HP exec says 30% of PCs still run Windows 10. Here’s why that number matters
Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- PCWorld reports HP’s CFO confirmed 30% of PCs still run Windows 10, providing the first reliable industry-insider data on the operating system’s market share.
- This significant user base prompted Microsoft to extend Windows 10 ESU support until October 2027, despite pushing users toward Windows 11.
- The substantial Windows 10 presence continues driving PC upgrade cycles and sales in EMEA and APJ regions as businesses transition.
Karen L. Parkhill, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at HP, has revealed that Windows 10 still commands a market share of 30 percent, reports Windows Latest. It’s the first reliable industry-insider figure on the continued widespread use of Windows 10.
A market share of around 30 percent is a great deal for an operating system that hasn’t been actively developed for several years and whose successor is being actively pushed by Microsoft so hard that it’s turning off users. This persistently high market share is likely the reason why Microsoft surprised Windows 10 users a few weeks ago with an extension to the ESU program until October 12th, 2027.
Admittedly, Statcounter has always provided figures on the market shares of the individual Windows versions, but those figures are often unclear and not entirely credible. As for the adoption figures cited by Steam’s monthly surveys, they’re based on “real data” but only that which is voluntarily shared by Steam users and therefore a subjective sample.
The situation is quite different with this recent statement made by a senior HP executive during a conversation with investors. Here, a leading manufacturer of laptops and desktop PCs reveals the true state of Windows 10’s current adoption:
We did see good growth in both EMEA and APJ this quarter. And some of that was driven by the expected tailwinds from Windows 11. And I would say, at this point, we have roughly 30 percent of the installed base still on Windows 10.
However, the HP executive also says that the upgrade cycle for Windows 11 hasn’t slowed down and continues to boost PC sales in Asia and Europe: “The Windows 11 refresh that we’ve driven now in EMEA and APJ is now on par with North America.”
Microsoft itself does not provide figures on the market shares of the individual Windows versions.
By the way: If you’re using Windows 11 Home, you’re missing out on the many benefits of Windows 11 Pro. To learn more, see our comparison of Windows 11 Home and Pro. If you want to upgrade, snag it for cheap in the PCWorld Software Store: now just $59 instead of $99.
This article originally appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German.
