Microsoft has announced the end of support for Windows 11 version 21H2 for Home and Pro editions. The October 2023 security update marks the final one, and the version will no longer receive monthly security and preview updates. Microsoft will now recommend users to upgrade to Windows 11 version 22H2. However, Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise, and Enterprise multi-session editions will still receive security updates until October 8, 2024.
Low Adoption of Windows 11:
Despite being available for two years, Windows 11 has a significantly lower adoption rate compared to its predecessor, Windows 10. Data from StatCounter shows that Windows 11 holds a 23.6% market share, only slightly higher than its April 2023 market share of 23.1%. In contrast, Windows 10 maintains a dominant 71.6% share of the desktop market. Windows 10 had a 36.6% market share in its first two years, indicating a more successful initial adoption.
Factors Contributing to Low Adoption:
Stringent System Requirements: Windows 11 introduced new requirements, particularly TPM (security) and discounted older processors, which necessitated costly upgrades for some users.
Lack of Significant Differences: The perceived lack of substantial differences between Windows 10 and 11 discouraged users from making the switch.
Issues with Advertisements and Privacy: Users raised concerns about advertisements within the OS and associated privacy issues.
Bug Reports and Performance Problems: Ongoing bug reports and persistent problems, such as slow SSD performance, contributed to user reluctance.
Lessons for Future Releases:
Microsoft should take this as a lesson for future releases, particularly when launching Windows 12. Convincing users to transition to a new OS requires providing compelling reasons for the switch, beyond cosmetic changes.
Conclusion:
The end of support for Windows 11 version 21H2 underscores the importance of timely updates. The challenges faced by Windows 11 in terms of adoption highlight the need for user-centric improvements and clear benefits in future OS releases. Microsoft's approach to Windows 12 will likely be shaped by the lessons learned from Windows 11.
