Windows 10 and Windows 11 are now installed on a total of 1.4 billion monthly active devices, Microsoft has confirmed. That’s an increase of around 100 million compared to the Windows 10 figure from last April, shortly before its successor was announced.
This cements Windows’ position as the most popular desktop operating system worldwide. Apple’s macOS is a distant second, accounting for around 15% of all devices according to StatCounter. That gap is only increasing, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also revealing that Windows increased its market share in Q4 of 2021.
However, it’s not clear how many of the 1.4 billion PCs are running Windows 11. Microsoft has been encouraging people to make the switch, with all compatible Windows 10 devices now eligible for the free upgrade.
Nadella declined to reveal a specific Windows 11 figure, simply saying Microsoft is “delighted by the response” to the new OS. He went on to say that “we’re seeing more usage intensity and higher quality than previous versions of our operating system”, a statement which lacks any real substance.
As our article from November explained, there are several reasons why the number of Windows 11 users could be relatively low. The big one is existing software support, with Windows 10 still supported until October and a 2022 feature update on the way.
But Windows 11’s new tough hardware requirements, some wholesale design changes and the fact that the update hasn’t been delivered to most devices yet are all factors here. Let’s hope Microsoft is more transparent with its figures moving forward.
Good news for Surface
These Windows figures were released alongside Microsoft’s official earnings for Q4 of 2021 (also known as FY22 Q2). Total earnings increased by 20% year-on-year to $51.7 billion, due in part to growth across Microsoft Office, cloud services and Xbox.
But it was also a strong quarter for Surface, after Microsoft announced five new devices in September. Revenue increased 8% compared to the same period in 2020, despite the company warning of the potential for a decline.
Despite the introduction of new hardware, sales of April’s Surface Laptop 4 were supposedly a key driver of this growth. It’s also worth noting that the Surface Laptop Studio is yet to become available outside the US – this should boost revenue further.
Again, it would be interesting to see sales broken down by device here, but don’t expect that to be the case anytime soon.
2022 looks set to be a big year for Surface, marking 10 years since the first device came to market. But Microsoft will do well to beat the strong figures posted from late last year.
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Author: Anyron Copeman, Senior Staff Writer
As the resident expert on Windows, Senior Staff Writer Anyron’s main focus is PCs and laptops. Much of the rest of his time is split between smartphones, tablets and audio, with a particular focus on Android devices.