Windows 12: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors

You can't download Windows 12 yet, but here's when you might be able to, and what features to expect

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Updated on February 12, 2024

Windows 12 is a potential future update for the Windows operating system. It's expected to be released in 2025, although there has been no official confirmation from Microsoft. Some possible features for this Windows 11 successor include UI enhancements, better Android app support, AI, and an increased reliance on the Settings app.

When Will Windows 12 Be Released?

I should start by saying that I can't verify yet that Windows 12 is even real. It's not that there's a good chance Microsoft will pull a Windows 9 move and skip over this version to land on W13—it's just that neither I nor anyone, has heard anything official from the company.

That said, I do think it's coming. It's just not clear when. The company might choose to pile updates on Windows 11 for a while longer before moving on to a major version upgrade.

On that note, Windows 12 might not even be the name Microsoft settles on (think XP and Vista), but let's stick to that for now. The code names I've seen for this version of Windows include Hudson Valley and Next Valley.

There is one rumor that points to an upgraded OS. Tom's Hardware spotted a mention by the German website Deskmodder.de that Microsoft would begin working on Windows 12. Remarkably, that was in early 2022, less than six months after Windows 11 was first publicly available!

Looking back at the last several major Windows versions, there isn't a consistent timeline one can use to gauge when Windows 12 will come. But, we can still guess.

Starting with Windows 7 in 2009:

Windows 8 arrived three years later (2012)
Windows 10 arrived three years later (2015)
Windows 11 arrived six years later (2021)
Windows 12 might arrive three years later (2024)

Windows Central echoes this timeline:

According to my sources who are familiar with these plans, Microsoft now intends to ship “major” versions of the Windows client every three years, with the next release currently scheduled for 2024, three years after Windows 11 shipped in 2021.

That said, we know Microsoft will release the next version of Windows 11, version 24H2, in late 2024. This makes it unlikely that we'll also see Windows 12 this year.

Before its public appearance, Windows 12 will probably follow a similar release structure as other versions of Windows. For example, the first Windows 11 Insider Preview build was available a few days after Microsoft announced the OS and a few months before its public release.

A similar timeline is expected for this version, so you should be able to access a pre-release build of Windows 12 through the Windows Insider Program whenever that time comes.

Lifewire's Release Date Estimate

We think Microsoft will release Windows 12 in 2025 at the earliest. Watch for a mention of it at a Windows event.

Windows 12 Price Rumors

There's a good chance Windows 12 will be offered as an optional, free update for Windows 11 users, and possibly Windows 10 users, who have a valid copy of Windows.

If you need a new license, I assume you'll be able to get the digital version from Microsoft's website, or through other retailers on a USB device.

The company will probably price it much like they do Windows 11:

$139.99 for Windows 12 Home
$199.99 for Windows 12 Pro

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Windows 12 Features

As with any big OS update, there will surely be countless minor updates and changes under the hood. This should translate to things like better overall performance, new icons and animations, and additional settings you can tweak.

Nothing is confirmed, but here are some bigger ideas that could make their way into Windows 12:

New UI

The 2022 Microsoft Ignite keynote might have given us a glimpse at the Windows 12 user interface.

You can see it has a floating taskbar dock at the bottom, a floating search bar at the top, and various other icons on either corner of the screen.

The taskbar is only a little different from the existing one we've grown familiar with over the years because it's just slightly hovering over the bottom of the screen. The search bar, however, has never existed at the top like that, and definitely not entirely detached from the taskbar.

Windows Central claims there are plans for other UI changes, too, like a new lock screen (hopefully one that's more useful) and notification center, all in an effort to create a consistent interface across Microsoft's product line that will work for both touch and keyboard users. And that's to be expected with any major release.

Below is a neat look at what Windows 12 could look like from Concept Central. It shows a new Start menu, an idea for a built-in messaging client called Windows Messenger, a redesigned volume hub, and desktop widgets. I also like this W12 concept from designer Avdan.

Artificial Intelligence

With Microsoft's multi-billion dollar investment in OpenAI, it's very realistic that the company will use some form of artificial intelligence in their operating system. In fact, it's already happening in Windows 11.

There's a shortcut to the Bing AI chatbot on the Windows 11 taskbar, and the Copilot update for Windows 11 brings AI to photo editing, Paint, Outlook, and other Microsoft programs.

Windows 12 will undoubtedly go even further. Petri IT Knowledgebase has this great video discussing the relationship between AI and Windows 12:

CorePC

According to Windows Central, CorePC is the codename for a project that's "designed to be a modular and customizable variant of Windows for Microsoft to leverage different form factors with."

CorePC is state separated, so it enables faster updates, and because read-only partitions are used, it also supports a more secure overall system.

No More Control Panel

I also expect a further shift (possibly a full withdrawal) away from the Control Panel in favor of Settings. Settings was introduced back in Windows 8 and was intended to replace the Control Panel, but the utility is still available today.

If Windows 12 gets rid of Control Panel entirely, all the Control Panel applets might be moved into Settings. We've already seen this start to happen, like with Windows Update, which hasn't been available through Control Panel since Windows 8.

Animated Wallpapers

Our phones can use animated wallpapers, but Windows has been stuck with static images forever. This is already possible through third-party apps like Desktop Live Wallpapers, but it'd be great for the ability to add live wallpapers to be built right in to Windows.

Android APK Installs

You can already get Android apps in Windows 11, but you're stuck using Amazon Appstore, so you're limited to the options available through that store. Windows 12 could improve on this by letting us install Android apps via their APK file.

There are several online stores that let you download these files. Windows just needs to open up the ability for us to run them directly from the download so that we don't have to open them through third-party programs like BlueStacks.

MSN Messenger Return

Another Windows 12 feature rumor (first seen on TechRadar) is for Teams and Skype to merge into a new MSN Messenger. If you're unfamiliar, MSN Messenger was an instant messaging client from Microsoft. It was around in the early 2000s but was eventually discontinued in 2013.

Bookmark this page! I keep it updated with all the rumors and leaks about Windows 12 as they come in.

Windows 12 System Requirements

To install Windows 12, your computer must meet the minimum system requirements. It's likely that these requirements will be similar to, or the same as, the minimum system requirements for Windows 11.

This is what I expect:

8 GB of RAM
64 GB of storage
64-bit processor
1 GHz CPU clock speed
An internet connection and a Microsoft account (for the initial setup)

Windows 11 introduced some specialized requirements that weren't seen in prior versions of Windows. These include TPM 2.0 and UEFI with Secure Boot. Windows 12 will likely work similarly.

In all likelihood, if your computer can run Windows 11, there's a good chance you'll be able to install Windows 12, too. But, nobody knows for sure until Microsoft makes this clear.

Windows 12 Download

Windows 12 is not available from Microsoft. There isn't a Windows 12 beta version or any other pre-release builds. At least not yet.

This means it's too early to find genuine Windows 12 ISO files, so anything you see online that claims to be W12 is in fact not the real deal. Don't fall for scams that try to trick you into getting the "leaked Windows 12 build" or something else like "Windows 12 Beta." They aren't real.

If this OS does get released, the official place to get it will be from Microsoft. Much like older versions of Windows, this one will most likely be available as a free update for Windows 11 users. You'll get it by updating via Windows Update, and, like earlier Windows editions, Microsoft will likely host an upgrade utility and the official ISOs on their website.

Of course, brand-new devices, like the Microsoft Surface line of computers, will ship with Windows 12 preinstalled.

I'll update this page with all the details on how to get Windows 12 as soon as Microsoft reveals these details.