• 2 min read
One in six PCs still run Windows 10
Lansweeper says 16.9% of Windows client devices still use Windows 10, with roughly three times as many active CVEs as Windows 11 systems.
Image: TechRadar
Windows 10 still runs on 16.9% of Windows client devices — roughly one in six PCs — even as Windows 11 has climbed to 78.8% of installs, according to new data from Lansweeper.
The issue is not just lingering adoption. Lansweeper says the average Windows 10 device carries about 3x as many active CVEs as a Windows 11 machine: 1,903 versus 652. It adds that around two-thirds of active vulnerabilities on Windows 10 are rated high or critical, and the share of flaws known to be exploitable is about 1.7x higher than on Windows 11.
The company says migration is now slowing after Windows 10's share fell from about 50% in mid-2025, suggesting the remaining installed base may be the hardest to move. Lansweeper’s report argues these devices are often more difficult, expensive, or risky to upgrade.
Recommended reading
TfL hackers get 5.5 years as Scattered Spider takes a hit
That said, hardware limits do not appear to be the main blocker. Only 2.8% of the Windows 10 devices analyzed failed Windows 11 hardware requirements.
Some sectors are hanging on longer than others. Healthcare and pharmaceuticals (23%), consumer and retails (23%), and manufacturing (18%) are among the industries most likely to still be using Windows 10. SMBs (21.4%) are also more likely than enterprises (16.6%) to be running the outgoing OS.
Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program offers temporary cover, protecting consumers until October 2027 and commercial customers until October 2028. But Lansweeper says the broader problem extends beyond Windows 10: 18.7% of the Windows environment it monitors is still running end-of-life systems such as Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows XP.
Security Editor
Sophia unpacks the invisible wars happening on our networks. Covering cybersecurity, privacy legislation, and cryptography, she exposes how our data is weaponized and defended. Before joining for(geeks), she spent years as a penetration tester. She's the reason the rest of the team uses physical security keys.
via TechRadar
