Only one year has passed since the initial introduction of Windows 11, yet speculation about Windows 12 has already begun.
There have been rumors that Microsoft is moving to a new Windows update cycle and won’t be releasing any Windows 11 23H2 or 24H2 releases in the near future.
In truth, it appears that the Windows 11 23H2 “Sun Valley 3” update has been halted, while development on Windows 12 (codenamed: Next Valley) has already started.
So read our in-depth article below to find out more about Windows 12’s release date, anticipated features, hardware requirements, and more.
Windows 12: Everything We Know So Far (2022)
The release date of Windows 12, the rationale behind Microsoft’s decision to implement a new, three-year major Windows update cycle, the features we anticipate appearing in Windows 12, and much more have all been covered in this article.
Windows 11 22H2 is remaining on schedule, and we anticipate that all customers will receive the upgrade between September and October.
Expand the table below to learn all the information about Windows 12 you require.
Windows 12 Release Date
If you’re curious in the release date of Windows 12, you must first comprehend Microsoft’s new Windows development roadmap.
It seems that Microsoft is doing away with the lengthy development cycles of its desktop operating system, per a report by Windows Central.
With the launch of Windows 11, the firm has already given up on the idea of offering Windows as a service and is prepared to introduce new versions of its desktop operating system.
The transition to a 3-year release cycle for Windows is based on the new update roadmap. Windows 12 should debut sometime in 2024, most likely in the fall, just like Windows 11, since Windows 11 was released in 2021 (5th October, to be exact).
History of Microsoft’s Update Roadmap for Windows 12
The three-year update cycle is nothing new for Microsoft. In actuality, Microsoft continued to use this update schedule following the 2006 release of Windows Vista.
Windows 7 and Windows 8 were both released in 2009 and 2012, respectively, after a three-year delay. Microsoft released Windows 10, the most well-liked version of Windows, in 2015, three more years later. Microsoft abandoned its customary three-year upgrade schedule with Windows 10 and supported the operating system for six years before releasing Windows 11 in 2021.
After Windows 8/8.1 received poor reviews, it appears that Microsoft tried to concentrate on Windows 10 in 2015.
In reality, one of Microsoft’s engineers continued to proclaim in 2015 that Windows 10 would be the final release of the operating system, and the company never refuted the claim.
Not to mention, Microsoft was promoting “Windows as a service” on its own, and it was reluctant to discuss this potential branding.
In short, Microsoft wants its consumers to stop caring about version numbers and accept just “Windows” as the default operating system.
Windows 10 was launched with the Windows-as-a-service model to “install, upgrade, and service” the operating system for years to come under the direction of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Microsoft made the decision to update Windows 10 frequently rather than releasing a new version of the operating system every three to five years as it had previously done.
By the year 2021, things had much improved.
The following version of Windows, known as Windows 11, was finally unveiled by Microsoft.
Microsoft wants to resume its customary three-year update schedule now that its product is ready for prime time.
We therefore have solid grounds for believing that Windows 12 will release in 2024, and the notion that it might do so is not wholly unfounded.
Windows 12 Expected Features
Windows 12 has not yet been officially announced by Microsoft, and no features have leaked.
However, recent releases made available to Windows Insider users, particularly in the Dev channel, show that Microsoft is testing a number of new features and prototypes. For instance, Search in the Taskbar received various graphic modifications in the 25158 build (released on July 13).
Not to mention, Microsoft is experimenting with notification badges for the Windows 11 Taskbar’s weather widget. In addition, the Redmond behemoth is experimenting with yet another clever feature that lets you copy a date, time, or phone number and offers quicker inline actions to finish the work using a specific app.
Although I can’t guarantee that these features will be included in Windows 12, Microsoft has recently shown a willingness to experiment with new features in Insider releases. The Dev channel Insiders “may get to try out new ideas, longer lead features, and experiences that are intended to help validate concepts,” according to a recent statement from Microsoft.
Certain features might be included in Windows 11 (see upcoming Windows 11 features in preview here), but others might be delayed until a later release, ideally with Windows 12. The new features in Windows 12 will undoubtedly be tested by Windows Insiders first.
Windows 12: Hardware Requirements
Microsoft might not introduce stricter regulations to cut out older PCs when it comes to the hardware requirements for Windows 12.
Given that Microsoft is taking Windows computer security seriously, the TPM requirement will undoubtedly remain in place.
Although we can’t say for sure at this time, it’s possible that the business will boost the upper limit on processors that can run Windows 12.
However, we’re confident that if your current computer can run Windows 11, it can definitely run Windows 12.
Processor: 64-bit compatible System on a Chip or 1GHz or higher processor with two or more cores (SoC)
RAM must be at least 4 GB.
64 GB or more of storage is required.
Secure Boot-capable system firmware with UEFI
Trusted Platform Module (TPM): TPM version 2.0
Compatible with WDDM and DirectX 12 or later on the graphics card
driver 2.0
Display: High definition (720p), at least 9 inches across, with 8 bits per color channel support Microsoft accounts and an Internet connection: Internet access and a Microsoft account are required for Windows 11 Home edition to finish the device setup process when used for the first time.
A guide is available to assist you get around Windows 11 Pro’s prohibition on the creation of local accounts.
For instructions on setting up a local account in Windows 11, refer to the following tutorial.
Windows 12 Price: Will Windows 12 be Free?
Everything in Microsoft’s past suggests that upgrading from Windows 11 to Windows 12 will be free, just like it was for Windows 10 to 11. This is based on what we can tell from Microsoft’s past.
Additionally, qualified PCs running Windows 10 may have the chance to get Windows 12 for free.
However, you might need to purchase the retail licence for the next desktop OS from Microsoft if you want to run Windows 12 on a custom-built PC.
Windows 12 Next Valley Update Coming in 2024
So that’s all we currently know about Windows 12, but we will continue to update this guide when new information becomes available online. Despite the fact that Microsoft has yet to formally address Windows 12, it appears that Windows 12 will actually be the successor to Windows 11.
How New Features Will Launch on Windows 12?
Microsoft is altering how features will be made available on Windows 12 in addition to the new 3-year update schedule. Major feature updates for Windows 10 previously arrived twice a year (as H1 and H2).
With Windows 11, things were different, and most recently, an annual feature update replaced the previous update cycle. In reality, the initial Windows 11 22H2 feature upgrade will be released in September or October.
Installing the Windows 11 22H2 update immediately will allow you to explore all of the new features in Windows 11 22H2, if you are using the Windows 11 Release Preview channel.
Microsoft is apparently eliminating the annual update cycle for Windows 12 as well. Similar to Pixel’s Feature Drop, Microsoft has created a new engineering project named “Moments” that will roll out new features throughout the year.
According to reports, Windows 12 will receive at least four such feature drops per year.
What’s intriguing is that Microsoft is testing the Moments feature drop now, rather than waiting for Windows 12.
In actuality, there won’t be a Windows 11 23H2 upgrade in 2023 because Microsoft has cancelled the release of Sun Valley 3.
Instead, the new Moments feature will roll out to Windows 11 users in 2023, just before Windows 12 debuts in 2024.
