Windows 12: Release Date and Everything Else We Know

Microsoft is reportedly working on a new version of Windows to replace Windows 11. In fact, Microsoft has already shown off a prototype new Windows desktop design that could be part of Windows 12 “Next Valley.” Here’s everything we know.

Windows 12 Release Date: When Will It Be?​

Microsoft is planning on releasing Windows 12 in 2024, according to credible reports. Microsoft is on a yearly release cycle where major updates are released in the fall, so we would expect Windows 12 release date in fall 2024.

Bear in mind that Microsoft hasn’t yet announced Windows 12 or a release date for it as of February 2023. The 2024 date reflects Microsoft’s internal thinking, and it’s easy to see how it could be pushed back or changed entirely. The operating system may not even be called “Windows 12” and may be called something else—after all, we were expecting Windows 9 after Windows 8, but Microsoft skipped right over Windows 9 and gave us Windows 10 instead. Likewise, the operating system that started as Windows 10X for dual-screen devices evolved into Windows 11.

The 2024 release target for Windows 12 comes from Zac Bowden over at Windows Central, a Windows journalist with a history of accurate reporting, who heard it from his internal sources at Microsoft. According to these internal Microsoft sources, Microsoft is now targeting a three-year release cycle for Windows releases.

If Microsoft sticks with these plans and the sources are accurate, we can expect a Windows 13 in fall 2027 and a Windows 14 in fall 2030.

Read more:

Windows 12: Release Date and Everything Else We Know

Microsoft has already revealed a prototype desktop redesign for Windows 12.

www.howtogeek.com

 

[flashh4]

If you’ve upgraded an unsupported PC to Windows 11, however, we imagine there’s a good chance your unsupported PC won’t be able to run Windows 12 at all.

Might be a lot of people hurting if this comes true !But i bet it wouldn't be long before someone has a way around that !!

 

[Try3]

Thanks for posting this. It's nice being informed of evolving opinions.

If a 2024 release date was on the cards, Insiders would already be seeing & recognising test versions, I would have thought.
If a 2024 release date was on the cards, the Windows 12 team they started recruiting in 2022 would have been recruited earlier, I would have thought.
If a 2024 release date was on the cards yet Insiders were not already seeing & recognising test versions & the Windows 12 team they started recruiting in 2022 were hired in time, Windows 12 would be planned to be another update of Windows 10 just like Windows 11 is, I would have thought.


All the best,
Denis

 

[Bree]

If a 2024 release date was on the cards, Insiders would already be seeing & recognising test versions, I would have thought.

Already seeing, maybe. Recognising, probably not. We didn't last time round.....

Windows 10 Dev build 21390.1000 had (in retrospect) recognisable precursors for Windows 11. That was released in June 2021.

KB5004123 CU Windows 10 Insider Preview Dev Build 21390.2025 - June 14

Cumulative Update for Dev Channel (Fast ring)

www.tenforums.com

The first openly Windows 11 Dev build was released to Insiders at the end of June 2021, just months before the retail launch.

Windows 11 Insider Preview Dev 10.0.22000.51 (co_release) - June 28

KB5004564 Cumulative Update

www.tenforums.com

If Windows 12 follows the same pattern we could be testing parts of in now in the Dev channel without knowing it.