Which Microsoft operating system succeeded Windows 7?

Windows 8 succeeded Windows 7 as Microsoft’s main desktop operating system.

Windows 7 was released in 2009, and Windows 8 reached general availability on October 26, 2012. Microsoft designed the new system for both traditional PCs and the growing market for tablets and touchscreen devices. Its most visible change was the tile-based Start screen, which replaced the familiar Start menu and used the new “Metro” design language.

Windows 8 also introduced the Windows Runtime platform and supported ARM-based devices through Windows RT. These changes reflected Microsoft’s attempt to compete more directly with mobile operating systems while retaining compatibility with conventional Windows software on x86 computers.

The redesign attracted criticism from users who preferred the classic desktop interface, especially the missing Start menu. Microsoft responded with Windows 8.1, released in October 2013, which restored a Start button and added other refinements. Windows 10 followed in 2015, but it was Windows 8—not Windows 10—that directly followed Windows 7.