Windows 12: Everything we know about it so far, features and additions
We still expect Windows 12 to launch someday in 2024. It may be hard to believe, but Windows 11 has now been around for over two years, with several updates already released. We got Windows 11 version 22H2 in 2022, and several updates in 2023, the latest of which is version 23H2, which is now widely used. Although Windows 11 is still new thanks to its frequent updates, Microsoft has yet to officially announce a new version of Windows, but it has been indicated that Windows 12 will be released next year. So what can we expect from it?
When will Windows 12 be released?
We expect Windows 12 to launch sometime in 2024, which would be the third anniversary of Windows 11. That would be similar to the launch strategy Microsoft had before Windows 10, so it makes sense from that perspective as well. If previous releases are any indication, Windows 12 should arrive in the fall, or at least in the second half of the year. But that's not definitive. Microsoft has denied reports that it's working on Windows 12, but since we're still a long way from launch, the company may just be holding back on the update until then.
If you're a Windows Insider Program subscriber , you may see Windows 12 features early, especially in the Canary Channel, although that hasn't really happened yet. Most of the features that have appeared so far have made it to Windows 11. It's worth noting that Windows 11 was also a complete surprise until just a few months before its official launch, so we may have a few more months to wait before we get an official look.
Will Windows 12 be a free upgrade?
One big question you may have is whether you'll have to pay to upgrade to Windows 12 when it's released (if it does), but that's likely not going to happen. Microsoft has been offering major Windows updates for free to existing users of the operating system for a few years now, so it makes sense to complete that. Of course, Windows 12 itself likely won't be free, so if you don't have a Windows license at all, you'll have to buy it.
There has been some speculation from some reports that Microsoft might offer a subscription service for Windows 12, but that won't happen. You won't have to pay recurring fees to use the operating system. Of course, you'll need to purchase a license if you're building a custom device and don't have a current valid Windows 10 or 11 license, just as was the case with previous versions.
Will I have to upgrade by force?
The most likely answer to this question is no. Microsoft has significantly scaled back its efforts to force users to install new versions of Windows, and Windows 11 remains optional for Windows 10 users, and this approach is likely to continue with future releases.
Updating to new versions of Windows can be mandatory if your version of Windows is nearing the end of its support period. For example, the original version of Windows 11 will be supported for 24 months if you have a Home or Pro version of the operating system, so you should update to a newer version by now, as those two years have passed.
However, if you look at what's happening with Windows 10, Microsoft is still providing security updates for that system, and you don't have to upgrade to Windows 11. Windows 10 is supported until October 2025, and instead of pushing users towards Windows 11, Microsoft is keeping them on Windows 10 unless they want to upgrade.
Can my device run windows 12?
With Windows 11 significantly raising the minimum system requirements compared to Windows 10, this is another question worth considering, but there is a good chance that some computers may not be compatible for certain reasons. Currently, Windows 11 requires processors released around 2018 and later, and while we don't currently see any reason for the next version of Windows to require more than that, it could happen.
As for any other requirements, again, it's hard to say. Windows 11 requires 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, so at the very least, Windows 12 will need the same amount. You shouldn't expect Microsoft to back off on requirements like the TPM requirement, though, and if history is any indication, there will likely still be some sort of workaround that can be used by unsupported PCs.
What's new in Windows 12?
It's too early to know exactly what Windows 12 will include, however, some reports and leaks have given us a look at what might be part of this major update. The leaks point to some changes in the overall design, software updates, and other new points that companies are working on improving.
1- New desktop interface:
While Microsoft hasn't officially announced Windows 12, we recently got an early look at a mockup that Microsoft accidentally showed off for Windows 12 during the Microsoft Ignite keynote session presented by CEO Satya Nadella. The mockup shows off some interesting changes, including a floating taskbar and some system icons now displayed at the top of the screen, such as Wi-Fi and battery indicators, along with a weather interface. This will make Windows more similar to macOS or some Linux distributions.
Other reported changes include a new lock screen and login interface optimized for touch devices, a new notification center that can group notifications by connection, not just by app, and the ability to pin widgets to the desktop instead of having to use a dedicated panel. Another possibility mentioned is the ability to create parallax-effect live wallpapers based on a 2D image.
2- More homogeneous design
According to reports, Windows 12 may adopt a new approach to how the operating system is designed. Microsoft plans to make Windows 12 more homogeneous, in the context of enabling or disabling certain components of the operating system for specific devices. This idea, known as Core PC, will allow for more personalized experiences for devices with different shapes and capabilities.
This is somewhat similar to what Microsoft was trying to achieve with Windows 10X, which would have been a version of Windows 10 designed for modern, foldable devices. But while Windows 10X stripped everything down and designed it from the ground up for these devices, the goal with Windows 12 is to keep the full suite of features and then remove the parts that don’t fit a particular device or form factor. This will result in lighter installations of Windows , allowing the system to run on lower-performance devices to compete with ChromeOS.
3- Faster updates:
The report that mentioned the homogeneous design also talked about another change in the Win12 architecture, indicating that certain parts of the operating system will be blocked from user access and will be placed in a separate partition. This will enable Windows to update more easily, as the system can freely update these core partitions without the need for user intervention. Updates will install faster and require less downtime, something we have been hoping to see for a long time.
This separation can also make the reset experience more stable; since users cannot access the partitions with system files, there is less chance of files getting corrupted, so resetting the computer will work better.
4- Features of artificial intelligence:
Windows 12 is expected to include more AI features, with signs emerging that Microsoft is looking to integrate them more deeply into the system. One of these features could include Windows 12's ability to recognize content displayed on the screen and suggest different actions depending on what's shown. It can also recognize objects in an image, making it easier to copy and paste the item elsewhere.
AI is already a big part of Windows 11 thanks to the recent update to version 23H2, with the addition of the new AI assistant Copilot, as well as features for the Paint drawing app that let you remove the background of an image or create an image using text inputs. Other apps like Snipping Tool and Photos also have some new AI-powered features.
In recent months, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has compared Copilot to the Start button, suggesting that it will change the way people interact with their computers. While that could be a general statement that doesn't make sense, there's a possibility that Microsoft could replace the Start menu with Copilot if it can develop Copilot to achieve its vision.
5- Better support for ARM architecture and no support for 32-bit ARM applications:
Although it's not a new feature, it was recently confirmed that the next version of Windows will not support 32-bit ARM apps, following in the footsteps of ARM platforms. Officially, Microsoft has said that this change will happen in a future version of Windows 11, but we'll have to wait and see when that happens.
Microsoft also mentioned that it's working on improvements for ARM devices, including more efficient emulation of x86 applications, and this was briefly mentioned during the Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit keynote, but it's not clear what these improvements are or when they will arrive yet.
What we hope to see in Windows 12:
With the next major release of Windows coming, we can only imagine all the changes the new system will have to make to improve the Windows user experience. Despite our love for Windows 11, there's certainly a lot Microsoft could do to improve the system, including learning some lessons from its competitors.
In this context, we will take a look at our vision for improving the Windows 12 experience, focusing on the lessons that Microsoft can learn from its competitors. Will the user interface be improved? Will the improvements include adding new features that make the system more sustainable and easy to use?
1- Smooth updates:
Microsoft has announced one of the big challenges of Windows 11, which is installing small updates in the background to make the overall process less annoying. While these changes are welcome, the process is not as smooth as it could be. You have to download and install updates, and then you have to restart your device, which is when your computer makes a lot of changes in the update.
Microsoft could benefit from the ChromeOS and Android experience with seamless system updates where most changes are made in the background. While you still have to reboot your device, it’s almost a standard reboot where your PC reboots to install the new update. Windows 11 still forces you to wait a while when you reboot to install updates. While this is somewhat acceptable for big updates, it shouldn’t happen with the cumulative updates we get every month.
2- Tool improvements:
The Widgets board in Windows 11 is full of possibilities, but so far, the service has not met users' expectations. For more than a year, support has been limited to web-based widgets, and it was filled with articles and news that were of little use and entertainment. Users would like more customization options for the widgets board, with the ability to disable news. It is also preferable to integrate widgets directly on the desktop, similar to the Android system, to facilitate quick access to them.
3- Improved customization of the start menu:
Users expect greater customization of the start menu, with the ability to specify the number of rows and suggested pinned items to make the menu more efficient and effective.
4- Live wallpapers:
Users are hoping to see the option of live wallpapers added to Windows 12, with the ability to essentially use animated images that come with the system.
5- Unify settings and control panel:
Users want to unify system settings and the Control Panel, making it easier for them to access all settings in a smoother and more organized way. In this way, Windows 12 can offer significant improvements in user experience and provide a more efficient and integrated interface.
6- Snap Layouts feature and required improvements:
One of our favorite features in WIN11 is Snap Layouts, which makes it easier to display multiple apps at the same time in different configurations. It opens up some options that weren't possible before, and makes it easier to arrange windows the way you like them, but it's still a bit limited. You can't easily replace one app in a layout with another, and trying to drag a window to the edges of the screen doesn't always guarantee that it will take up the space you want.
We already have the solution for this, and it's in a feature called FancyZones within the PowerToys package. FancyZones lets you create custom layouts, where you can resize all the zones and create new ones, and most importantly, you can drag a new app into any of the zones you've created when you drag the window. This functionality could be better integrated with Windows itself, allowing you to drag any open app where you want.
7- Facilitate the process of uninstalling applications:
When Windows 8 first introduced the Microsoft Store, the experience of uninstalling apps was smooth but while this experience continues for some apps, most apps still use different methods that require custom uninstallers. Users wish Microsoft would improve this experience to be as good as the one available in the Microsoft Store.
8- Re-tabbing:
The Sets feature in Windows 10 was a very innovative idea, as it put all the applications inside tabs that you can group in the way you prefer. Although Microsoft decided to replace this with another approach, we hope that this experience will return, as the ability to group all the applications related to a specific task seems logical and may save a lot of time when moving between multiple things.
9- Improved mobile experience:
Microsoft needs to improve the touch experience and integration with mobile devices better, including better interface support for small touch screens and a fix for software compatibility issues . A CorePC release could be a positive here, as the company can build an Xbox-like experience for these mobile devices and streamline the software for a more streamlined experience.