The operating system running most of the internet’s servers was created the same year humans first walked on the Moon.
How to Play: Guess if the OS on the right was released EARLIER or LATER than the one on the left.
Name A
Name B
Top 10 Oldest Operating Systems Still Used
Operating systems span 60+ years of computing history. Many of the foundational designs from the 1960s-70s still underpin modern systems.
| # | Name | Release Year | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | macOS Sequoia | 2,024 | year |
| 2 | iOS 18 | 2,024 | year |
| 3 | Android 15 | 2,024 | year |
| 4 | Windows 11 | 2,021 | year |
| 5 | Windows 10 | 2,015 | year |
| 6 | Windows 8 | 2,012 | year |
| 7 | Chrome OS | 2,011 | year |
| 8 | Windows 7 | 2,009 | year |
| 9 | Android 1.0 | 2,008 | year |
| 10 | iOS (iPhone OS 1) | 2,007 | year |
Why Some OSes Endure
Unix (1969) is the ancestor of Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, and FreeBSD — all derive in some way from Unix design philosophy. The Unix command-line interface is virtually unchanged in 50+ years.
Microsoft consolidation killed alternatives. CP/M, OS/2, BeOS, NeXTSTEP all had merits but lost to Windows in the desktop wars. NeXTSTEP eventually became macOS via the Apple-NeXT merger in 1997.
Mobile OSes are recent. iPhone OS in 2007 was first; Android in 2008 followed. Together they now run on more devices than any other OS in history (10+ billion).
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the oldest OS still used?
Unix (1969). Modern derivatives (Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, BSD) are all descended from Unix design.
Why was Linux successful?
Free, open-source, and Unix-like. Linus Torvalds released it in 1991. Now runs ~95% of internet servers.
Did Microsoft create iOS-equivalent?
Windows Mobile/Phone existed but lost. iPhone OS (2007) and Android (2008) defined the modern mobile market.
Are macOS and iOS related?
Yes — both are based on Darwin, Apple’s Unix-derived foundation. They share substantial code despite different UIs.
Note: First public release year per official documentation.
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