Whenever a new version of Windows is released, Microsoft runs aggressive campaigns to get as many people as possible to decide to upgrade their devices to the new version.
This is certainly the case since the arrival of Windows 11 on October 5th. The new operating system is a free update for all compatible devices, with frequent reminders of the benefits it brings to being more productive.
However, it still doesn’t seem to have had the desired effect. According to a survey of more than 10 million PC users conducted by the IT asset management company SweeperOnly 0.21% of all devices are currently running Windows 11.
To put this in context, Windows XP currently holds a 3.62% market share, although it has not had Microsoft support since 2014.
There is a caveat to be aware of here. Despite the large size of the respondents, Lansweeper mainly focuses on the corporate sector. The company didn’t reveal much information about survey participants, but they are more likely to be business users.
As reported Sweeper, the new requirements of Windows 11 mean that many existing computer workstations are not compatible with the new operating system. Therefore, the figure of AdDuplex 8.9% may better reflect end-consumer adoption, but only on the basis of 60,000 respondents.
Either way, Microsoft has work to do if it wants Windows 11 to become the dominant version of the desktop operating system in the near term. So why aren’t more people switching to Windows 11?
Windows 11 hardware requirements are strict
It’s arguably the biggest barrier to entry – millions of Windows 10 devices simply don’t support Windows 11.
Microsoft made the requirements of Equipment are much stricter as they prioritize security, with a recent processor speed of 1 GHz, the inclusion of the TPM 2.0 chip and Secure Boot among the more controversial updates.
There are ways around this, of course, but most people won’t be comfortable running Windows 11 on a device that isn’t supported by Microsoft, or will be hesitant to upgrade so that performance is not affected.
Most devices are not technically compatible
When Microsoft announced Windows 11 last June, it made it clear that the rollout would be gradual. It made sense: Windows 10 was installed on over 1.3 billion devices at the time.
But just as Windows 11 was released on October 5th, Microsoft also shared the official installation wizard and ISO file for the same version. This means that from this moment, anyone who wishes can update their
However, this involves manual installation procedures, rather than being automatically pushed to your device from the “Settings” center. Unless you’re particularly interested in using Windows 11, there’s no rush – Windows 10 will remain supported until October 2025 anyway.
Windows 11 is a very visual edition
Even when Windows 11 is available to everyone, there is likely to be some reluctance to switch from Windows 10. The new operating system brings some significant visual changes to the user experience that has become so familiar.
Many items look or work differently. This simplified design language isn’t for everyone, and it takes some getting used to. Aside from the unfortunate Windows 8, Microsoft’s operating system has kept the same look for decades.
Many Windows devices are inactive
Presumably, these surveys are based on PCs that are used regularly, but it is clear that there are many inactive devices that make the market share numbers look worse than they are.
It is highly unlikely that 3.5% of people are currently using an outdated version of Windows XP on their primary computer, for example. This poses certain safety risks to the equipment.
Not only are these devices almost certainly not compatible with Windows 11, they may never see the light of day again.
Of course, Microsoft has plenty of time to get it right when it comes to the popularity of Windows 11. It’s likely that the changes it makes in successive light updates will further encourage users.
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