Windows 11 and Win 10 adopation rate falls in Germany and Europe

In Germany, the transition to Windows 11 has not been linear. Current figures show that the market share of Windows 11 actually fell from 76.1% to 74.6% in May 2026. In the same period, Windows 10 recorded a slight decline from 22.1% in April to 21.7%. This follows a period of rapid transition between December 2025 and February 2026, when Windows 10 usage fell sharply from 48.3% to 24.6%. This shift solidified Windows 11's position as the primary operating system for the majority of German users.

Global and European usage patterns

Globally, the trend for the newer operating system remains positive. Global usage of Windows 11 rose from 70.4% in April 2026 to 71.8% in May 2026, while Windows 10 fell from 28.5% to 26.2%.

However, the European market is showing signs of stagnation. The growth of Windows 11 was almost unchanged, rising only slightly from 70.1% to 70.2%. Conversely, Windows 10 usage in Europe fell from 28.4% to 26.8%, suggesting that some users may be delaying the update or considering other alternatives.

Impact of the support deadlines

The shift in market share is closely linked to the support lifecycle of Windows 10. Mainstream support officially ended in October 2025, with an optional one-year extension offered to ease the transition.

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