1 Billion PCs Still on Windows 10 Post-Support End

Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 10 last month, but the operating system continues to power a vast number of personal computers worldwide, leaving hundreds of millions of users potentially exposed to security vulnerabilities. According to Dell Technologies, approximately one billion PCs remain on Windows 10, with half unable to upgrade to the newer Windows 11 due to hardware limitations and the other half eligible but not yet transitioned.

Dell Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Clarke highlighted these figures during the company's third-quarter earnings call this week, referring to the broader PC market. "We have about 500 million of them capable of running Windows 11 that haven't been upgraded," Clarke said. He added that another 500 million devices, many over four years old, lack the necessary specifications, such as newer processors and support for Trusted Platform Module 2.0 security features, which Microsoft requires for Windows 11 compatibility. Clarke described both groups as opportunities for users and businesses to move to updated hardware, including AI-enabled PCs, though he cautioned that overall PC sales are expected to remain flat in the coming year.