Windows 10 is nearing its final days: in just two weeks, on October 14, 2025, official support will end. With the arrival of October, Statcounter has released new operating system usage data, and the results are surprising: Windows 7, which stopped receiving updates in 2020, has seen an unexpected increase in users.
Windows 10 Hits Historic Lows While Windows 7 Gains Users
According to Statcounter, Windows 10 has dropped to 40.5% market share, its lowest level since October 2017, when Windows 7 was still dominant. This comes just as millions of devices prepare for the end of standard support.
Even more striking is the rebound of Windows 7, which has reached 9.61% market share—levels similar to those seen before January 2023, when its Extended Security Updates program ended. It is not clear why this increase has occurred, although Statcounter admits that its metrics, based on 1.5 million websites, may include some margin of error.
Therefore, while it cannot be confirmed that these events are directly connected, it is interesting that this version of Windows, launched back in 2009, is gaining popularity again just as Windows 10 is about to lose official support.
Meanwhile, Windows 11 continues to hold the top spot, with 49.05% global market share, slightly below the previous month.
What Happens After Windows 10 Support Ends?
Starting October 14, 2025, Windows 10 users will be able to join the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which will provide free security updates for an additional year.
For businesses, the extension will last up to three years, though paid. Microsoft advises companies and individuals to use this time to plan their migration to an officially supported system.
