Windows 12 will not be the name of the coming significant update to Windows. It’ll launch eventually this fall and be erected on a new platform law- named” Germanium.” It’ll be known as Windows 11 24H2, and it’ll be released in the alternate half of 2024. Still, it seems likely that Windows 12 will be released ultimately. Although Microsoft has not formally stated if it’s working on Windows 12, there are signs that it may be ultimately.

The release of Windows 10 and Windows 11 in October 2021 were separated by six times. Major releases passed every three times previous to Windows 10, at least starting with Windows Vista. study to be the” last interpretation of Windows,” Windows 10 altered that strategy.

When Is Windows 12 Coming?

It makes sense that Windows 12 will release in September or October 2025, which coincides neatly with the end of life for Windows 10, given Microsoft’s announcement that it had switched to an annual feature upgrade cadence for its operating system.
Microsoft has firmly stated that the operating system update scheduled for 2024 would be known as 24H2 rather than Windows 12. The Germanium platform, which powers the artificial intelligence elements in the new Copilot+ PCs, will serve as the foundation for the upcoming Windows, even if it does not have a new major version number.

When Microsoft allegedly began implementing a new update cadence for Windows, with major versions releasing every three years, there were hints that Windows 12 would arrive sooner than anticipated. Theoretically, the same cadence would have coincided with the release of Windows 12 sometime in the second half of 2024. In a September 2023 interview, Intel’s top finance officer provided even more evidence for a possible 2024 release of Windows 12 when he projected that “the Windows refresh” in 2024 will increase PC sales. Qualcomm also made announcements indicating that Windows 12 might be introduced in 2024.

However, everything has changed. The resignation of long-time Windows boss Panos Panay was the wild card, leading to a reorganization of the Windows version-numbering schedule. It seems like the new crew wants to wait to put its own stamp on a future release.
Another factor to take into account is that Windows 10 still has a larger market share than Windows 11, with 63%, while Windows 11 has only surpassed 33%. Given the glacial speed at which many individuals are upgrading, releasing a second version would further divide the pie.

The Top Source of Windows 12 Leaks

Zac Bowden of Windows Central, who has a good track record of making accurate predictions about Windows and has tendrils inside the firm, is the primary source of most of the information regarding what is expected to happen in the future.
His revelations about the upcoming version of Windows include the following highlights: the OS will have more AI built in, it will use a lightweight modular code, and it will be called “Hudson Valley.”

A Peek at the Windows 12 Desktop at Ignite

At the IT community-focused conference Microsoft Ignite, there was yet another sneak glimpse at a possible Windows 12. The business leaked a modified version of the Windows desktop interface, which many people believe to be Windows 12.

A floating taskbar, a floating search bar at the top, and system icons moved to the top-right corner are all visible in the (perhaps purposefully grainy) image. In the upper-left corner is a weather button.

To be honest, these design changes definitely wouldn’t justify a completely new version of Windows. They are not quite as severe as the Windows 10 to 11 interface upgrade. Additionally, shifting the system data, which Mac users are accustomed to, feels like an unnecessary interruption to long-standing Windows users’ routines. However, perhaps Microsoft believes that a significant UI overhaul like this is just what is required for a new version like Windows 12.

Is Windows as a Service Gone?

Microsoft used the term “Windows as a service” when launching Windows 10 to describe how updates will roll out in a constant stream between the major updates. This pattern has undoubtedly been followed by Windows 11, and Windows 12 won’t be a static, monolithic system. It will continuously be updated with new features. Remember that because the business released numerous feature updates in the interval, Windows 10 in 2020 was a very different and much more competent operating system than Windows 10 in 2015. The Creators Update and other updates for Windows 10 modified the operating system in a similar way to how macOS evolves from one version to another with colorful names.

Although Windows 10 has been referred to as “the last version of Windows,” Microsoft has stated that Windows 11 is the continuation of their strategy of issuing both significant feature updates (like 22H2 and 23H2) and interim updates (often termed Moments). With Windows 12, we have every reason to think that approach will continue.

Will Windows 12 Require a Subscription?

The code for a Windows Insider build in the Canary channel (the earliest release channel) contains references to “subscription edition,” “subscription type,” and “subscription status,” according to code observers with keen eyes. These allusions have sparked conjecture that Microsoft may eventually demand a subscription for the operating system, which could result in cheaper PCs. A free, ad-supported version of Windows 12 may also be offered, according to additional rumors.

All of it, however, is merely conjecture. It is more likely that these mentions of subscriptions are for business customers, much as the Windows 365 Cloud PC option that is already offered. Bowden even wrote a piece refuting the subscription claim.

Longtime Windows users would undoubtedly be incensed at a subscription demand. When Adobe Photoshop initially switched to a subscription model, that’s what happened. But in the end, users paid, increasing Adobe’s earnings and allowing the business to create amazing new features for the image program.

Windows 12 Will Have More Built-In AI

Last October, the 23H2 update for Windows 11 introduced Windows Copilot, a potent new AI tool. Although it might use more control over your PC, it is currently remarkable and powerful. With Windows 12, these user-facing assistive and predictive tools might only become more powerful. Additionally, back-end features like code stability, update delivery, and security can be enhanced by AI technology.

The new, conversational AI-powered search was already present in Windows’ Search panel and the built-in Edge web browser before Copilot. According to a recent blog post from Windows Insider, File Explorer has a Recommended section that makes recommendations for files and folders you should open. I could see anyone with a OneDrive login using the feature, even though it is stated to be for people logged into Active Directory accounts.

Beyond the straightforward recommendations made by File Explorer, the future OS may also use AI to recommend actions for the user. I hope Copilot will have wake-word functionality so you can utilize it hands-free, like you could with the now-defunct Cortana. With Windows 12, artificial intelligence (AI) that can predict human intent may become even more potent, but it may also provoke a Clippy-style backlash. It only makes sense to utilize AI for the operating system since desktop system components and Windows itself already come with built-in support for AI capabilities like machine learning. It just comes down to striking a balance between being helpful and being intrusive.

This was demonstrated by the negative response to the Copilot+ PCs’ new Recall feature, which allows you to look up anything you’ve done on your computer in the past. Security experts have voiced their concerns, which has caused Recall to be delayed, despite Microsoft’s claims that all data stays on your local computer encrypted with BitLocker, isn’t transmitted to servers via the internet, and doesn’t record private browsing or passwords. The functionality has impressed and been useful to other testers.

Windows 12 Will Take Advantage of More AI Hardware

Neural processing units, or NPUs, are AI-specific processor components that are mentioned in the statements made by Intel and Qualcomm officials mentioned above. John Burek of PCMag wrote in an article about the then-upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite that “any recent mobile processor worth its salt announced in 2023 is now touting some kind of integrated neural processing unit (NPU), dedicated silicon for processing the large data sets associated with AI workloads.” He then mentioned that AMD and Intel were incorporating these units into their new CPUs, and this has happened in the last 12 months. In fact, in the second half of 2024, much-beeper NPUs are anticipated in their forthcoming Core Ultra “Lunar Lake” and Ryzen AI 300 lines, respectively.

NPUs will be useful for local AI processing, such as machine learning, in all of the AI that I think will be included in Windows 12. When Windows 12 comes out, computers without them might lag significantly and possibly not be supported at all. On-device AI capabilities are restricted to the previously described Recall, image production, and video call effects, even with the Copilot+ PCs. I believe that in the future, more AI capability will likely be managed by your own computer hardware rather than by Microsoft’s servers.

Finally, Decent Arm Processor Support?

Given the astounding speed improvements its main desktop rival, Apple Silicon, has achieved, Microsoft has been embarrassing itself for years with genuinely poor performance on PCs that are not Intel/AMD-powered. The script may finally be turned on its head by new Germanium platform code. Recent Windows updates have prioritized improved Arm support, and the Copilot+ Arm-based PCs come with a new Prism emulator to enable the smooth operation of non-Arm-optimized apps. According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon X Elite PC CPU outperforms Apple’s most recent M3 chip by 21%. A fast CPU is ideal, particularly one that has the powerful AI processing capacity that Windows currently requires due to Copilot. However, programs and OS code must also be quick. Computers with arms could be the answer. Whether Windows 11 or Windows 12 is the most recent version, Microsoft wants to have more people using it.

Component-ization and Core PC

For at least five years, there has been talk of a modular version of Windows in addition to AI. A modular Windows that separates OS components for easier updates and improved security is sometimes called Core OS or CorePC. Additionally, it would enable Microsoft to customize Windows instances for particular platforms and applications. It’s possible that some of these cases don’t require the capability to run all those large outdated Windows applications; for instance, removing support for them could save system resources.

Windows X, which was never fully released, was the best illustration of this core-based strategy. Its goal was to develop a lightweight operating system that might rival ChromeOS. Microsoft ultimately incorporated several of the Windows X interface ideas, such the centered taskbar, into Windows 11.

The Best Way to See What’s Coming to Windows

Enroll a test PC in the Windows Insider program if you truly want to see what new features are coming to Microsoft’s operating system. From the very experimental and unstable Canary channel (which was only introduced in 2023) to the Dev, Beta, and Release Preview channels (which increase in stability and feature readiness), it offers four channel options.

Insider additions have included new apps, like Media Player, interface changes, like the revamped volume indication, and new functionality in already-existing OS elements, such as Task Manager tabs. A revamped Copilot app and Widgets board, enhanced USB 4 compatibility, and new methods for installing Microsoft Store apps are all currently available in the Canary channel. Performance improvements and bug fixes are also included in these releases, as anticipated.

Windows Now

Microsoft is currently concentrating more on its Copilot+ PCs and Copilot generative AI technologies. This includes future Intel and AMD-based devices with neural processing units (NPUs) to enable the new AI features, as well as Arm-based PCs like those with a Snapdragon X Elite processor. These are noteworthy advancements in Windows, which is still Windows 11 at the moment. Although the future of Windows 12 is still unclear, it may become more apparent in 2025 when Windows 10 ultimately fades into the distance.

Read our coverage of Windows 11 and our comprehensive review of Windows 11 to catch up on the latest update. You can also read about our best Windows 11 tips.