Windows 12 has been rumored here and there to be released at the back end of 2024, and various features have been “leaked” whilst the OS is supposedly in development. Just the other day, the design of Windows 12 was leaked. This was along with system requirement information. Here’s everything we know so far about Windows 12, and the Windows 12 release date prediction.

This is everything we know so far about Windows 12, this includes all the notable leaks and announcements. As nothing has been confirmed, it’s important to take all of these leaks with a pinch of salt. We will let you know when something concrete happens, or an announcement from Microsoft itself.

In the meantime, you can check out our best operating system for gaming page if you want to know more about operating systems.

Windows 12 release window prediction

The earliest we can see a Windows 12 release will be at the back end of 2024. taking the following information into account, we have come to this conclusion based on leaks and historical data about previous Windows releases.

Back in July 2022, Windows central released an article stating that “Microsoft moves to new development cycle” also stating that Microsoft will deliver a new release every three years. In the article, Windows central wrote: “Microsoft is shifting to a new engineering schedule for Windows which will see the company return to a more traditional three-year release cycle for major versions of the Windows client.”

If we assume this to be concrete, the first official release of Windows 11 was on the 5th of October 2021. This means that the Windows 12 release date should fall at the back end of 2024, sometime between September to December. Microsoft often releases new updates and patches in October.

How much will Windows 12 cost?

It’s likely that Windows 12 will be a free upgrade from Windows 11 when it rolls out at the back end of 2024 (hopefully). We expect the release of Windows 12 to be much like the release of Windows 11, where the upgrade is offered to users of outdated operating systems for free.

Other than that, if you’re wanting to buy Windows 12 as a stand-alone package for some reason. We expect the OS to be similarly priced to Windows 11. Around $139. But why do that when you can just have it for free? Windows 12 will most likely have a beta you can opt-into before the official release.

Will there be a Windows 12 beta or Insider program?

There most likely will be a “Dev channel” allowing access to the Windows 12 beta. Microsoft found a lot of success rolling out the Windows 11 “insider previews” and using user feedback to shape Windows 11 into the efficient, well-rounded operating system it is today.

User feedback is paramount to the development of any system. The most notable Windows 11 change based on user feedback was the ability to change the position of the Taskbar.

We do not know for sure if there will be a Beta or an Insider issue with Windows 12, but Microsoft recently (March 2023) announced a “Canary” channel of the Windows insider program. This channel brings new levels of access to the upcoming Windows 11 updates. We feel that Microsoft will keep these channels open as we barrel toward the release of Windows 12.

Will Windows 12 be free?

Undoubtedly, Windows 12 will be free, at least for a little while after release. Windows 10 was free initially, and so was Windows 11, so there’s no reason to suspect anything to change on that front.

If you want to buy a standalone copy of Windows 11, it will set you back around £119 / $139. It’s likely a standalone copy of Windows 12 will cost you the same.

So, once Windows 12 is released, it will certainly be free for at least a little while. One of the guys in the office still has a PC on Windows 10, and it still to this day bugs him about updating, and there’s no indication of a charge. So it looks like Microsoft doesn’t put a time limit on these things.

What are the Windows 12 system requirements?

We already have an article on this, you can find our Windows 12 system requirements article here.

Essentially, the minimum system requirements are similar to Windows 11, except there’s a pretty high entry requirement regarding the CPU. Here’s an excerpt from our above article:

“Windows 12 is expected to maintain most of the system requirements found in Windows 11, including at least two CPU cores operating at 1GHz, 64GB of storage, UEFI, DirectX 12, WDDM 2.0 compatibility, and a 720p display. However, Microsoft may recommend increasing the amount of memory from 4GB to 8GB.

It’s important to note that Intel’s 8th Generation or AMD’s Zen 2 processors are necessary for Windows 12, as they are the oldest models supporting TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, which is essential for the latest versions of the Windows operating system. Based on the Windows 11 initial set-up process, you’ll also need an internet connection to completely set up, though this could be bypassed.

What’s new in Windows 12? Windows 12 features

We don’t know for sure every new detail in Windows 12, but we can speculate on a few things.

Again, as a small disclaimer, nothing we are about to discuss is confirmed, and a lot of these topics are just rumors.

Windows 12 could be cloud-based

With the rise of AI and cloud computing, there’s a not insignificant chance that Windows 12 could be cloud-based. Microsoft already has access to a myriad of cloud-capable gaming servers for Xbox game pass users to stream games from. So we know that Microsoft knows a thing or two about fast, responsive cloud hosting.

This, of course, likely means that we’ll have to pay a subscription fee, maybe we’ll be able to rent PC storage space, or buy Windows 12, and subscribe to a “pro” subscription that unlocks new features. Maybe this will behave much like a Windows license.

This will make windows much harder to crack but also annoy a lot of users. If you’re reading this Microsoft, NO, stop it, BAD company! Please do not make Windows 12 subscription-based. We swear to god, we’ll move to Linux.

Windows 12 User interface innovations

Windows 12 will most likely double down on the “macOS” style changes. As always, the user experience is forever changing and becoming simpler. The great thing about change is that it forces companies to improve. A lot of people thought Windows 11 was a step in the wrong direction. However, Windows 11 grew on all of us but we all say that about every upcoming operating system, except Vista, Vista never grew on anybody.

There have been very few leaks around the design of Windows 12, but there have been some regarding the desktop UI.

The first of which came from FireCube on Twitter. Showcasing the changes that have been made to the UI of whatever version of Windows (presumably a 12 mock-up) is being hosted on that machine.

Notable characteristics are a taskbar full of icons that appears to float and a search bar with a pill shape located in the top-center position, which bears a resemblance to the Dynamic Island found on the iPhone 14 Pro. Additionally, the Widgets panel and Action Center are situated at the top of the screen instead of the bottom.

There is also much more information on our Windows 12 design leaked page. If you fancy reading into all the changes we saw leaked, there’s more than just a floating taskbar.

Here’s an easier-to-see image regarding the new supposed changes to the Windows 12 interface. Here you can more clearly see the “macOS” reminiscent floating UI design, which reminds us very much of a mobile-style operating system, which Windows 12 should not be. Windows 8 was a disaster in that respect. We want a PC, not a phone.

AI Integration into Windows 12

At the AMD CES 2023 Keynote, Microsoft Chief Product Officer Panos Panay said that “AI is going to reinvent how you do everything on Windows”. According to Zac Bowden at Windows Central, Microsoft is working on a new project that will “modernize the Windows platform”. This project is dubbed the “CorePC”. Although it may not be ready for Windows 12, it is probably the target.

Among the AI functionalities discussed are contextual cues derived from the data displayed on the screen, as well as the recognition of objects and text embedded in images. CorePC’s notable attribute is its modular nature, wherein Windows has the capability to adjust the level of features and application compatibility in accordance with the requirements of particular devices.

The creation of a “state-separated” platform aligns with the operating systems found on iPadOS and Android, leading to faster updates and improved security. This approach restricts the user’s and third-party applications’ access to only the data required.

AI is going to revolutionize the way we use Windows, There have also been rumors that the search bar could have a ChatGPT-style AI working in the background connected to Bing to bring you results quickly and efficiently. It is unknown if this is true, or how Microsoft plans to implement all of this into Windows 12, but it’s pretty exciting stuff, regardless.

Windows 12 bug fixes

The most important thing Microsoft needs to focus on above all else is making Windows 12 bug-free, easy to use, and easily accessible to everyone. As of today, there is still a bug in Windows 11 that, despite meeting all the requirements, will not allow you to update from Windows 10 to Windows 11.

Windows 11 was a bit of a mess when it was released, and that was with the user inputs that the insider program provided. It’s exciting to see how well, or not, the Windows 12 release will go. Presumably next year.

Watch this space for more up-to-date news about Windows 12, and as always, everything you read here is speculation and is subject to change, or may not even exist at all outside this Windows 12 release date prediction page.

How do I access the Windows 12 beta?

Before we get to the full release of Windows 12, you may be wondering about the possibility of a Windows 12 beta. Well, this is where the Windows Insider Program comes in. If you want to check out and test Windows 12 features early, you can test of of these ‘beta’ builds by registering for the Insider Program. Microsoft can provide you with early versions of Windows 12 to help gauge feedback.

Right now though, there is no official announcement of a Windows 12 beta, or features being rolled out elsewhere. The Windows Insider Program is the best way of getting your hands on Windows 12 as early as possible though, so it’s worth registering in advance.

Is there going to be a Windows 12?

You may even ask if there is going to be a new version of Windows at all. In reality, this is all but confirmed. We see no reason why Microsoft wouldn’t provide a brand new iteration of their widespread Windows operating system. Especially with early leaks and mock ups surfacing on the web, it’s hard to believe that Windows 12 isn’t already deep into development. You may also be thinking about a name change or skipped number, much like when we jumping from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. However, this jump was mostly a marketing ploy to indicate a jump in progression, though there is also the theory of the number 9 being considered unlucky in Japan. We don’t expect any of these to be problems for Windows 12.

Windows 12 release date : Final word

The Windows 12 release date is inevitable, even though we thought the Windows version was meant to end. But it does expect to keep bringing improvements but potentially even more advertising into the operating system. With alternatives popping up that have less bloat in them, one of the more popular recent choices is Atlas OS.

Windows 12 release date FAQs

When does Windows 12 come out?

There is no definitive date for the launch of Windows 12 just yet. From early predictions, the earliest we can see Windows 12 coming out is towards the end of 2024, likely rolling over into 2025.

Will Windows 11 be discontinued?

No, Windows 11 will still be around once Windows 12 arrives. Even Windows 10 will be seeing continued support until Oct 14th, 2025 for the Home and Pro versions.

Windows 12 release date : Final word

That covers everything we know so far about the Windows 12 release date and it’s supposed features. It’s still some way away, so we’re going to be updating you with all of the latest information moving forward. For now, you’ll have to stick to Windows 11 if you want the latest version of the popular operating system.

Windows 12 release window prediction, price, & everything we know

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