Microsoft’s newest operating system, Windows 11, saw a slip in its market share over the past month, according to analytics firm Statcounter. In May, Windows 11 dropped to a market share of 22.95%, a decrease from April’s 23.11%. Windows 10 dominated the market with a slight increase to 71.9%.
The drop in users adopting Windows 11 is surprising as the operating system had been making significant progress earlier this year. However, the recent downswing may be attributed to the pushback from users who were forced to migrate from Windows 7, resulting in resistance to change.
Another possible reason is the decrease in laptop sales, as hardware prices increase as a result of a cost of living crisis. Since lower sales of new PCs result in less progress for Windows 11, this could lead to a downward trend in its adoption. Furthermore, computer compatibility issues with the operating system could potentially be another reason. Many computer users may not have the patience to upgrade their devices.
While we must wait for another month to solidify this speculation, if the trend continues, Microsoft may have reason to be concerned about its new operating system. With the announcement of the Copilot AI and the decision to end Cortana in Windows 10, the software giant is likely expecting an increase in adoption rates for Windows 11 in the future. However, the success of Windows 11 may ultimately be dependent on how much the current PC sales slump eases in the coming months.
