Overview
- Windows 1.0 shipped on November 20, 1985, bringing a graphical interface to MS‑DOS PCs and simpler support for peripherals like printers.
- Windows retains a commanding desktop presence, with roughly 70% global share cited in July 2025 and StatCounter reporting about two thirds of desktops in October running a Windows version.
- Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 10 in October 2025, with limited security updates continuing in Europe through 2026, and it recommends migration to Windows 11.
- The company is deepening AI across its products, backed by large stakes in OpenAI and integrations such as Copilot in Windows, Office and cloud services.
- Core utilities introduced early on—Calculator, Notepad/Write, Paint and the Control Panel—persist in modern form, with features like tabs, spellcheck and Copilot in Notepad and expanded editing tools in Paint.