TITLE: Windows 11 Slips Again as Windows 7 Makes Surprise Comeback
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Windows Market Share Shifts Unexpectedly
The latest market share statistics reveal surprising trends in the Windows ecosystem. While Windows 11 continues to lose momentum, the supposedly obsolete Windows 7 has made a remarkable comeback that has caught industry observers off guard.
Windows 11’s Declining Performance
Microsoft‘s current flagship operating system faced another disappointing month in September 2025. Windows 11’s market share dropped to 48.94%, marking the second consecutive monthly decline. This represents a significant fall from its July peak of 53.51% – a 4.57 percentage point decrease in just two months.
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The continued slide comes despite Windows 10 approaching its official support cutoff, suggesting users aren’t automatically migrating to Microsoft’s latest offering as expected.
Windows 10’s Gradual Decline
As anticipated, Windows 10 usage also decreased, falling from 45.53% in August to 40.5% in September. What’s notable is the relatively modest decline considering the operating system had only two weeks of remaining Microsoft support during the reporting period. This indicates many users are choosing to remain with the familiar platform rather than immediately upgrading.
Windows 7’s Astonishing Resurgence
The biggest surprise in the latest figures comes from Windows 7, which most considered long gone from the market. The aging operating system demonstrated extraordinary growth, jumping from 0.88% in July to 3.35% in August before soaring to 9.61% in September.
This represents a massive 6.26 percentage point increase in a single month, equivalent to a 186.9% surge compared to August’s share. The detailed analysis published by industry monitors shows this trend defies conventional wisdom about operating system lifecycles.
Regional Patterns Behind the Surge
The data reveals distinct geographic patterns driving Windows 7’s unexpected return. Asian markets accounted for most of the growth, with market share there exploding from 2.32% in July to 18.67% in September. Germany also showed a surprising increase, rising from 2.08% in August to 3.92% in September.
Potential Explanations for the Trend
Several factors may explain Windows 7’s sudden popularity:
- Hardware limitations in regions where newer systems are less accessible
- Business continuity concerns driving companies to stick with familiar software
- Cryptocurrency mining operations using outdated PCs
- Security vulnerabilities being exploited by botnets due to lack of updates
The impending end of Windows 10 support may also be causing some users to reconsider their upgrade paths, potentially opting for older, known systems rather than transitioning to Windows 11.
Looking Ahead
With Windows 10 support now officially ended, October’s market share figures will be particularly revealing. While Windows 11 should theoretically see a surge as users migrate from the unsupported platform, the Windows 7 phenomenon suggests the transition may not follow Microsoft’s planned roadmap.
The continued preference for older operating systems raises important questions about user adoption patterns and the factors driving technology choices in today’s computing landscape.
