The number of ‘Windows 11’ users dropped last month
A new report shows that the number of devices running Windows 11 has decreased, but it's unclear whether this is due to users returning to Windows 10 or something else.
In July, the number of Windows 11 users finally surpassed the number of users of the old Windows 10 for the first time. Now, the data for August has been released, and while some users seem to have switched back to Windows 10, the latest software still maintains a larger market share.
According to data from third-party tool Statcounter observed by Neowin, Windows 11’s market share fell by more than four percentage points compared to the previous month. It accounted for 49.08% of the Windows device market in August, down from 53.51% in July.
It appears that some users have returned to Windows 10, as usage of older software increased from 42.88% in July to 45.53% in August. The remaining 11% is made up of outdated software, such as those still running Windows 7, 8, and even XP.
One explanation for this change in direction could be that users are continuing to use Windows 10 to make the most of the recent policy change. In June, Microsoft announced that it would continue to provide security updates for Windows 10 beyond the previous date of October 14, 2025, if you meet certain criteria.
For example, those who want to use Windows 10 for another year can pay $30 per PC, or you can use Microsoft Rewards points to get longer access. If you don’t want to spend the money, you can also choose to use Windows Backup and get free access until October 2026.
It’s possible that these changes led to fewer people upgrading to Windows 11 ahead of schedule, and some people may have reverted to an older version of the software to keep using Windows 10 for as long as possible. Statcounter will likely release September data in early October, which will give us a better idea of whether this trend will continue.
