Windows 10 End-of-Life Fuels European PC Upgrade Boom Ahead of October Deadline

Less than four months remain until the end of support for Windows 10, prompting companies across Europe to actively replace their aging, yet still serviceable desktop computers in anticipation of transitioning to Microsoft’s next-generation operating system—one that seems to inspire more indifference than enthusiasm.

According to recent data from the analytics firm Context, corporate desktop PC shipments across European nations rose by 22 percent in April and May compared to the same period last year. Revenue from these sales also saw a 17 percent increase. Analysts attribute the surge in demand to the looming end of Windows 10 support, coupled with the fact that many organizations had long deferred hardware upgrades.

As Context analyst Marie-Christine Pygott noted, desktop PCs have emerged as the leading sales category over the past six months. Their share of total computer-related revenue approached 17 percent at the start of Q2—the highest in two years. This growth, she explained, reflects both an overdue need for modernization and the customary spike in demand that precedes the end of an operating system’s lifecycle.

Germany witnessed the most significant sales growth, with demand at times surpassing supply. The United Kingdom experienced an uptick in both corporate and consumer segments, while in Poland, small businesses and the retail sector were particularly proactive in upgrading their hardware.

StatCounter data from May shows that Windows 10 remained the most widely used desktop operating system, commanding nearly 54 percent of the market, whereas Windows 11 edged slightly above 43 percent. A large segment of users continues to delay the switch to the newer system—held back not only by economic uncertainty but also by hardware limitations, as older machines often lack essential technologies required for Windows 11, such as TPM modules and modern CPUs.

Nevertheless, an increasing number of enterprises are beginning to adopt the new software, mindful that Microsoft will soon cease issuing security updates for Windows 10. Dell CEO Michael Dell acknowledged last year that the upgrade wave had stalled, but in Dell’s most recent earnings report for Q1 of fiscal year 2026, COO Jeff Clarke pointed to a noticeable upswing, describing the current situation as a belated yet full-fledged upgrade cycle.

HP’s CEO Enrique Lores likewise emphasized the necessity of replacing a vast number of computers acquired during the early years of the pandemic. However, the company has revised downward its PC sales forecast for the second half of fiscal 2025, noting that Windows 11 has failed to generate the level of excitement initially anticipated.