
Microsoft Windows
United States"Your world, your way."
About
Windows is a proprietary operating system from Microsoft, designed to power a wide range of computing devices. The Windows family includes editions for personal computers, servers (Windows Server), and embedded systems (Windows IoT). Within the PC lineup, versions like Home, Professional, Education, and Enterprise cater to different users, from casual consumers to large corporations. Microsoft sells Windows directly to consumers and also licenses it to computer manufacturers, who preinstall it on their machines.
The first version, Windows 1.0, launched on November 20, 1985, as a graphical shell for MS-DOS, responding to the rising popularity of graphical user interfaces. The name comes from the windowing system used in GUIs. Windows 3.0, released in 1990, propelled Microsoft into market dominance and sparked the creation of other product lines, including Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, and Windows CE (now discontinued).
As of June 2026, Windows holds a 72% share of the desktop operating system market, making it the most popular choice for personal computers. It ranks as the second-most used operating system overall, behind Android. The latest version, Windows 11, accounts for 70% of all Windows installations.
Products & Sub-brands
Frequently Asked Questions
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Company Info
- Founded
- November 20, 1985
- Founder
- Bill Gates and Paul Allen
- CEO
- Satya Nadella
- Headquarters
- Redmond, Washington, USA
- Industry
- Software
- Parent Company
- Microsoft Corporation
- Revenue
- $72.7 billion (net income FY2023)
- Market Share (Desktop)
- 72% (as of June 2026)
- Latest Version Adoption
- 70% of Windows devices run Windows 11
- Founder(s)
- Bill Gates, Paul Allen
- Current CEO (Microsoft)
- Satya Nadella
Official Website
windows.com
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