Microsoft has just kicked off Build 2017 with the unveiling that Windows 10 is now in use by over 500 million Windows 10 devices, up 100 million from the last major milestone back in September 2016.

As a reminder, Mirosoft counts not only Windows 10 PCs and tablets, but Xbox, HoloLens, and even Windows 10 Mobile in that number too. Unfortunately, Microsoft hasn't detailed how many of those users are using Windows with a Microsoft account, or how many people out of that number are using universal Windows Apps on the regular.

Microsoft did reveal that 141 million users are now using Cortana, which is a bigger number than we were expecting. In an ideal world, all 500 million users would be using Cortana, but 141 million active Cortana users is still an impressive feat.

Of course, Microsoft's original goal was to have Windows 10 in use by one billion users around about now, but the company is 500 million users short. Microsoft has been open about this in the past, saying they knew they wouldn't be able to make it several months before their deadline of 2 years since the Windows 10 launch.

What do you think about the rate of new installs? Let us know.