Linux's Desktop Market Share Climbs

One significant driver is increasing dissatisfaction with Microsoft's Windows operating system.

Linux has achieved a new high in desktop market share, according to the latest data from Statcounter.

The open-source operating system accounted for 4.45 percent of the global desktop operating system market as of July 2024, compared to 3.12 percent market share in July 2023.

This significant rise marks a rapid acceleration in the adoption of Linux, suggesting that the 5 percent mark may be within reach for the year.

Historical data reveals an exponential growth pattern for Linux on the desktop. It took eight years to go from 1 percent to 2 percent market share, but the pace has significantly quickened in recent years.

The transition from 2 percent to 3 percent took only 2.2 years, and from 3 percent to 4 percent, took just 0.7 years. This trend suggests that Linux could surpass the 5 percent mark in 2024.

It is worth noting that the actual number of Linux users might be even higher than the reported statistics. Due to privacy concerns, many Linux users employ user agent switchers and anti-tracking tools, which can make it difficult to accurately ascertain their usage.

Additionally, a significant portion of the "Unknown" category in desktop operating system market share could be attributed to Linux systems operating discreetly.

Moreover, when considering ChromeOS, which is derived from the Linux-based ChromiumOS, the total Linux market share could already exceed 5 percent. Including ChromeOS's 1.41 percent market share brings the combined total to 5.86 percent.

Statcounter derives its desktop operating system usage statistics from tracking code embedded in more than 1.5 million websites worldwide, which collectively generate billions of page views each month.

Reasons For Linux's Growth

The rise of Linux can be attributed to several factors. One significant driver is increasing dissatisfaction with Microsoft's Windows operating system. Recent moves by Microsoft, such as urging users to train its AI for free and placing ads, have alienated many users who are seeking more privacy-focused alternatives.

Additionally, the upcoming end-of-life for Windows 10 in October 2025 is prompting users to explore other options, including Linux.

Another key factor contributing to Linux's growth is the growing popularity of gaming on Linux. The launch of the Steam Deck, a handheld gaming device that runs on a Linux-based operating system, has introduced a new demographic of gamers to the platform. Many gamers find Linux to be a compelling choice due to its performance, customization options, and lower costs - Linux can be downloaded for free.

Beyond gaming, Linux has also gained traction among users who value privacy, performance, and the ability to run on older hardware.

The open-source OS has long been dominant on servers, and it underpins the most popular mobile operating system, Android.

But despite Linux's impressive growth on the desktop, Windows remains the dominant operating system by far on this form factor, with a 72.08 percent market share.

Apple's macOS holds a steady 14.92 percent, "Unknown" is at third spot with 7.14 percent, while ChromeOS trails at 1.41 percent.

Although Linux may not pose an immediate threat to Windows or macOS, its steady growth demonstrates that there is a significant demand for alternatives among desktop users.

Earlier this year, Schleswig-Holstein, one of Germany's 16 states, announced plans to transition its vast governmental infrastructure comprising approximately 30,000 systems from Microsoft Windows to Linux.

The rise of Linux is also notable in India, where it has become the second-biggest desktop OS with 16.21 percent market share, according to Statcounter's data.

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Computing.