"Windows" redirects here. For the part of a building, see Window . For other uses, see Windows (disambiguation)

Microsoft Windows is 8️⃣ a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain 8️⃣ sector of the computing industry. For instance, Windows NT for consumer and corporate desktops, Windows Server for servers, and Windows 8️⃣ IoT for embedded systems. Defunct Windows families include Windows 9x, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, and Windows Embedded Compact.

The first version 8️⃣ of Windows was released on November 20, 1985, as a graphical operating system shell for MS-DOS in response to the 8️⃣ growing interest in graphical user interfaces (GUIs).[12]

Windows is the most popular desktop operating system in the world, with a 70% 8️⃣ market share as of March 2024 , according to StatCounter.[13] However, Windows is not the most used operating system when 8️⃣ including both mobile and desktop OSes, due to Android's massive growth.[14]

As of December 2024 , the most recent version of 8️⃣ Windows is Windows 11 for consumer PCs and tablets, Windows 11 Enterprise for corporations, and Windows Server 2024 for servers.