Linux Breaks 5% Desktop Market Share in US: A Landmark Win for Open Source

New data reveals a compelling shift in the U.S. desktop operating system landscape: Linux has, for the first time, surpassed the five-percent threshold, reaching a market share of 5.03 percent—a landmark moment for the open-source software community.

According to StatCounter’s June 2025 report, Windows continues to dominate with a commanding 63.2 percent share, despite a steady decline of roughly 13 points over the past decade. Apple’s operating systems collectively hold about 24 percent, with macOS at 7.72 percent and OS X at 16.57 percent. “Unknown” systems account for 4.76 percent, while Chrome OS trails at 2.71 percent.

Linux’s rise above the five-percent mark has enabled it to overtake the share of unidentified systems in the U.S., carrying significant symbolic weight for advocates of open-source technology. It reflects a growing user interest in alternatives to mainstream platforms.

Among the key drivers of this growth is increasing dissatisfaction with the Microsoft ecosystem. The imminent end of support for Windows 10 is compelling users with older hardware to explore other options, as Windows 11’s system requirements often necessitate costly hardware upgrades. Moreover, widespread frustration with privacy concerns, intrusive updates, bloatware, and AI-driven data collection has only intensified.

The gaming industry has also contributed to Linux’s ascent. Devices like Valve’s Steam Deck, which runs on Linux, are introducing a new generation of gamers to the flexibility and configurability of the platform, enhancing its mainstream appeal.

Distributions such as Ubuntu and Linux Mint have made significant strides in user-friendliness in recent years, lowering the barrier to entry for non-technical users. A heightened awareness of digital privacy and the ability to revive aging computers have further bolstered Linux’s attractiveness. Application support has improved thanks to initiatives like Wine, and hardware compatibility continues to broaden.

Community members argue that Linux’s true market share may exceed official figures, as many users deliberately obscure their presence from analytics platforms by altering user-agent strings or blocking trackers. It is likely that a portion of the 4.76 percent classified as “Unknown” systems are, in fact, running Linux.

It’s also worth noting that Chrome OS, which holds a 2.71 percent share, is built on the Linux kernel. Together, these systems form a “Linux family” that now commands a combined 7.74 percent share of the U.S. market—underscoring the rising influence of Linux-based platforms.

Remarkably, Linux’s journey has been a slow burn. It took eight years to climb from one to two percent by April 2021. Yet in just over three years since, the platform has quadrupled its share, now standing proudly above the five-percent milestone.