It’s no surprise that Windows remains the world’s most widely used operating system for desktops and laptops—a position it has held for decades, thanks to its dominant market share.
However, today, November 20, 2025, marks a particularly significant moment: the 40th anniversary of Windows, a major milestone for Microsoft as the company continues to push forward with new ideas and technologies.
That’s not the only news. As reported Today, Microsoft has also announced that Windows 11 has officially surpassed one billion active users. It’s an impressive achievement, though the company isn’t satisfied just yet. Microsoft expects Windows 11 adoption to continue climbing as more users upgrade and as the platform gains new features over time.
40 years of Windows, the most popular operating system of all time
On November 20, 1985, Microsoft released Windows 1.0, the first version of the system to introduce a graphical user interface and a major step forward from MS-DOS. No one at the time could have predicted the enormous success and influence it would go on to have, reshaping personal computing for decades.
From 1985 to 2025, we’ve seen many different generations of Windows, and naturally, everyone has their own favourite. For some, it’s the era-defining Windows XP with its major visual improvements; for others, the beloved and now nostalgic Windows 7, the recently retired Windows 10, or even the modern, AI-driven Windows 11.
Each version introduced changes, features, and ideas that carried into the next release—part of Microsoft’s long-running effort to create the ideal operating system.
Of course, Windows has never been free from problems. It’s almost ironic how updates meant to fix issues sometimes end up causing new ones. Even so, Microsoft tends to respond quickly whenever users report system failures, showing a strong commitment to maintaining the platform.
Today, Windows continues to dominate the global desktop market, significantly ahead of competitors such as Apple’s macOS and various Linux distributions. That said, its share is spread across several versions. Although Windows 11 is the only version with full official support, many users still hesitate to upgrade and prefer sticking with the editions they are familiar with.
Windows 11 and the future of Microsoft’s operating system
As mentioned earlier, Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 11 has surpassed one billion active users, an impressive milestone—though not quite as large as Windows 10’s peak of roughly 1.3 billion users back in 2020.
Even so, it’s likely only a matter of time before more individuals and businesses make the jump to Windows 11, which is now the company’s fully supported, modern, and more visually refined operating system.
The future of Windows is deeply tied to artificial intelligence. Microsoft is pushing the platform toward what it calls an agent operating system, integrating increasingly advanced AI capabilities designed to simplify everyday tasks and streamline the user experience. The introduction of AI agents marks a significant shift in how Windows is evolving.
Windows 11 is now closely intertwined with Copilot, Microsoft’s intelligent assistant, which has also found its way into the company’s broader ecosystem of apps and services. It’s clear what direction Microsoft wants the OS to take—although not every user is enthusiastic about this AI-heavy focus.
Regardless of differing opinions, Windows 11 continues to expand its market share as Microsoft refines performance, improves stability, and introduces new features. With time, it’s entirely possible that Windows 11 will surpass Windows 10’s adoption. What remains clear is that Microsoft is firmly committed to shaping what it hopes will become the definitive version of Windows.
