Android Reigns Supreme: Most Widely Used Operating System on the Net

In a noteworthy milestone reported by Statcounter, Google’s Android is now the most widely used operating system for internet access globally. It was in November 2016 when we first took note of an intriguing trend — a majority (51.3%) of all web visits were via mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, outpacing those made from computers and laptops (48.7%).

This shift raised an interesting question: which operating system was underpinning this surge in mobile internet access? At that time, despite the mobile surge, Microsoft’s Windows still managed to preserve its lead. However, new findings suggest that Android has effectively overtaken Windows, representing a significant victory for Google’s mobile operating system.

March 2017 was the definitive turning point. At the close of this month, Android users accounted for 37.93 percent of web users compared to Windows’ slightly shy figure of 37.91 percent. While this margin may appear marginal, it represents a historic ascendancy for Android in the ever-evolving world of internet usage.

Statcounter’s findings are substantiated by an impressive pool of data, compiled from an analysis of 2.5 million websites generating no less than 15 billion monthly page views. However, it isn’t a total loss for Microsoft. Windows still stands strong and unchallenged in the PC and laptop market, enjoying a substantial 84 percent usage share as of March 2017.

It’s exciting times indeed as this shift marks a pivotal stage in the digital revolution and underscores the growing influence of mobile technology on our lives. With this, we look forward to seeing how the competitive landscape of operating systems will continue to evolve.

This article was updated in 2025 to reflect modern realities.