Although we're still seeing the release of new versions of Windows 11 , it's no secret that Microsoft is already working on the next chapter of its operating system: Windows 12. Its release date and new features could be revealed soon.
We're using the name Windows 12 purely as a logical deduction, even though its actual name is still unknown . In fact, some leaks on X (formerly Twitter) from a Microsoft employee suggested that the "Windows 12" name wasn't even being considered. Perhaps the new version is already in development, but with a different name. For now, nothing is certain.
In this post we are going to compile everything that is known to date on the subject. As a preview, we can assure you that, regardless of what its official name will finally be, it seems that Microsoft engineers are fully immersed in the planning phase of this new system. It may even be that the next version of Windows 11, which would be named 24H2, would actually be the new Windows 12 that we all expect. In any case, there is still a lot of work ahead.
What's new in Windows 12
Everything we know about Windows 12 so far, which is not much, comes from the publications that have appeared in certain specialized media. This is a small sample of what could come with this new version:
- floating taskbar, slightly separated and rounded at the edges. That would result in a more modern and minimalist aesthetic. A test of this has already been tested in one of the versions of Windows 11 that have appeared to date.
- Different partitions to improve the fluidity and above all the security of the system. This solution would mean that some files would be located on a drive inaccessible to users.
- Integration with AI. A natural and inevitable evolution. Artificial intelligence would control all the internal parameters of the system, from energy savings to the use of resources of each application. These are decisions that the user would no longer make.
Of course, this is just a small preview of everything that Windows 12 could bring us. Surely when the launch is officially announced, the news will be much more numerous and perhaps even more surprising.
possible requirements
Although we don't have all the data on the table to know exactly what to expect, everything indicates that Windows 12 is going to be a particularly demanding version in terms of the requirements of the PCs that want to install it.
One of the most noteworthy aspects would be the RAM, which could be a minimum of 8 GB . This alone could render many computers currently running the latest version of Windows obsolete. The reason for setting this minimum is that cloud computing and artificial intelligence will play a major role in the new Windows 12. All of this will demand a much higher level of processing power than what has been available until now.
Furthermore, the requirement to have TPM 2.0 functionality enabled will continue . In summary, the (unofficial) list of requirements could be as follows:
- 64-bit processor (ARM / x86) at minimum 1GHz.
- 8 GB of RAM at least.
- 64 GB of storage.
- TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module).
- UEFI with secure boot support.
- Screen: from 9 inches and resolution 1.366 x 768 px.
- DirectX 12 compatible GPU.
- Internet connection.
A paid Windows?
But one of the most striking possibilities regarding Windows 12 is the potential for it to be an operating system accessible only through a monthly subscription. This would be a significant departure from Microsoft's approach over the years, although it's also true that it's something the company has been considering for some time.
The idea could be the following: to launch Windows 12 (or whatever it ends up being called) as an optional extension of advanced features that would be accessible from Windows 10 and Windows 11, by paying for it.
For now, all this remains in the realm of speculation, because launching this model would generate many doubts and situations that are difficult to resolve. Not to mention what the degree of acceptance by users would be.
Windows 12 release date
As we do not know exactly what stage of development the Windows 12 project is in, it is difficult to establish an approximate date for its release.
If we consider the three-year cycle at which Microsoft has been releasing updates recently, the new version could be released at the end of 2014 (Windows 11 was released in October 2021). This date would also coincide with the end of support for Windows 10.
In the coming months we will have more information and learn new details about Windows 12, which we will obviously reveal and analyze in this blog.