Microsoft still hasn't announced the existence of Windows 12, but it's reasonable to speculate about what might be included in the next major version of the desktop OS based on current trends. In particular, the continued development of the Copilot, Copilot+ PC, and Windows on Arm fronts seems notable in my expert opinion.
At CES 2025, Microsoft published a blog post stating that 2025 would be the "year of the Windows 11 refresh," effectively putting an end to the idea for this year. At any rate, I expect a new major version to appear in the next few years.
Six years passed between the launch of Windows 10 and Windows 11 in October 2021. Prior to Windows 10, major releases occurred every three years, at least since Windows Vista. But Windows 10, which was supposedly the "last version of Windows," marked a shift. Which cadence will we see going forward? Let's consider the possibilities.
When Could Windows 12 Arrive?
Since Microsoft adopted an annual feature update cadence for its desktop OS, with updates like 24H2 and 25H2 arriving in the autumn of each year, that time of year seems likely for the next major version update. If we drew a parallel with the Windows 10 lifespan, we'd get Windows 12 in 2027. Yeah...let's go with that!
That's also the time frame my colleague Ed Bott at ZDNet is betting on. Another piece of evidence for this projection is that the latest annual update, Windows 11 25H2, will remain supported through October 2027. Ed also speculates that Windows 12 might require a Copilot+ PC equipped with a neural processing unit (NPU), something I've written about in the past.
Who's the Best Source for Windows 12 Leaks?
Most of the details about potential future developments in Windows come from a single source: Windows Central’s Zac Bowden, who has deep reach inside the company and a decent track record when it comes to Windows predictions.
Highlights among his leaks about the next version of Windows include that the OS will have more AI built in and that it will switch to a lightweight, modular code in what's called Core PC. Bowden previously broke the news that the codename for the 2024 update was Hudson Valley.
Is Windows as a Service Gone?
Not by a long shot.
When Windows 10 launched, Microsoft stated that updates would arrive between the big updates in a steady stream, using the phrase "Windows as a service." Microsoft's Windows Lifecycle FAQ clearly states, "New versions of Windows 11 will be released once per year and will receive monthly quality updates that include security and non-security updates."
Windows 11 has followed this pattern, with a good number of new features and interface updates appearing since its initial launch. Windows 12 will certainly not be a static, monolithic entity, either. It will continue to evolve and gain new features on an ongoing basis. Keep in mind that Windows 10 in 2020 was a significantly different and more capable OS than Windows 10 in 2015, as the company had rolled out numerous feature updates in the interim.
Despite references to Windows 10 as "the last version of Windows," Microsoft has made it clear that its practice of releasing both major feature updates (as in 22H2 and 23H2) and interim updates (sometimes called Moments) continues with Windows 11. We have every reason to believe that strategy will continue with Windows 12.
Will Windows 12 Require a Subscription?
Eagle-eyed code watchers have noticed references to "subscription edition," "subscription type," and "subscription status" in the code for a Windows Insider build in the Canary channel (the earliest release channel). These references have led to speculation that Microsoft may require a subscription for the OS in the future, and that PC prices may be lower as a result. Further speculation suggests that a free, ad-supported version of Windows 12 may also be available.
However, that's merely speculation. A stronger possibility is that these references to subscriptions are for business users, similar to the already available Windows 365 Cloud PC option. Even Bowden published an article debunking the subscription rumor, though Ed Bott suggests that we may see subscriptions for the Pro editions of Windows 12, while the Home edition will run only Microsoft Store apps. I'm highly dubious of those last two claims, but Bott is an astute Windows watcher.
A subscription requirement would surely outrage longtime Windows users. That's what happened when Adobe Photoshop first moved to a subscription model. Users eventually paid up, however, boosting Adobe's profits and enabling the company to develop impressive new features.
Windows 12 Will Have More Built-In AI
Windows 11's 23H2 update introduced powerful new AI tools, including Copilot. The 24H2 update added yet more, especially for Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft has also announced the most significant Copilot integration in Windows yet, letting you analyze and control anything on your PC and presenting a Copilot search box on the taskbar. This will be opt-in, according to the relates Microsoft blog post.
Copilot is also getting more PC voice control with "Hey Copilot," and Copilot on Windows can already use the Copilot Vision feature to analyze visual content in a specified program window. An Insider preview build of Windows 11 recently got wake-word functionality for Copilot in the OS. On Copilot+ PCs, the nifty Click to Do feature has appeared, suggesting and taking actions for highlighted items on your PC screen. These machines also benefit from natural-language AI-assisted semantic search in the Search panel, File Explorer, and Settings.
Via pcmag, Inet, Picarchive
