Windows 12 Release Date: There have been rumours that Microsoft is developing Windows 12 to succeed Windows 11. It’s true that Microsoft has previewed a new Windows desktop style that may be included in Windows 12 “Next Valley.” These are all the facts that we have thus far.
When will Windows 12 be available to the public?
According to reliable sources, Microsoft plans to release Windows 12 in 2024. Since Microsoft’s main operating system upgrades are often launched in the fall, we can anticipate Windows 12’s release in the autumn of 2024.
Remember that as of February 2023, Microsoft has not announced Windows 12 or a release date for it. The 2024 timeframe is based on Microsoft’s internal planning, and it’s simple to see how it may be pushed back or modified altogether. Since we anticipated Windows 9 after Windows 8, but Microsoft instead released Windows 10, it’s possible that Windows 12 won’t even be called “Windows 12,” and may be dubbed something else entirely. Similarly, Windows 10X, an OS designed for dual-screen computers, morphed into Windows 11.
Zac Bowden, a Windows journalist for Windows Central with a solid track record, heard the 2024 release date for Windows 12 from reliable insiders at Microsoft. According to these insiders, Microsoft is now aiming for a three-year release cycle for Windows versions.
Assuming Microsoft’s plans remain unchanged and the rumours are true, Windows 13 will be released in the fall of 2027, and Windows 14 will arrive in the fall of 2030.
Microsoft’s internal codename for Windows 12 is “Next Valley.”
Next Valley is the engineering codename for Windows 12, which makes sense given that Sun Valley was the codename for Windows 11.
For more information on Windows 12’s upcoming features, see this.
Microsoft has not yet made any formal announcements regarding Windows 12 or its expected release date as of February 2023. A new Windows desktop interface, possibly being tested for Windows 12, was leaked, though.
Microsoft’s keynote presentation at Ignite 2022, which occurred on October 12th, has been leaked. Microsoft briefly displays a screenshot of Microsoft Teams on a Windows 11-like desktop. The following modifications, however, are discernible to the observant eye:
It’s possible that Windows 12 may use this as a prototype for its new user interface. This “leak” occurred at a formal Microsoft conference, thus it was likely intended as a tease for Windows fans.
According to Windows Central’s Zac Bowden, who spoke with anonymous sources within Microsoft, this image “is reflective of the design ideas that Microsoft is attempting to achieve with the next version of Windows.” He also claims that Microsoft is revamping the Windows lock screen and notification centre as part of a bigger overhaul of Windows. Microsoft, as usual, is working on an interface that aims to satisfy both touch-screen users and those who prefer to work with a mouse and keyboard.
There’s speculation that the floating search bar might even have some sort of AI functionality. Microsoft announced on February 7, 2023, that they would add artificial intelligence chat functionality to Bing. Not only will Bing be gaining an AI chat sidebar like ChatGPT, but so will the Microsoft Edge web browser. Use this widget to have a conversation with a computer programme while you browse the web. Artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities are also being integrated into Microsoft Office. Assuming everything goes as planned, Windows 12’s massive search bar will likely include an AI chat function that will communicate with other programmes on your Windows desktop.
Will Microsoft’s Upcoming Windows 12 Release Cost Me Anything? To what extent will it set you back?
If your computer is capable, Windows 12 will likely be available as a free download. Reasons why
Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 were made available to users without cost as upgrades to their current operating systems. Some restrictions apply. Windows 11 has stringent hardware requirements, and many computers running Windows 10 don’t meet them. Even though Microsoft has ended its free Windows 10 upgrade offer, it is still possible to update a Windows 7 or Windows 8 computer to Windows 10 without having to pay anything.
A fee for upgrading to Windows 12 from Windows 10 is highly unlikely. After all, the firm has been actively encouraging people to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and is now doing the same for Windows 10 to Windows 11, wherever possible.
Most consumers will purchase a new computer running Windows 12 rather than wait for an upgrade to their current machine. Windows can be purchased alone if you plan on constructing your own computer. Windows 11 Home is available from Microsoft for $139.99, while Windows 11 Pro costs $199.99. (However, there aren’t many justifiable reasons for home users to purchase Windows 11 Pro, and we advise Windows 11 Home instead.) In all likelihood, Windows 12 will cost the same to purchase as previous versions of Windows from Microsoft.
It’s important to keep in mind that Windows 10 and Windows 11 can be installed and used without a product key if you’re only going to be using them in a virtual machine; you’ll just get a message telling you that they’re not activated, but you can always purchase the upgrade from within the operating system if you want to avoid the message. It’s possible that Windows 12 will follow suit.
Can You Tell Me the Minimum and Recommended System Requirements for Windows 12?
If your computer is unable to run Windows 11, it is highly unlikely that it will be able to run Windows 12 “Next Valley.” Now, what about modern computers running Windows 11?
We shouldn’t be surprised if Windows 12, following in the footsteps of Windows 11, has unexpectedly stringent hardware requirements that prevent certain older Windows 11 PCs from upgrading. On the other hand, maybe Microsoft really did make such huge leaps with Windows 11, and all or nearly all Windows 11 PCs are upgradeable.
However, we assume there is a strong likelihood that an unsupported PC that has been upgraded to Windows 11 will not be able to run Windows 12 at all.
Can you tell me how long Windows 11 will be available for download and support?
The release of Windows 11 is expected to be followed by at least a few years of security updates. Reasons why
On July 29, 2015, Microsoft unveiled Windows 10. Six years and one day later, on October 5, 2021, Windows 11 was finally released. Almost four years after the release of Windows 11, on October 14, 2025, Microsoft will still be providing security patches for Windows 10. The end of Windows 11 support might come as early as 2028 if Microsoft keeps to its late 2024 release timetable.
No need to fret over how long Windows 11 will be supported just yet. Because Microsoft hasn’t made any announcements, Windows 11 will receive security patches for the foreseeable future. When a date for Windows 11’s retirement from support becomes known, Microsoft will announce it on the Windows 11 Lifecycle page. Years in advance, we will be informed.
Please take note that the Windows 11 Lifecycle page contains details about the end of support for specific versions of Windows 11. The page, for instance, may state that support for Windows 11 22H2 will continue until October 8, 2024. This simply means that in order to continue receiving security updates for Windows 11, you will need to upgrade to a more recent update, such as 23H2, which is scheduled for release in the second half of 2023.
When will new features be added to Windows 11?
Instead of releasing major updates to Windows every year, Microsoft has decided to release Windows 11 features incrementally as they become available. Microsoft, however, continues to release annual major Windows updates.
In the autumn of 2022, Microsoft released Windows 11 version 22H2, its first big update. Microsoft has stated that these revisions will arrive annually, therefore the 23H2 revision will be released in the fall of 2023 and Windows 12 “Next Valley” will be released in the fall of 2024.
Our best guess is that after Windows 11 23H2, Microsoft will cease adding new features to Windows 11, just as it stopped adding new features to Windows 10 after Windows 11 was released.
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