Windows 11 Market Share Explodes to 72.78% in February 2026, Leaving Windows 10 at 26.27%

Windows 11 is no longer chasing Windows 10; it has officially crushed it. After spending more than four years sitting in second place, Microsoft’s latest operating system is now firmly ahead. According to the latest StatCounter figures, Windows 11’s growth since the start of 2026 has been significant. After recording its biggest jump ever in January, the OS has followed it up with yet another massive surge in February 2026.

Windows 11 explodes past Windows 10 in February 2026

Here’s what the desktop Windows version market share worldwide looks like for February 2026:

• Windows 11: 72.78% (+10.36%)
• Windows 10: 26.27% (−9.50%)
• Windows 7: 0.61%
• Windows XP: 0.19%
• Windows 8.1: 0.09%
• Windows 8: 0.04%

The figures above don’t just suggest gradual adoption but a clear shift in the global Windows user base. Windows 11 now powers nearly three out of four Windows PCs worldwide, while Windows 10 has fallen sharply in just two months. The double-digit jump suggests users are upgrading in large numbers rather than slowly transitioning.

Unlike previous months, where unusual regional spikes caused temporary distortions in the data, this growth appears broad and consistent across major markets. Windows 11 adoption is climbing across continents, making a statistical anomaly far less likely.

All of that comes amid Microsoft’s promise to make Windows 11 better from the very core. Last month, the company also promised its users it would move away from its “AI everywhere” strategy. Notably, the company recently stated that Windows 11 has crossed the one-billion user milestone and further surprised users by claiming that Copilot has become the top productivity app on Windows 11.

While StatCounter numbers should always be viewed as directional rather than absolute, the trend is clear: Windows 11 has hit its tipping point. After years of resistance, hesitation, and slow enterprise migration, Windows 11 is now the dominant Windows platform globally. After Microsoft officially killed support for Windows 10 in October 2025, the OS isn’t just being replaced; it’s being left behind.

Are you enjoying Windows 11? If not, what else do you think Microsoft should do to make Windows 11 a worthy update? Let us know in the comments below.