Overview

• Statcounter’s August snapshot shows Windows 11 slipping to about 49.1% globally as Windows 10 climbs to roughly 45.5%, reversing gains Windows 11 made in June–July.
• The reversal is sharper in Germany, where Windows 10 holds about 58.6% and Windows 11 about 38.4%, according to the same measurements.
• Usage of Windows 7 has ticked up, with Statcounter reporting roughly 3.6% in August and about 4.8% by mid‑September, despite its lack of security updates.
• With Windows 10 support ending on Oct. 14, Microsoft is selling Extended Security Updates ($30 for consumers for one year; $61 per device in year one for enterprises, up to three years), and PC‑WELT reports limited free activation routes via Windows Backup or Microsoft Rewards points.
• Analysts point to Windows 11’s hardware requirements—including TPM 2.0 and newer CPUs—as a barrier for many PCs, while Microsoft’s Copilot+ promotional push has not shifted behavior, and community tools like Tiny11 Builder have resurfaced as leaner Windows 11 alternatives.