a one-year extension of support for Windows 10 users in the European Union, a timely measure that sought to mitigate the friction of change.

What should be checked now?

Not all environments have immediate urgency, but it is worth taking note of these points:

• Confirm end of support dates for your critical systems and software.
• Verify hardware requirements and driver compatibility on existing computers.
• Plan staggered migrations rather than sudden changes to reduce risks.

In summary, the rapid rise of Windows 11 In the first months of 2026, it modifies the adoption calendar and forces organizations and consumers to anticipate update decisions. Recent success does not eliminate challenges: compatibility, costs and privacy management remain relevant issues during the transition.

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Diego Soler explores technological trends and digital innovations. You will enjoy practical tutorials and direct advice to better understand artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and new technologies.