Windows 10 Overtakes Windows 7 to Become Most Popular Windows Version

Catalin Cimpanu

Windows 10 has surpassed Windows 7 for the first time, according to analytics firm StatCounter.

In a presser released today, the company says that according to data gathered in January 2018, Windows 10 reached 42.78% in terms of worldwide internet usage, compared to 41.86% for Windows 7, 8.72% for Windows 8.1, and 3.36% for Windows XP.

Microsoft launched Windows 10 in June 2015, two and a half years ago.

This marks the first time when Windows 10 is ranked as the most popular Windows version in StatCounter’s ranking, at least globally. Windows 10 became the leading Windows version in some national markets some time ago. For example, Windows 10 overtook Windows 7 in the UK in June 2016, and in North American in June 2017.

But there’s currently no consensus on the numbers. Fellow analytics provider NetMarketShare did not record the same figures. The company still records Windows 7 as the top-ranked Windows version with a market share of 44.81%, followed by Windows 10 at a huge distance of 28.19%. Windows XP is third with 7.27% and Windows 8.1 with 6.41%.

Either way, the trend in NetMarketShare stats is that Windows 7 numbers are going down, while Windows 10 is gaining new users each month.

With Windows 7 end of extended support nearing —January 2020— more and more companies are making the switch to Windows 10.

The StatCounter and NetMArketShare numbers are not extremely accurate, as they only include Windows users that surf the Web, meaning many computers are left off the stat sheet. Nonetheless, these are the best numbers we’ll get, as Microsoft has not released any similar figures.

Top 5 Windows Editions

A look of the most important Microsoft Windows operating systems

Windows is more than 30 years old, so now is as good a time as any to look back on the five most important Windows releases of all time. Note that this isn’t a list of the best Windows releases but rather the ones that were most important. It’s been a long, strange trip, Microsoft.

Windows XP

Chances are good that you have worked on a Windows XP computer at some point, and that’s why it’s on this list. XP was popular and long-lived. Windows XP, released in 2001, still has a larger worldwide market share than Windows 8 or Windows Vista. It dominated the market for years, and that longevity speaks to how good XP was.

XP was a rapid success, despite an early stumble. It wasn’t until Service Pack 2 that Windows Firewall, the primary security tool, was enabled by default. This delay contributed in part to Microsoft’s reputation for building insecure products. Despite its flaws, XP had many advantages, which accounted for its remarkable popularity.

Windows 95

Windows 95, released in August 1995, was when the public started to embrace Windows. Microsoft launched a gigantic public relations blitz for Windows 95, highlighting the introduction of the Start button, unveiling it to the tune of the Rolling Stones «Start Me Up.» Perhaps in an ominous sign of things to come, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates suffered through a Blue Screen of Death during one Windows 95 demo.

Windows 95 was one of Microsoft’s earlier graphical user interfaces, which was layered on top of DOS. This approach made Windows much more accessible to the average user and helped launch Windows’ dominance in the market.

Windows 7

Windows 7 had way more fans than previous Windows versions, and many users think it is Microsoft’s best OS ever. It is Microsoft’s fastest-selling OS to date — within a year or so, it overtook XP as the most popular operating system. Until early 2018 when Windows 10 finally surpassed it, Windows 7 held the distinction of being the most popular OS in the world. That’s a good thing because Windows 7 was significantly more secure and user-friendly than any Microsoft OS that came before it.

Released in October 2009, Windows 7 hds a completely different look and feel from other Windows versions. It also had excellent networking features, built-in touch-screen functionality, better backup and recovery tools, and quicker startup and shutdown times. In short, Microsoft got it right with Windows 7.

Windows 10

Windows 10, which was released in July 2015, is fast and stable. It includes robust anti-virus and impressive internal search capabilities, and you don’t need to use the unpopular Metro interface anymore. It’s not your father’s Windows, but there is nothing wrong with Windows 10. It just exists in a slightly post-PC world.

With Windows 10, Microsoft kept some of the touch features it introduced in Windows 8 and combined them with the Start menu and desktop. The operating system is more secure than it was in its predecessors, and it introduces a new browser — Microsoft Edge — and the Cortana assistant. Windows 10 also runs on Windows phones and tablets.

Windows 8

Depending on who you ask, 2012’s Windows 8 was either great or an awkward attempt to graft a mobile interface onto a desktop OS. However, Windows 8 was stable and speedy. Fans of Windows 8 loved the live tiles and easy gestures. The introduction of the ability to pin just about anything to the Start screen was immensely popular, and the Task Manager was updated and added more functionality in an attractive space.

All the Others

Wondering where Windows Vista and Windows Me fall in this list? Way, way down. Other versions that didn’t make this most-important list are Windows 1.0, Windows 2, Windows 3.0, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, Windows 2000, and Windows NT. However, each OS had its purpose at the time and had many followers. No doubt those followers could make a strong argument that their favorite Windows version is one of the most important operating systems of all time.

What version of windows is most popular? — (FAQ)

Category: what . Last Updated: 2 months ago . Views: 9

ANSWER

Windows Release Year Version 1983 Initial launch Bill Gates announced Microsoft Windows 1985 Windows 1.0 Priced at $100. 1987 Windows 2.0 1988 Windows 286 Microsoft Windows 286 was introduced in . 25 more rows . Jan 2 2021

Which version of Windows is best?

Which Windows version do you like? Gosh, that is a tough call to pick which version of Windows I like the best. For me, it is a tie between Windows 7 and Windows 10. When Windows 95 came out, I hated it. When Windows 98 came out, I loved it. When

What Is the Most Popular Operating System? Among all Windows versions, Windows 10 is the most popular with more than 55% of market share. Windows 7 is the next version that is used by 33% of users.

What Version of Windows Do I Have? Windows 10 is the name given to Windows version 10.0 and is the latest version of Windows. If you just got a new computer, there’s a 99 percent chance you have Windows 10 installed. (Maybe closer to 99.9 percent!) The Windows version number for Windows 10 is 10.0.

What Is the Latest Version of Windows 10?

The latest version of Windows 10 is the October 2020 Update, version “20H2,” which was released on October 20, 2020. Microsoft releases new major updates every six months. These major updates can take some time to reach your PC since Microsoft and PC manufacturers do extensive testing before fully rolling them out.

Which Version of Windows 10 is Best For You? Previously, we told you which version of Windows 10 you will get after the upgrade. Today we are here with an article that will tell you which version of Windows 10 is best for you.

What is the most popular operating system? Most popular operating system by computer. If you were to break up the different types of computing devices into categories, the most popular operating system for each category is as follows. Windows 10 is the most popular operating system for desktop and laptop computers. Android is the most popular smartphone operating system. iOS is the most

What is Windows?

Microsoft provides other packages in/with the windows like MS-OFFICE, MS-EXCEL, MS-POWERPOINT, etc. which are very, very useful, and best in the world. Their support team’s work is outstanding. They provide various versions for individuals, organizations, companies, schools, developers, etc. and in this way, they have covered all the categories.

Last modified: February 13 2021

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Windows 10 is now more popular than Windows 7

Just a year before Windows 7 support finishes

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Microsoft finished 2018 as the world’s most valuable company, but it also passed an important milestone for Windows. The latest Windows 10 operating system is now the most popular desktop OS in the world, finally beating Windows 7’s market share according to Net Applications. Windows 10 held 39.22 percent of desktop OS market share in December 2018, compared to 36.9 percent for Windows 7. It’s a statistic that’s taken Microsoft three and a half years to achieve, and it demonstrates just how popular Windows 7 has been since its release nearly 10 years ago.

Microsoft had been planning to get Windows 10 running on a billion devices within three years of its release, but the company soon extended that timeline after it was clear that Windows Phone wouldn’t help it achieve this aim. Windows 10 is now running on more than 700 million devices, including PCs, tablets, phones, and even Xbox One consoles. Windows 7 has held on strong in recent years, despite Microsoft’s big push to get PC users to upgrade for free and even a “PC does what?” marketing campaign designed to target consumers who have four- or five year-old computers.

The market share milestone is an important one for Windows 10, and it comes just a year before Microsoft ends its extended support for Windows 7 on January 14th, 2020. Microsoft will still need to convince businesses with deep pockets to upgrade to Windows 10, instead of opting for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 7 next year. Microsoft faced a similar challenge to move businesses from Windows XP to Windows 7, and the company released white papers to compare the costs of the two operating systems nearly seven years ago.

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If you still want more Windows tips and news, check out our best Windows posts from 2015 , 2014 , 2013 , 2012 , 2011 , 2010 , and you can stop there. At that point you’ve rolled all the way back to Windows 7 and Microsoft will probably force you to upgrade to a newer version of our Best Ofs with a pushy update.

Eric creates video essays as Lord Ravenscraft on YouTube. He’s also a freelance writer with bylines in The Inventory, Wired, The New York Times, and a former Senior Writer for Lifehacker.

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I must say I found Avira very, very disappointing. I had nothing but issues with it and constant conflicts with other programs. It even slowed down my startup on a fresh install of Windows 10 on a brand new SSD. And I felt it had just as many annoying add-on adverts as Avast. It installed a system speedup tool and VPN tool without asking, and it would randomly turn off real-time protection for no apparent reason. Avast has its annoyances but it’s at least consistent and plays nicely with others.