Around 500 million PCs are holding off upgrading to Windows 11, says Dell | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Around 500 million PCs are holding off upgrading to Windows 11, says DellComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMicrosoftCloseMicrosoftPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MicrosoftAround 500 million PCs are holding off upgrading to Windows 11, says DellThe Windows 11 transition is a lot slower than the upgrade to Windows 10.The Windows 11 transition is a lot slower than the upgrade to Windows 10.by Tom WarrenCloseTom WarrenSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Tom WarrenNov 27, 2025, 2:15 PM UTCLinkShareIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.Image: Cath Virginia / The VergeTom WarrenCloseTom WarrenPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Tom Warren is a senior editor and author of Notepad, who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years.Windows users are transitioning to Windows 11 at a slower rate than the upgrade to Windows 10. Microsoft’s 10-year-old operating system, which just hit the end of support phase, is still proving popular among consumers and businesses. Dell revealed this week that around 500 million machines are capable of upgrading to Windows 11, but are sticking with Windows 10 instead.“We have about 500 million of them capable of running Windows 11 that haven’t been upgraded,” said Dell COO Jeffrey Clarke on a Q3 earnings call earlier this week, referring to the overall PC market, not just Dell’s slice of machines. “And we have another 500 million that are four years old that can’t run Windows 11.” He sees this as an opportunity to guide customers towards the latest Windows 11 machines and AI PCs, but warns that the PC market is going to be relatively flat next year.RelatedAs Microsoft bids farewell to Windows 10, millions of users won’tIt’s the first time we’ve heard that as many as 500 million machines are holding off upgrading to Windows 11, and that a similar amount simply can’t. Microsoft tightened its hardware requirements for Windows 11, leaving behind millions of PCs that were sold over the past decade.I expected millions of consumers to stick with Windows 10 if they couldn’t upgrade due to the hardware requirements, but Microsoft’s decade-old OS is clearly a lot stickier among consumer and commercial PCs than I thought.Dell’s Windows 11 upgrade numbers come just a week after Windows chief Pavan Davuluri said that “nearly a billion people rely on Windows 11.” It’s not clear what rely means here, as Microsoft has typically provided monthly device numbers in the past.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Tom WarrenCloseTom WarrenSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Tom WarrenMicrosoftCloseMicrosoftPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MicrosoftNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechWindowsCloseWindowsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All WindowsMost PopularMost PopularYou can play classic Nintendo games on these custom SNES-inspired Nike sneakersWyze’s new security camera watches your yard from inside your homeI’m officially done with YouTube KidsMicrosoft’s latest 13-inch Surface Laptop is down to $549.99, a new record low priceYou’re buying a Frame TV? 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Microsoft’s Windows 11 transition is proving significantly slower than the upgrade from Windows 10, with a substantial number of PCs remaining un-upgraded. According to Dell, approximately 500 million machines currently capable of running Windows 11 have not yet been upgraded, representing a considerable obstacle to Microsoft’s ambitions for the operating system’s widespread adoption. Furthermore, an additional 500 million older PCs, dating back four years, are entirely incompatible with Windows 11’s hardware requirements. This situation underscores the entrenched nature of Windows 10’s user base, particularly within consumer and commercial sectors. The report highlights a shift in expectations; initially, estimates of user resistance to the upgrade were lower. The strict hardware requirements imposed by Microsoft for Windows 11 have effectively left a large segment of the PC market behind, demonstrating a degree of consumer and business reluctance to meet the new specifications. This resistance is amplified by the continued functionality and familiarity of the established Windows 10 operating system. Dell’s figures, revealed during a Q3 earnings call, coincide with other observations about a remarkably high number of users continuing to rely on Windows 10. The sheer scale of the un-upgraded machines – a total of 1 billion – emphasizes the persistent challenge Microsoft faces in persuading users to migrate to its latest platform. The situation isn’t solely driven by technical barriers; it reflects a broader trend of users’ preference for established operating systems and a cautious approach to adopting new technologies, particularly when existing systems remain functional. This presents a significant hurdle for Microsoft as it seeks to establish Windows 11 as the dominant operating system for the PC market. The challenge is further complicated by the lack of readily available, compatible hardware, prompting a need for Microsoft to address this issue alongside promoting the upgrade.