- 121 million PCs Windows 10 to $ 61 / device could raise $ 7.3 billion
- Nexthink predicts an additional decrease of 33% of Windows 10 aircraft before October
- Keeping Windows 10 alive could increase vulnerabilities and add to the pressure of IT teams
The experienced company of digital employees Nexthink says that not going to Windows 11 could cost companies of the billions of dollars just to maintain inheritance systems alive.
Based on current market share and business use, Nexthink noted that maintaining the personalized Windows 10 instances could reach more than $ 7.3 billion – Windows 10 represented 46% of all Windows installations in August 2025, against 49% for Windows 11 (via Statcounter).
According to research, around 121 million Windows 10 PCs could still be used – with personalized care costing $ 61 per device during the first year, this estimate of $ 7.3 billion only covers the first 12 months.
Windows 10 is about to become expensive
Microsoft may not be on the right track to get all these billions, however. With a 33% drop in Windows 10 aircraft already observed between May and August 2025, Nexthink expected another decrease of 33% before October.
However, companies have good reasons not to be enthusiastic about upgrade – Windows 11 aircraft are currently experiencing a higher level of instability, including more frequent systems planting (2x compared to Windows 10) and harder resets.
“Each migration is accompanied by teeth problems, and what we see with Windows 11 is no different,” said Tim Flower de Dex. Flower noted that Windows 11 may not be the problem, but rather “underlying equipment, pilots or the way systems are deployed”.
For a cleaner upgrade, companies are invited to check the material preparation before installing Windows 11. They must also check the compatibility of applications, educate workers on new features and consider the performance of the device.
However, these factors can prevail by far the challenges posed while keeping Windows 10 in progress, which could increase cyber-risk and add to the already limited IT resources by asking IT teams to manage obsolete systems.
“The successful organizations will be those that approach strategically migration,” concluded Flower.
