Windows Drops Under 60% in Global Desktop OS Share for the First Time in Years
4 hours ago
- #Windows decline
- #desktop OS market share
- #Linux growth
- Windows' global desktop OS market share fell below 60% in June 2026, marking a significant decline from its long-standing dominance.
- Linux reached 4.39% market share, maintaining a position above 4%, indicating growth and increased visibility in the desktop market.
- Apple's combined desktop OS share (OS X and macOS) was 16.37%, keeping it ahead of Linux, while Chrome OS had 1.21%.
- StatCounter's data is based on web usage statistics from page views, not direct counts of installed operating systems, reflecting web activity trends.
- Linux growth is supported by factors like the Steam Deck, better gaming support, improved desktop distributions, and user frustrations with Windows 11.
- The desktop OS market is becoming less one-sided, with Windows still dominant but facing gradual shifts towards alternatives like Linux.