The journey of Windows in recent years has been tumultuous. In 2009, Microsoft launched Windows 7, one of the most popular operating systems at the time. However, merely three years later, Windows 8 tarnished its reputation. Windows 10 managed to regain some ground, yet the current Windows 11 fails to gain momentum.
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Microsoft continues to cede ground against macOS and Linux, evidencing a surge in popularity for competing systems.
In 2009, Microsoft appeared robust, according to recent StatCounter statistics. These data analyze global page views, reflecting user internet behavior. In that year, over 95% of desktop and laptop users worldwide relied on Windows. macOS and Linux scarcely made an impact back then.
Windows Setback: Declining User Shares Over the Years
However, the power dynamics gradually shifted. Linux and macOS continued to infiltrate the market, while Windows’ user share steadily declined. By summer 2016, it was a mere 85% of desktop and laptop systems running on Windows.
And today? Any assumption that Microsoft managed to halt this trajectory is erroneous. In September 2023, only 68.4% of users were operating on a Windows system. Apple succeeded in elevating macOS users to a significant 20.2% during this time frame. Moreover, Linux now holds a 3.02% user share.
