Microsoft’s looming deadline for the end of official support for Windows 10 is now less than two months away, and while the company is eager to push its users onto Windows 11, the reality on the ground looks far more complicated. A new report suggests that even with Microsoft’s aggressive messaging, only about half of all Windows PCs have actually made the switch to Windows 11, leaving the other half still running Windows 10 with no clear plans to upgrade in the near term.
According to findings from Dell and HP, two of the world’s largest PC makers, the divide falls largely along economic and organizational lines. Large enterprises, wary of security and compliance risks, are more likely to prioritize upgrades and absorb the costs of transitioning to Windows 11 to avoid potential disruptions in the years ahead. In contrast, smaller businesses, already known for delaying IT spending, are expected to hold off as long as possible, reluctant to replace still-functioning hardware or navigate software changes unless absolutely necessary.
The consumer market is no less hesitant. Inflation and broader economic uncertainty are dampening enthusiasm for new PC purchases, with rising prices hitting especially hard in the United States. While a U.S. court has ruled President Trump’s import tariffs illegal, the ongoing appeals process means those tariffs remain in effect, driving up costs on imported PC components and systems. As a result, shoppers are left paying more for new devices at precisely the moment Microsoft is pushing them to upgrade.
All of these factors make Microsoft’s target of widespread Windows 11 adoption by the end of Windows 10’s support cycle look increasingly ambitious. The company’s recent decision to provide extended security updates for Windows 10—albeit with some caveats and extra hurdles—is a tacit acknowledgment of that reality. For many businesses and individuals, staying on Windows 10, at least for the near future, may simply be the most practical option despite the official countdown clock.
