1 Billion PCs still stuck on Windows 10 defying upgrade, Dell confirms

• Dell data shows roughly one billion computers are still running Windows 10. Half are hardware-incompatible with Windows 11, while the other half have simply refused to upgrade.

Windows 10 remains installed on roughly 1 billion devices, according to new data from Dell, creating a long-term problem for Microsoft that extends far beyond a slow upgrade cycle.

During Dell’s latest earnings call (via The Motley Fool), COO Jeffrey Clarke disclosed that around 500 million PCs capable of running Windows 11 have not been upgraded. He also revealed that another 500 million machines lack the hardware required to move to the newer operating system. This means nearly a billion computers continue to rely on Windows 10, which is now officially out of support for consumers.

Dell framed the numbers as a major sales opportunity, especially as the company pushes new AI-powered devices. But these figures highlight something bigger. They expose how slow Windows 11 adoption has been, how successful Windows 10 remains ten years after release, and how restrictive hardware requirements are set to generate substantial electronic waste when millions of perfectly functional PCs become obsolete.

Third-party data adds more perspective. According to StatCounter, Windows 10 still holds a 42.7 percent market share as of November 2025, signaling that its user base remains large despite the operating system reaching retirement. Dell’s disclosure is the first time we have heard numbers from a major OEM, giving us a clearer picture of the real scale of the issue.

There is another challenge that Dell did not address. Consumers are buying far fewer PCs than in previous upgrade cycles. Component prices such as memory continue to increase, and many users simply do not feel compelled to replace hardware that still performs well. This puts pressure on Microsoft’s strategy of pushing rapid hardware adoption to support its AI ambitions.

Windows 11 itself is also a sticking point. Many users openly dislike the operating system, citing buggy updates, design inconsistency, and Microsoft’s aggressive integration of AI throughout the interface. This friction adds to the hesitation, especially for those who were perfectly comfortable with Windows 10.

For all these reasons, it is hard to imagine that Microsoft will let Windows 10 fade away after only one year of extended support. The company may eventually find itself forced to extend the operating system’s life even further, not because it wants to, but because the market is telling the software giant it is not ready to let go.

If you still have a computer running Windows 10 and it’s not compatible with Windows 11, you still have a few options. For example, you can enroll your device in the Extended Security Update (ESU) program, or you can upgrade your unsupported computer, bypassing the requirements, and you can also consider an alternative operating system, such as Zorin OS, Linux Mint, or ChromeOS Flex.