For the first time since its 2021 launch, Microsoft’s Windows 11 operating system has surpassed Windows 10 in usage among Steam users.
Despite Microsoft’s plans to end support for Windows 10 in October 2025, the older OS has maintained a strong presence over the years. However, recent trends indicate that Windows 11 adoption is finally gaining momentum.
According to Steam’s hardware survey data for August, Windows 11 usage has risen to 49 percent, up by more than 3 percent from the previous figure of nearly 46 percent in July.
Meanwhile, Windows 10 usage has dropped by around 3 percent to 47 percent. In contrast, usage of macOS and Linux on Steam has remained relatively unchanged during August.
The broader adoption of Windows 11 on the web has also seen growth over the past year. In July 2023, Windows 11 held a market share of about 23 percent, which increased to nearly 32 percent by August 2024.
In October, leaked data revealed that Windows 11 was in use on more than 400 million devices, though its adoption rate has been slower compared to Windows 10.
It took Windows 10 just a year to reach 400 million active devices, while Windows 11 required two years to hit the same milestone. This slower pace is partly due to the strict hardware requirements for Windows 11.
When Microsoft launched Windows 11 in October 2021, it required devices to have a TPM security chip and CPUs released from 2018 onwards.
While Windows 11 was offered as a free upgrade for Windows 10 users, millions of devices were unable to upgrade due to these hardware requirements.
In contrast, Windows 10 was available as a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users and did not impose such stringent hardware restrictions, allowing millions to upgrade without needing to purchase new devices.
Looking ahead, Microsoft plans to charge businesses to continue using Windows 10 after support ends in October 2025.
For the first time, consumers will also have the option to pay for additional security updates for Windows 10, although Microsoft has only disclosed pricing details for businesses so far.
