Windows 7 is suddenly back in 2025
Windows 7, the operating system Microsoft retired years ago, is unexpectedly showing signs of life. According to StatCounter, Windows 7 now accounts for 9.6% of all Windows PCs, which is a huge jump from just 3.5% last month. For most of the past five years, Windows 7 was at around 2% market share as people upgraded to Windows 10. But with Windows 10 support ending in just weeks, it seems some users are choosing to go back to what many still consider Microsoft’s “best Windows.”
StatCounter’s numbers aren’t perfect, so the spike could be a data quirk. Still, it highlights how many people are unhappy with Windows 11. Microsoft’s latest OS has stalled at about 48% usage, while Windows 10 has dropped to 40%.
What’s surprising is that Windows 11 hasn’t gained new users despite Windows 10’s looming end-of-life. High system requirements, forced AI features, and frequent unwanted changes appear to be turning people away. But using Windows 7 in 2025 comes with serious risks. The system hasn’t received security updates since 2023, meaning anyone still running it is exposed to modern threats. Driver and app support are also fading fast, making daily use increasingly impractical.
It appears that Windows’ reputation has taken a hit. Many see Microsoft focusing too much on AI and not enough on fixing problems or adding features people actually want. The sudden reappearance of Windows 7 may be a sign of resistance to Microsoft’s current direction and could be another reminder that users are already looking ahead to a potential “Windows 12.”
