Skip to main content

Microsoft losing browser share as IE9 gains traction

New data from Net Applications suggests that while Microsoft’s overall share of the worldwide Web browser market continues to shrink, Windows Vista and Windows 7 users are increasingly embracing Internet Explorer 9. According to Net Applications, Internet Explorer 9 accounted for some 7.46 percent of all Internet Explorer users during the month of April—and for the last day of April that share measured almost 10 percent. The figure is more than double Internet Explorer 9’s usage during March, which measured some 3.6 percent.

Net Applications browser share (April 2011)
Image used with permission by copyright holder

However, at the same time, Microsoft’s overall share of the browser market continues to slip, dropping from 55.9 percent in March to 55.1 percent in April across all versions of Internet Explorer. Overall, Google Chrome and Apple’s Safari browser outpaced the overall growth in the Web, with Chrome stepping up from an 11.6 percent share in March to 11.9 percent in April, and Apple’ Safari growing from 6.6 percent to 7.2 percent in the same time period. Mozilla Firefox dropped a bit from 21.8 percent to 21.6 percent—despite the introduction of Firefox 4—but continues to have a commanding lead on the number-two position behind Internet Explorer. Overall, Firefox accounted for 5.4 percent of the Web browser market.

Collectively across all versions, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer continues to dominate the browser market, and while over 33 percent of Internet users in April were using IE8, nearly 11 percent worldwide were still using Internet Explorer 6, a decade-old version of the browser notorious for poor standards support and security loopholes. Although Microsoft is outright pleading with users to upgrade to a more-modern browser, Internet Explorer 6 remains a significant impediment to new Web standards and developing modern Web services—even though an increasing number of high-profile sites and services are no longer supporting IE6. Microsoft itself isn’t help matters in some ways: Internet Explorer 9 does not support Windows XP.

Editors' Recommendations

Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
The best MacBook to buy in 2024
Apple MacBook Pro 16 downward view showing keyboard and speaker.

Now that Apple has started outfitting its laptops with its M3 generation of chips, it's time to take another look at which is the best MacBook to buy in 2024. That’s not always easy, though, as buying the newest MacBook isn’t always the right decision. Apple has several tiers of performance, as well as various sizes, which can further complicate the matter.

What’s more, you can also still get M1 and M2 MacBooks, some from Apple’s own website and some from third-party retailers. But are they still worth your money? Our guide should help you decide.

Read more
9 best laptops of 2024: tested and reviewed
The MacBook Air on a white table.

To earn the crown as the best laptop in 2024, a device needs to have it all: gorgeous design, killer performance, a productive keyboard, long-lasting battery life, and much more.

Each of the laptops below has been vetted thoroughly by Digital Trends. Whether it's an affordable Chromebook or a top-of-the-line gaming laptop, they've all been subjected to real-world testing, as well as benchmark and battery tests, to collect enough data to objectively pit them against each other.

Read more
All the ways Intel Macs are still better than Apple Silicon Macs
cheap macbook deals

MacBooks are pretty amazing these days. Thanks to the efficiency of Apple Silicon, you get all-day battery life, as well as the ability to edit videos when unplugged from power. The new MacBook Air with the M3 chip is even good enough for gaming.

All of that is in contrast to the Intel Macs of the past.

Read more