Windows Desktop OS Share Drops Below 60% for the First Time

StatConsumer has released its desktop OS usage statistics for June 2026, revealing that Windows’ share has dropped to 56.55%. This marks the first time Microsoft’s OS has fallen below 60% since the statistics began. Meanwhile, Linux recorded 4.39%, its highest figure in recent years.

This data is based on StatConsumer’s Global Stats, which aggregates page views from websites that embed the company’s tracking code. Therefore, it is important to note that it reflects usage trends via web browsing, not the actual number of OS installations.

A Turning Point in Windows’ Long Dominance

Windows has long boasted over 90% of the desktop OS market for many years. However, since the late 2000s, the PC market itself has been shrinking due to the rise of smartphones and tablets. Furthermore, the spread of remote work and the shift to cloud-based business environments have promoted diversification in OS choices.

According to StatConsumer’s June data, Windows hit a new low of 56.55%. The breakdown shows Windows 10 at 36.42%, Windows 11 at 18.23%, and Windows 7 at 1.90%. With the end of support for Windows 10 approaching in October 2025, the data highlights that the migration to Windows 11 has not progressed.

Linux Records 4.39%, Highest in Recent Years

Linux achieved 4.39% in the desktop sector. Linuxiac reports that this is “one of the strongest figures in the company’s desktop OS statistics in recent years.” This increase is likely driven by the expansion of the developer community and the spread of cloud development environments. In particular, the adoption of Linux as a standard environment in AI/machine learning and the growing number of developers exposed to Linux through the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) are contributing factors.

However, since StatConsumer’s data is based on web browsing, it does not include Linux’s share as a server OS (generally over 70%). It should be interpreted as a figure limited to desktop use.

Apple’s Combined OS Share Remains Above 16%

Apple’s desktop OS recorded OS X at 11.89% and macOS at 4.48%, for a combined share of 16.37%. The company maintains a presence far exceeding that of Linux. Chrome OS remained at 1.21%, but still holds a certain presence in the education market.

Notably, Apple completed its transition from Intel after introducing its own M1 chip in 2020, and the version notation changed from “OS X” to “macOS.” In StatConsumer’s statistics, these are treated as separate categories, but they are essentially the same platform.

Nature of the Statistical Data and

Interpretation Notes

StatConsumer’s data is based on page view aggregation and has the following characteristics. First, it reflects the proportion of devices actively used for web browsing, so dedicated business machines and server usage are less likely to be represented. Second, under corporate-managed devices, discrepancies between actual usage and the statistics can occur. Third, there are significant regional differences: Mac shares are higher in North America and Western Europe, while Windows ratios remain high in Eastern Europe and Asia.

Nevertheless, it remains useful as an indicator for grasping long-term trends. The accelerating decline in Windows’ share appears to be a challenge that Microsoft cannot overlook.

Editorial Opinion

In the short term, with the end of support for Windows 10 approaching in October 2025, share could decline further if migration to Windows 11 does not accelerate. Enterprise users will be forced to migrate due to security risks, but strict hardware requirements pose a barrier. If this situation continues, the move to introduce Linux desktops for businesses may accelerate.

In the long term, the 4.39% figure for Linux can be seen as reaching a critical point for its adoption as a desktop OS. The spread of developer tools and cloud-native environments is increasing opportunities for ordinary users to use Linux without being aware of it. Over a 1–3 year span, the spread of AI agents and edge computing will further enhance Linux’s presence. However, the stickiness of Apple’s ecosystem is also strong, making a large-scale migration unlikely.

The editorial team is watching how Windows’ declining share will affect the software ecosystem.

References

• Slashdot — Published 2026-07-08T19:00:00.000Z