Windows 10 now powers around 10% of the world’s computers

It’s not all that surprising to see how quickly Windows 10 is taking over the desktop market, but it’s still impressive to hear that the operating system now powers 9.96% of the world’s computers. This is according to a web analytics firm by the name of Net Applications, which claims that Windows 10 is the world’s fourth most-popular desktop operating system as of December 2015. In first place is, as I’m sure you’ve guessed, Windows 7, with a 56.65% market share, followed by Windows XP, with 10.94%, and Windows 8.1, with 10.30%. Windows 10 should overtake XP and 8.1 within the next few weeks, but it’ll be a while before it takes the throne from Windows 7.

Windows 10 increased its share of the total worldwide PC operating system market to 9.96% during December 2015. It shows a steady adoption rate compared to 9% in November, 7.94% in October and 6.63% in September 2015. The numbers were revealed today by research firm Net Applications, who monitors operating system usage from tens of thousands of websites. Although its share keeps going up, Windows 10 is still in fourth place among all PC operating systems worldwide, according to Net Applications. Windows 7 still has a solid lock on the number one spot with 56.65% in December, up from 56.11% in November and its 55.77% share in October. Windows XP, which Microsoft no longer supports, was listed in second in December with 10.93% up slightly from November with 10.58%, but down from 11.68% in October. Windows 8.1 was third with 10.30% in December, down from 11.15% in November. Microsoft’s last official update on Windows 10 was nearly three months ago in early October, when it said it had been installed on over 110 million PCs and tablets in the first three months since it launched. It’s likely that number is much higher now. A more recent, but unconfirmed, report claims Windows 10 has now been installed on over 200 million devices.