Windows 11 has widened its lead among Steam users, underscoring a steady shift in the PC gaming landscape. According to Steam’s Hardware Survey for June 2026, the operating system reached 70.44% of the platform’s user share.
That milestone matters because Steam often reflects how PC gamers actually use their machines. When a single operating system keeps gaining ground there, it usually signals a combination of compatibility, convenience, and software support that users are increasingly willing to follow.
Windows 10 continues to fade
The clearest sign of that shift is the continued decline of Windows 10, which lost 0.43 points in the same survey. Windows 11, by contrast, gained 0.68 points, reinforcing the idea that the transition is still underway rather than slowing down.
For Microsoft, the pattern is a reminder that Windows 11 remains the main platform for many gamers, even as Windows still draws plenty of criticism online. The more important question now is not whether Windows 11 will stay ahead, but how quickly Windows 10 will keep giving up its remaining share.
Linux and macOS remain distant challengers
The broader desktop picture on Steam still leaves Windows firmly in control. Linux slipped 0.30 points to 3.69%, while macOS edged up 0.05 points to 2.21%.
Those numbers show that non-Windows platforms are still moving, but only gradually. Linux remains the more notable of the two in trend terms, since its share was 2.57% a year ago, meaning the longer-term trajectory still points upward despite the monthly dip.
| Operating System | June 2026 Share | Monthly Change |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 | 70.44% | +0.68 |
| Windows 10 | Not stated | -0.43 |
| Linux | 3.69% | -0.30 |
| macOS | 2.21% | +0.05 |
There is also a practical reason the migration feels increasingly relevant. With Windows 10 approaching the end of its support life, some users may be moving not just by preference but by necessity, aiming to stay aligned with newer support timelines.
That context helps explain why Windows 11’s progress on Steam has been consistent rather than explosive. The change in June 2026 is measured, but it is still enough to show a platform that is becoming harder for PC gamers to ignore.
