Windows_7Windows 7 is making a mid-life comeback.

Five years after its release, the Microsoft operating system surpassed 50 percent market share among desktop computers for the first time in May — making it the most-used Windows version by a margin of 2-to-1, according to the latest statistics from NetApplications.

The uptick, from 48.8 percent in March, was driven in part by the end of support for Windows XP in early April, as some users leaving that Windows opted to avoid the unfamiliar aspects of Windows 8’s user interface.

Combined usage of Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 also climbed — reaching 12.7 percent, from 11.3 percent, over the same time period. The new Microsoft operating system comes pre-installed on most new desktop computers.

The numbers show Windows XP’s desktop market share still hovering above 25 percent worldwide for the month of May. That’s down slightly more than 2 percentage points since March, as shown in the chart below from Statista.

Infographic: End Of Support Changes Little About Windows XP's Popularity | Statista

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