Most Popular Operating Systems: Data from 1981 to 2025

In this video I show the most used Operating Systems on consumer personal computers and mobile devices from 1981 to 2025, reflecting the shift from PCs to mobile platforms.

Windows versions are represented by major updates, while Macintosh operating systems are grouped under Classic Mac OS, OS X, and macOS without subversion names.

Regarding Linux, technically, many operating systems in my chart are based on the Linux kernel, but I have listed them under their original names, as they deserve recognition as standalone brands in the OS landscape. The Linux category aggregates data from widely known distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora etc.

For the first 20 years, estimates are based on PC sales by specific manufacturers, combined with survey data on how long users kept their devices before upgrading. More recent years primarily use data from internet providers and web traffic reports. That's why I have included only operating systems on consumer PCs and mobile phones, as personal gadgets, home devices, and web servers have a very small footprint in web traffic data to estimate their popularity.