Operating systems market share of desktop PCs 2013-2023, by month

Microsoft Windows was the dominant desktop operating system (OS) worldwide as of January 2023, with a share of just over 74 percent. Apple’s Mac operating system has gained market share over the years, albeit remaining a minor player in the desktop OS market. Linux, the third most popular desktop OS, has a small but stable share of the market.

Different versions of Microsoft Windows

From its initial release in 1985, Microsoft Windows has gone through endless mutations. Notable versions include Windows 95, Windows XP, and Windows 7. Windows 10 is the newest addition to the family, being able to run on PCs, tablets and embedded devices. In 2022, approximately 65 million PCs were shipped with Windows operating systems installed.

Apple’s Mac operating system

Having an equally long history, Apple’s Mac operating system (macOS, previously Mac OS X and OS X) also went through different releases. The most recent version, macOS Ventura, is the nineteenth release of macOS. A older version of macOS, Catalina, is currently the most popular macOS, now run on 81.7 percent of the Apple computers as of December 2021. macOS runs on Apple’s Mac computers, including the MacBook, which is Apple’s laptop PC product including the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, and the iMac – Apple’s desktop computer.