Windows 12: What We Know So Far

It’s been almost three years since the first version of Windows 11 was released. Many users are already speculating about the inevitable release of Windows 12. Windows 11’s latest version, known as the 24H2 release, is out on Copilot+ PCs, which are basically considered AI-powered Windows PCs. So, with the way things are going, users are very curious about AI’s role in Windows 12’s features and capabilities.

There is no official information about Windows 12, but learning from the past and considering some of the rumors, we can have a pretty good grasp of what’s coming to the next major version of the popular operating system. Let’s dive in to see what we can expect from Windows 12.

Windows 12 Release Date

So, when does Windows 12 come out? There are no words on the release date of Windows 12. Frankly, we are unsure about the year it is coming out! Microsoft hasn’t officially announced anything about the next major Windows release. So, the only thing we can do is to speculate.

Last year, many Windows enthusiasts predicted that Windows 12 would be released in 2024. There were some rumors that Microsoft’s new plan is to release a major version of Windows every three years. Considering Windows 11 was first released in 2021, the next main version will be slated for 2024.

However, a new update for Windows 11 will be released this year, so it’s very unlikely that we’ll see another new update before the end of the year. So, now we can assume that the plans have been changed, especially with Panos Paney leaving Microsoft, who led the vision and strategy for Windows.

Now we can expect that the Windows 12 release date will be 2025 or later. Since most versions of Windows have been released in the second half of the year, summer and fall of 2025 is the next most likely window for the release.

Windows 12 System Requirements

As you can expect, there is no news on Windows 12 system requirements at this time. But looking into the requirements of Windows 11 24H2, we can assume that Windows 12 requirements will be similar but slightly higher:

• System Memory: 4 GB
• Processor: 1 GHz, 2 Cores
• Storage Size: 64 GB
• Storage Type: SSD, HDD, SSHD, and Flash
• System Firmware: UEFI
• TPM: 2.0
• Graphics: Compatible with DirectX 12

With Microsoft’s focus on AI features in the last couple of years, we can expect at least a few AI features in Windows 12 that will be limited to more powerful systems. Right now, the Copilot+ PCs have the following specs:

• 40+ TOPS Neural Processing Unit (NPU)
• System Memory: 16 GB
• Storage Size: 256 GB

Windows 12 AI Features

If Microsoft’s investment in AI continues, it will be hard to believe that the integration of AI isn’t in store for Windows 12. Copilot, Microsoft’s AI technology, is more advanced than ever. Users who own a Copilot+ PC can get a sneak peek at the future of AI integration for Windows PCs.

Microsoft hasn’t announced its future AI plans for Windows 12 yet, but diving into the AI features that the company has been pushing hard can give us an idea of the future of Windows.

Instant Access

One of the most important AI features that Microsoft announced alongside Copilot+ PCs was Recall. The feature lets the user go back to a certain time and find anything that was on their screen. That way, users can instantly remind themselves of anything they have done on the computer.

Since then, the feature has been delayed in addressing users’ security concerns and fixing certain issues. However, Recall was one of the Highlights of Copilot+ PCs, and we can’t imagine it not being a central part of Windows’ future. After all, going through all this trouble to eventually release this feature for Copilot+ PCs could be just a test or preparation to fully release a feature that makes searching for files and pages on Windows much easier.

AI Content Creation

Since the rise of AI tools in recent years, many tools have been dedicated to creating and editing audio, video, written content, and more. Copilot started as a chatbot, but now it’s grown to an AI assistant.

Taking advantage of the power of an NPU, Copilot+ PCs have even more advanced capabilities for creating and editing. There are already great tools to create images, turn ideas into reality, and remove the different parts of an existing image. Many app developers like Adobe are collaborating with Microsoft to bring AI features to their software. We can only expect that this approach will continue to be a focus in Microsoft’s Plan for Windows 12.

New Features for Windows 12

Microsoft has been very quiet about new features for Windows 12, but we are certain that in addition to AI integration, there will be exciting new features like any other major Windows release. The following are our predictions based on the rumors and expectations regarding the release of Windows 12.

1. ARM Processor Support

Windows hasn’t been the best place for ARM processors in the past. Unlike AMD and Intel processors, Windows users aren’t happy with the support for these RISC-based processors. However, Windows 12 can change a lot and allow Windows PCs to properly leverage these processors’ high performance and versatility.

2. Compatibility for Legacy Apps

Last year, a rumor started about Microsoft’s new plans for Windows 12. It was about a project codenamed CorePC. The plan is to make a customizable Windows that can support legacy Win32 apps. Also, with CorePC, Microsoft is trying to make Windows more secure and minimize the time it takes to update the operating system. Whether the rumored plan is true or not, CorePC sure seems intriguing.

3. User Interface revamp

Of course, one of the main changes in every major Windows release is the user interface. Now, with the AI integration plans, it seems very likely that Windows’s look and feel will be transformed. Here are some of the potential UI changes:

• Customizable start menu
• New Windows 12 wallpaper features like dynamic wallpapers
• New widget system
• File explorer with better functionality
• Modern multitasking features

It’s interesting that at Microsoft’s Ignite 2022 conference, we saw a possible sneak peek of Windows 12’s new UI design with a floating search bar and taskbar. So it’s very possible that Microsoft is trying different UI designs and hopefully, we’ll see the results soon.

FAQ

When is Windows 12 coming out?

We don’t have a confirmed date yet, but considering the release of a new version of Windows 11 this year, we expect to witness the release of Windows 12 in 2025 or later.

Who is the Windows 12 ambassador?

Windows 12 currently doesn’t have an official ambassador to promote and represent the newest version of Microsoft’s Windows. There are some rumors going around that Dolly Chaiwala is the ambassador for Windows 12, but that’s not correct, and it seems like a humorous social media post.

How Much Does Windows 12 Cost?

The price of Windows 12 hasn’t been announced yet, but we should expect similar pricing to Windows 11. The price will be different based on the edition, but it’ll probably start from around $139.99. We expect current Windows 11 users will be able to upgrade to Windows 12 for free.