

In fact the company says there are 1.4 billion installations of all versions of Windows, but it's hard to know the portion for each version. More than a billion active devices run Windows 10, as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella noted at a Build conference keynote speech. Much has been made of the operating system's requirements, but Microsoft has made more hardware configurations eligible for upgrades to Windows 11 and continues to improve Android app functionality. In a launch-time shocker, the ability to run Android apps is available for Windows 11 users. The newer version of Windows features a redesigned Taskbar, Start menu, and notification center along with Teams integration, rounded window corners, and a Widgets feature. Major interface changes arrived in Windows 11, released on October 5, 2021. Windows 10 becomes the most popular desktop OS For example, Windows 10 got the updated Phone Link app, and the new Media Player app has appeared in a preview build. Bugs are still being squashed, and some first-party apps and features continue to receive updates alongside their Windows 11 counterparts.

Rather, this update is for security, performance, and reliability, similar to what were formerly called service updates. Microsoft has noted that major updates would come once per year, and 22H2 is not one of those. The latest version of Windows 10 is 22H2 (for 2022, second half). Windows 10 has reached a point of polish and functionality to earn it a PCMag Editors' Choice award, and it's still preferable to Windows 11 for its more helpful Start menu, Taskbar, and touch gestures. Important but more mundane features include an improved screenshot tool, better window arrangement, and unified notifications. The OS offers unique capabilities like touch input, face login, deep security, and mixed-reality tools.

Despite Microsoft's focus on the shiny new Windows 11, the company continues to support Windows 10 with service updates through at least 2025. Windows 10 is still the world's most popular operating system for desktop computers, with more than a billion active PCs running it. Few recent major updates with Windows 11 taking over.Separate Settings app and legacy control panels.

