During the latest quarterly earnings call, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed that Windows currently has 1.6 billion monthly active users, while Bing’s monthly active users have exceeded the 1 billion mark for the first time. He also emphasized that Microsoft is returning its strategic focus to Windows, hoping to improve the overall participation of core products such as Edge browser and Bing search by improving the basic system experience.
According to Microsoft's introduction on the conference call, there are currently about 1.6 billion active devices running Windows systems every month, but Microsoft has not split this data by version, so it is not yet possible to determine whether the growth comes from the promotion of Windows 11 or the migration effect brought about by the end of the Windows 10 life cycle. Microsoft also does not disclose Windows market share data on an annual basis. The outside world usually has to rely on third-party statistical agencies, and such data is not always completely accurate. As early as 2018, Microsoft said that there were about 1.5 billion PCs running Windows. Since then, officials have generally used "billions of devices running Windows" to summarize the scale of the ecosystem in external publicity. Now this number has reached 1.6 billion, and the overall pace is roughly consistent with the caliber previously given by Microsoft.
Nadella said at the meeting that Microsoft will "return to Windows fundamentals" and strive to "win back" Windows users, especially those who have questioned the performance and experience of Windows 11. In terms of specific measures, Microsoft will prioritize improving the basic capabilities of the system, consolidating the core user base, and ensuring that the operating system can run smoothly even on low-memory PCs. He mentioned that Windows has recently introduced more changes to update control, as well as performance optimizations that are being pushed to test users. Users can extend the suspension of system updates to up to 35 days through a more flexible "pause update" calendar. Nadella also said that the value of Windows will continue to extend to "unlimited intelligence on the edge," which means that Microsoft hopes to establish a closer connection between local devices and cloud intelligence.
It is worth noting that this time Microsoft is rarely "celebrating Windows" at the consumer level narrative level, and not just treating it as a supporting platform behind Azure and enterprise business. Judging from Nadella's statement, Microsoft's consumer product strategy is undergoing a subtle shift. This attitude of re-embracing Windows users is seen as a benefit to multiple product lines such as Windows, Edge, Xbox and Bing.
In terms of search business, Bing's performance also became one of the highlights of the conference call. For a long time, Bing has been saddled with the stereotype that "almost no one uses it." But this time, data provided by Microsoft shows that Bing's monthly active users have reached 1 billion for the first time, indicating that the number of users who actually rely on Bing in daily search scenarios is far greater than outsiders imagine. Nadella revealed that the Edge browser has achieved market share growth for 20 consecutive quarters, while Bing’s number of active users has increased simultaneously in the process. Bing is considered to have found a relatively balanced product form between AI capabilities and traditional web search experience, while improving user stickiness through mechanisms such as interface design, interactive experience, and Microsoft Rewards.
In addition to Windows and Bing, Microsoft also updated the size data of its other key products during the conference call. The total number of LinkedIn members has climbed to 1.3 billion, and officials said the "depth" of communication and interaction within the platform has also continued to increase, further consolidating its position in the B-side sales and advertising field. Nadella said that LinkedIn has become one of the core channels for B2B sales and advertising for companies large and small. In the consumer subscription business, the number of Microsoft 365 subscriptions for individuals and families is now close to 95 million. After Microsoft set Agent Mode (intelligent agent mode) as the default option, early feedback shows that user satisfaction is on the rise.
Taken together, the signal Microsoft released in this earnings conference call is very clear: on the one hand, it will continue to strengthen the "foundation" of the Windows operating system, and make "subtractions" and "polishes" in terms of performance, update control, and low-configuration device experience; on the other hand, it will make "additions" in service layer products such as Edge, Bing, LinkedIn, and Microsoft 365, and expand new growth space through AI and cloud services. The 1.6 billion Windows monthly active users and 1 billion Bing monthly active users have become key digital footnotes in Microsoft’s narrative of “returning to Windows, betting on AI and cloud collaboration.”