Recently, Microsoft revealed in an official blog that the number of active devices running Windows has surpassed 1 billion each month. However, according to their official statement from 2022, that number was as high as 1.4 billion active devices. In just three short years, about 400 million devices have gone inactive, a situation that has attracted significant market attention. Analysts suggest that this wave of user loss is closely related to the impending end of support for Windows 10, the rise of mobile devices, and the trend of users shifting to other platforms. Despite Microsoft’s hopes to trigger a upgrade cycle with a new version of the system, the actual impact has not met expectations, and Windows’s dominance may be facing challenges.
Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President and Market Director for the Consumer Division, recently took to the official website to emphasize that Windows remains the most widely used operating system globally, with over 1 billion active devices. While this statement didn’t specify the exact decline in numbers, it has been noted that compared to data from 2022, the number of active devices has decreased by around 400 million, revealing a significant loss.
According to an analysis by Ed Bott, an editor at technology media ZDNet, information concerning billions of users undergoes strict legal reviews within Microsoft, making errors or hasty estimates unlikely. He believes that if there are indeed 1.3 billion or 1.4 billion active devices, Microsoft would not just use Over 1 billion to express that.
In the face of a massive user exodus, the industry has proposed several possible reasons. Firstly, support for Windows 10 will end at some point in the future. While businesses may upgrade their hardware to ensure system security, regular users might not feel the impact. For many, even if their older computers stop receiving security updates, they can still continue using them, and their concern for online security is relatively low.
Additionally, home computers are gradually being replaced by more convenient devices. As smartphones and tablets continue to improve in performance, they are now sufficient to meet everyday needs. Furthermore, many households have opted not to upgrade their computers, instead sharing or leaving old devices unused, resulting in a decrease in the overall number of PCs.
Back in 2019, the PC market started showing signs of fatigue. While the global pandemic briefly spurred computer sales, shipments in 2023 exceeded expectations by 130 million units. However, the market eventually shrank again, and Apple’s Mac sales fell victim as well. Moreover, users are increasingly moving away from relying on native applications within the Windows system. A growing number of online free tools and cloud applications are emerging, prompting users to turn to alternatives like macOS, Chromebook, or Linux, no longer viewing Windows as their only option.
Especially with the price-appealing Chromebook becoming a new choice for students and individual users, Apple’s development of its own chips has accelerated upgrades in the Mac series, enhancing system stability and efficiency. This shift has attracted many professional users who originally relied on Windows to explore other platforms. Meanwhile, some users seeking open-source options and high customization have turned to the Linux platform.
Microsoft hopes that Windows 11, with its integration of Copilot+ PC and new AI-assisted features, will invigorate consumer demand for device upgrades. However, the market response has been less than expected. If this situation continues, Number of Active Devices per Month may fall below 1 billion in the future, which would undermine Microsoft’s long-standing position as a leader in the operating system market.
