Businesses are facing challenges when it comes to adopting Windows 11 due to device incompatibility issues. While Windows 11 adoption is steadily increasing in the consumer space, the same cannot be said for businesses. IT asset management group Lansweeper has conducted research on approximately 33 million Windows devices in the enterprise sector and found that device incompatibility is hindering widespread Windows 11 upgrades.
According to Lansweeper, the current adoption rate of Windows 11 stands at 8.35% as of October 2023, a slight increase from the 5.74% recorded in September 2022. One of the primary findings from the research revealed that around 67.5% of workstations have the necessary components to automatically update to Windows 11, including the CPU, RAM, and trusted platform module (TPM). However, this still leaves 32% of devices incompatible with the Windows 11 update.
Despite the option of updating devices manually, businesses are faced with the time-consuming task of executing updates, as well as the ongoing maintenance for devices that may not remain compatible in the future. Windows 11 has basic spec requirements that include a 1 GHz processor or faster with two or more cores on a 64-bit processor or SoC, 4GB of RAM, at least 64GB of storage, and the use of a TPM, which is only supported on newer Intel and AMD processors.
Lansweeper suggests that the slight increase in Windows 11 upgrades is primarily due to businesses replacing old devices with new workstations that meet the necessary specifications for the update. However, this method results in a slow transition to Windows 11. The research group emphasizes the need for businesses to prepare their compatible workstations for automatic software updates and encourages them to reassess their strategies for Windows 11 adoption.
The retirement of legacy systems such as Windows 7, 8, and XP has further prompted businesses to consider upgrading to Windows 11, particularly due to the lack of security updates from Microsoft for these systems. Currently, Windows 10 remains the most popular Microsoft system with an 80.5% adoption rate. However, support for Windows 10 is winding down, and it will enter its end-of-life phase on October 14, 2025.
In contrast, Windows 11 adoption among consumers has been solid since its release. However, Windows 10 still holds the majority share of PCs. It is important for businesses to address device incompatibility issues and develop a well-thought-out migration and upgrade plan, backed by accurate IT asset data, for a successful long-term IT strategy.
In conclusion, while Windows 11 adoption continues to grow in the consumer space, businesses are facing challenges due to device incompatibility hindering widespread upgrades. It is crucial for businesses to reassess their strategies, consider replacing old devices with compatible workstations, and prepare for automatic software updates to ensure a successful transition to Windows 11.
