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2025-02-03
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The ongoing debate about the market share of Windows 10 and Windows 11 continues to spark debates in the tech world, with analysts and bloggers constantly sharing statistics on how these operating systems are performing. However, many of these reports are based on questionable data, leading to unreliable conclusions. Statcounter, a web analytics company, often plays a key role in this issue by offering figures that, while widely cited, fail to accurately represent the real world. In this article, we break down the complexities of Statcounterâs data and why these monthly fluctuations may not reflect the true usage of Windows 10 and 11.
Summary:
Around the start of each month, technology sites publish articles using charts from Statcounter Global Stats, claiming to explain the latest shifts in the popularity of Windows 10 and Windows 11. One recent example, from Forbes, suggested that millions of holdouts had suddenly upgraded to Windows 11, citing Statcounter’s data. However, the reality is that Statcounterâs numbers don’t always make sense.
Statcounter tracks pageviews, not devices or sessions, meaning it provides an incomplete picture. The data’s fluctuations, including sudden spikes in Windows 8 usage or temporary drops in Windows 11âs share, are often due to statistical noise. The actual trend shows a gradual decline in Windows 10 usage and a steady rise in Windows 11, though these numbers are not as reliable as some would claim.
Statcounterâs methodology involves counting pageviews from a small, declining customer base, making it an inadequate source for determining accurate “market share.” Its data is skewed toward smaller, niche websites that don’t capture the broader web traffic dominated by giants like Google or Facebook. Additionally, Statcounter counts pageviews, which can vary significantly depending on user behavior, making it an unreliable metric for overall operating system usage.
What Undercode Says:
The use of Statcounterâs data to determine market share trends for Windows 10 and 11 is misleading. While these numbers may look impressive at first glance, they fail to tell the true story of operating system usage. Hereâs why:
1. Pageviews vs. Actual Usage:
Statcounter tracks pageviews from websites using its service, which is a highly inaccurate way to measure overall operating system usage. For example, a user browsing multiple pages on a site would significantly alter the data, showing higher activity for Windows 10 or 11 depending on which device is used. But this doesnât reflect actual market trends or the overall number of active devices running those operating systems.
2. Statistical Noise:
Many of the month-to-month fluctuations observed in
3. Skewed Sample Size:
Statcounterâs data is based on a shrinking number of websites that use its tracking service, which represents only a small fraction of global web traffic. As of 2025, Statcounter tracks less than 1% of all websites, and its user base has diminished significantly over the years. This limited scope means the data isnât representative of the broader internet, which is dominated by websites that use other analytics services, like Google Analytics.
4. Lack of Telemetry Data:
Unlike Microsoftâs internal telemetry, which provides real, verified data on Windows OS usage, Statcounter can only estimate usage based on web traffic. These estimations donât account for the many users who may have Windows 10 but rarely visit websites tracked by Statcounter, or those using browsers that block the serviceâs tracking code altogether. The absence of telemetry data from major tech companies further undermines the accuracy of these statistics.
5. The Case for Windows 10âs Longevity:
Even as Statcounter shows gradual declines in Windows 10âs usage, itâs important to remember that a large number of Windows 10 devices are not eligible for upgrade to Windows 11. This means that the transition to Windows 11 might not be as swift as data suggests. Additionally, support for Windows 10 will continue until 2025, ensuring that a significant portion of the user base remains on the older OS.
6. The Role of Upgrades:
The narrative that millions of users are suddenly upgrading to Windows 11 is overblown. While some Windows 10 users are indeed making the switch, the reality is that the process is slow and uneven, influenced by hardware limitations and personal preferences. The claims that “40 million holdouts” upgraded in just 31 days are likely an exaggeration or a misinterpretation of the available data.
7. Data Integrity and Quality:
Statcounter has been in business for decades, but its data collection methods havenât evolved to meet the demands of modern web analytics. As it loses market share to competitors like Google Analytics, the data it provides becomes less reliable. The problem is compounded by the fact that Statcounter counts pageviews, not users, which is a fundamental flaw when trying to estimate operating system market share.
8. Looking Beyond the Surface:
The
In conclusion, while Statcounter provides some interesting insights into website traffic patterns, its data should not be relied upon as a definitive measure of operating system market share. For accurate information, we need to look at more comprehensive data sources, such as telemetry from Microsoft or broader analytics services that track a more representative cross-section of the web. Until then, itâs important to approach any claims based on Statcounterâs data with caution.
References:
Reported By: https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-many-windows-10-pcs-are-still-in-use-no-one-knows-but-they-try-to-tell-you-anyway/
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