Windows 11 has officially crossed 1 billion users, reaching the milestone faster than Windows 10, according to Microsoft. The achievement was confirmed during the company’s fiscal Q2 2026 earnings call.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed that Windows 11 user growth is up 45 percent year over year, with the biggest boost coming during the recent holiday quarter. A major reason behind the surge is Microsoft’s decision to end support for Windows 10, pushing users and PC makers to upgrade.
Microsoft had hinted at this growth earlier as well. During the Ignite event in November, the company said that “nearly a billion people” were already using Windows 11, suggesting strong adoption even before the official announcement.
What makes this milestone notable is the speed. Windows 11 reached 1 billion users in 1,576 days, beating Windows 10, which took 1,706 days to achieve the same number. The faster adoption highlights how hardware refresh cycles, AI-powered PCs, and support deadlines are reshaping the Windows ecosystem.
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