When Windows 10 went out of support last month, roughly ten years after release, many were confused about whether to upgrade or keep running their existing iteration. Experts who recommended upgrading to Windows 11 cited security as the primary concern. That got me thinking, aren't people still using Windows XP and Windows 7, operating systems that were released 24 and 16 years ago, respectively?
According to Statcounter, Windows 7 holds around 2.5% market share while Windows XP commands 0.22%. I agree that's minuscule compared to the statistics for Windows 10 and 11, but if we were to look at the absolute numbers, it's a significant figure. As per reports, there are roughly 1 billion Windows PCs across the globe. That translates into 25 million Windows 7 PCs and 2.2 million PCs running Windows XP, even years after Microsoft dropped support for the two. And surprisingly, these users have valid reasons to continue using the two iterations, despite the security concerns.
App compatibility is key
Older apps don't run on Windows 10 or 11
The main reason most users are still on Windows XP and Windows 7 is app compatibility. Many older apps, primarily those developed during the early days, are not compatible with newer OS iterations. Several small and medium-sized organizations, including industries, too, rely on older versions of Windows for this very reason. Their systems and software can't run on modern versions. Even some older hardware, like scanners and printers, starts throwing errors when not used with Windows XP.
Privacy and security-conscious users often opt for Windows XP in a virtualized environment, while many others run the OS directly on their system. A virtual machine lets users run XP safely and use older apps without exposing the system to a barrage of threats. Of course, these systems are not as secure, but a reliable antivirus coupled with safe practices does minimize (not completely eliminate) the risk.
Upgrading requires investment
Not everyone has the resources
You might wonder why people are reluctant to upgrade when cheap alternatives exist. It's a reasonable question, but when you take into account the total expenses, it seems unviable, and rightfully so.
Even if we ignore the financial aspect for a moment, in many cases, data from an older software's database can't be migrated to new ones due to compatibility issues, and the only solution is to manually add the entries. Now, consider how much time and effort it would take for someone to transfer 20–25 years' worth of data, assuming they have had the software since the days of Windows XP. This is in addition to the cost of upgrading both the software and hardware. And more often than not, there's a risk of data loss during manual migration, which can hamper the immediate and long-term operations.
Naturally, people wouldn't spend a few hundred (or thousand) dollars when the current system works perfectly fine. Let's not forget that it's a relatively huge investment for people living in countries with a low per capita income. Similarly, even for others who have a Windows XP system at home that runs fine, is compatible with their basic set of apps, and doesn't throw up any errors, an upgrade just seems impractical.
People are moving to newer versions
The rate is slow but quickly picking up
The number of PCs running Windows 7 and XP is certainly on the decline. In January 2023, Windows 7 stood at 9.55% while Windows XP was at 0.45%. In January 2024, the numbers for Windows 7 dropped to 3.05% and those for Windows XP to 0.57%. The primary factor driving this change is people discarding older systems and adopting modern hardware and operating systems. But it isn't as fast as many would have initially anticipated.
Even if we look at Windows 10, everyone expected its market share to decline significantly after support ended in October 2025, but that never happened. Part of it is due to Microsoft offering ESU (Extended Security Updates) for another year, but we can't turn a blind eye to the fact that end users are now smarter. They are more informed of their options and prioritize convenience over forced upgrades, which is often not in line with what the manufacturers expect.
Windows XP and Windows 7 won't become obsolete anytime soon
You can't expect people to let go of perfectly fine systems simply because the developer drops support for them. Familiarity, reliability, and ease of use are major aspects that govern the trend. In many cases, systems running Windows XP or 7 are isolated and not connected to the Internet, which drastically reduces their exposure to online threats. These are used for printing, billing, manufacturing processes, or office-related tasks. Thus, the security risks are far lower than they may seem to many. As a result, any investment in new hardware or software seems financially unviable, and users/organizations will need a stronger reason to finally jump ship!