Windows faces historic decline in popularity

Microsoft's dominance in desktop operating systems has taken a noticeable hit, as the latest global market share figures released by analytics platform StatCounter show that the balance of power between operating systems has begun to shift noticeably.

In June 2026, Windows reached a 56.55 percent global market share. This officially saw Microsoft's platform slip below the historic 60 percent mark. This represents a radical change for a system that has shaped everyday desktop computing for decades, regularly leading by a huge margin over all competitors.

On the other hand, the open source Linux system continues its gradual but steady growth. The June data places it at 4.39 percent share worldwide, one of its strongest results in recent times. Although Linux still lags far behind the number one, this figure keeps it firmly above the symbolic four percent mark. Just a few years ago, such a scenario would have seemed overly optimistic for this desktop environment.

Apple's desktop platforms continue to hold a significant share of the pie. StatCounter reports separately: OS X has 11.89 percent of the global market, while macOS has 4.48 percent. Apple's overall desktop presence remains comfortably ahead of Linux. Chrome OS is at the bottom of the list of more notable systems, with a 1.21 percent share.

It is worth noting that the statistics are not based on a direct count of the actual operating systems installed on computers around the world. The company calculates its results based on website views that use its tracking code. Data on online activity, such as browser type, screen resolution and operating system, is analyzed. The numbers therefore reflect the measured activity of users online and not necessarily the exact number of devices in circulation.

Still, it's a trend that shouldn't be ignored. Windows remains the most popular operating system by a wide margin, but dropping below 60 percent is a significant milestone. At the same time, Linux's staying above four percent proves that open source desktops are becoming a real factor in the market and not just a negligible fraction.

Linux's growth is likely driven by several factors. Devices like the Steam Deck and vastly improved gaming support have brought the system closer to everyday users. Distributions like Ubuntu, Arch, Fedora, Linux Mint, and openSUSE are offering an increasingly fluid and user-friendly experience. At the same time, some users are frustrated by Windows 11's hardware requirements, privacy concerns, and Microsoft's push for more and more online services, prompting people to look for alternatives.