Windows 7 rebounds as Windows 10 and 11 slip; Zorin OS 18 surges

According to StatCounter’s October report, the desktop operating systems market swerved in an unexpected direction. Windows 10 slid to a 33.57% share, and Windows 11, contrary to forecasts, also lost ground — from 49% down to 43%. The month’s biggest twist came from Windows 7, which nearly tripled its presence to 22.86%.

Experts suggest the sudden leap could be a statistical anomaly, yet they don’t rule out that it reflects what users actually feel. Despite its end-of-support status and age, Windows 7 still earns trust from those in no rush to adopt Windows 11, put off by strict hardware requirements and a polarizing interface. It reads less like nostalgia and more like a vote for predictability.

After official support for Windows 10 ended in October 2025, its position weakened. Many users are hunting for alternatives, lifting interest in other systems. Developers of Zorin OS reported a record surge in installations of Zorin OS 18, whose release coincided with Windows 10’s exit from the market. In the first two days, downloads exceeded 100,000, with 72% of installations landing on PCs that previously ran Windows.

The new Zorin OS 18 aims to keep the learning curve gentle — it offers a window management approach reminiscent of Windows 11’s Snap Layouts, improved application compatibility via WINE 10, and smart prompts to start more than 170 popular programs. The pitch is clear: switching shouldn’t be painful.

For comparison, back in August 2025 the market looked steady: Windows 11 at 50.36%, Windows 10 at 42.57%, and Windows 7 at 6.14%. Against that backdrop, today’s surge of interest in Windows 7 stands out as the most striking shift in the market’s structure in recent years.