Windows has come a long way since the launch of the popular Windows 7. The 12-year-old operating system was Microsoft’s ace in the hole. With the launch of Windows 10 after a few years, many users decided to stay on Windows 7 and haven’t upgraded since.
Microsoft ended support for Windows 7 in January 2020. Despite that, a whopping 22% of PC users are still using the End-of-Life Windows 7. What could be the reason? Let us find out.
The Reasons Behind Windows 7 Users Not Upgrading
Users have numerous reasons not to make a switch, and the following are some of them.
Using Older Hardware
Many users still own outdated hardware that cannot run the latest Windows or isn’t fully compatible. You might have seen many people still using older PCs and Laptops at certain places.
Fear of Losing Data
People are quite skeptical about their data, as they should. But, many out there believe their data would be lost if a newer OS is installed. The Windows 10 File Deletion massacre worsened the fear in the common people. This is a significant reason behind people choosing to stay on Windows 7.
Stubbornness
A large population adheres to the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude. People believe Windows 7 serves their purpose of using a PC, so there isn’t room for an upgrade.
Lack of Technical Knowledge
A majority of the population in developing nations isn’t aware of the technical know-how of upgrading. They use their PCs for work or browsing and do not know if or how they can upgrade. There’s a lot of work sectors that do not involve technical knowledge.
Reasons Behind Why Windows 7 Users Would Want to Upgrade
According to a survey by Windows Report, 65% of Windows 7 users are willing to make a switch. With Windows steadily upgrading over the years, here are a few reasons why Windows 7 Users would be willing to make a switch.
Windows 7 is Outdated, and EOL
It has been more than 11 years since Windows 7 first came out. The operating system has aged well and reached End-of-Line in January 2020. This means that Microsoft has stopped providing security updates to Windows 7 users; if there are any bugs or security vulnerabilities, Microsoft will provide no support for those. Hence, due to Privacy and Security reasons, users would consider switching.
Windows 11 is Coming and Might Offer Significant Changes
The complete duration of Windows 10, i.e., from its launch to the May 2021 update, was a rocky path. Each Windows 10 update would offer fixes and changes but also have a downside. With the release of Windows 11, people have high expectations and might finally switch.
Users Buying New PCs
As discussed above, people using older machines are due for an upgrade. Since they’re upgrading, they would want to buy a PC that comes with the latest software; in this case, Windows 11.
Are you still using Windows 7? Would you be willing to switch if Windows 11 is compatible with your PC? Let us know in the comments below.
Meanwhile, check out our existing Windows 11 coverage and Windows 11 guides.
