Windows XP in 2024? Doable, but definitely not recommended

When Microsoft ended support for Windows XP on April 8, 2014, many of us believed that the OS would go obsolete in a few years, given the popularity of Windows 10, released a year later.

Fast forward to 2024, this isn’t the case!

According to data from Statcounter, Windows XP presently has a 0.57% share among all iterations of the OS. Recent estimates suggest that there are 1.5 billion Windows PCs worldwide.

Based on these figures, the number of Windows XP users can be pegged at 8.5 million (a rough estimate) in 2024. It’s a big number, considering that Windows XP hasn’t received any updates in almost 10 years.

Why are people still using Windows XP?

We will first have to understand why Windows XP was a huge success. The iteration prior to it, Windows 2000, was a failure, and so was its successor, Windows Vista. So, back then, Windows XP was the most user-friendly operating system.

While a large chunk upgraded to Windows 7 after it was released in 2009, some remained skeptical after the debacle of Windows Vista. As a result, they continued with Windows XP because it was still supported.

Now, by the time Microsoft discontinued Windows XP, users were so well familiarized with it after 8 years that upgrading didn’t feel like the right option. Not to mention, it still performed well, allowed access to the Internet, and could run most of the apps.

Many have, over the years, shared their experience of using Windows XP well beyond the EOS (End of Support).

Coming to 2024, the same logic applies. For users who are not facing any issues, upgrading to Windows 11 or the previous iteration seems like a hassle. Why fix something that isn’t broken yet, right?

Should I continue using Windows XP?

No, you shouldn’t use Windows XP anymore. After Microsoft ends support for an operating system, it doesn’t receive security updates anymore. Also, third-party app developers will soon start focussing on newer iterations of the OS and the app version for Windows XP will stop working.

Besides, browsing the Internet on Windows XP is a challenge for two reasons. First, you will have a hard time finding a browser compatible with Windows XP. When we reached out to Windows XP users, most reported running the MyPal browser.

Secondly, you stand the risk of infecting your PC with malware and viruses. Since there aren’t many supported antivirus on Windows XP, and the list is shrinking by the day, security remains a prime concern for users. Microsoft Security Essentials is also not available anymore.

The built-in Windows Firewall does provide some relief, but it won’t guarantee complete protection.

Also, gaming on Windows XP is a problem. Steam has discontinued support for Windows XP. Besides, present-day games demand high power, which most Windows XP PCs lack.

Our recommendation is that you upgrade to Windows 10 because, most likely, Windows 11 won’t install due to unbelievably high system requirements. This will protect your PC, allow running all the latest apps and games, and deliver improved performance.

Do share your thoughts on Windows XP and its performance in the comments section.