Buy Windows 11 now. Don’t wait for Windows 12. Microsoft hasn’t announced Windows 12, and in May 2026 the head of Windows said outright that a new OS version wasn’t coming. At its October 2026 event Microsoft added its new AI features to Windows 11 instead. The next big release is expected to be Windows 11 version 27H2 in late 2027, a free update. Waiting gets you nothing except more time on an older or unsupported system. And if Windows 12 ever does arrive, Microsoft’s track record suggests a genuine Windows 11 licence is the best ticket to it.
It’s a fair question. Nobody wants to pay for Windows 11 and then watch Windows 12 launch a month later. We sell Windows licences, so we hear some version of it almost every day: “Is Windows 12 coming soon? Should I hold off?”
The honest answer, as of late October 2026, is no. Below we’ll show you exactly why: what Microsoft has actually said, what you’d gain or lose by waiting, whether your licence and PC are likely to carry over, and a quick verdict for your situation. If you just want the verdict, it’s in the next section.
Quick Answer: Buy Windows 11 Now or Wait?
For almost everyone, buying Windows 11 now is the right call. There are only a couple of cases where waiting makes sense, and even then you’re waiting for something other than Windows 12.
- You’re building a new PC or replacing a drive
- You’re on Windows 10 and your PC can’t take the free upgrade
- Your PC has an unactivated or non-genuine copy of Windows
- You want Pro features like BitLocker, Remote Desktop or Hyper-V
- You need a stable, supported system for work or study
- Your Windows 10 PC can upgrade to Windows 11 for free (no purchase needed)
- You’re already on activated Windows 11; the next versions come free
- You’re planning to buy a new laptop soon, which will come with Windows 11 already licensed
Is Windows 12 Coming Soon? What Microsoft Has Actually Said
No. And this time it’s not just silence from Microsoft. Three things happened in 2026 that make the picture unusually clear. (Our full Windows 12 release date guide covers the rumour history in detail.)
1. Microsoft’s Windows chief said it directly
On 29 May 2026, ahead of the Build developer conference, Pavan Davuluri, President of Windows + Devices at Microsoft, posted: “Something new is coming for developers. And no, it’s not a new OS version.” Coming from the person who runs Windows, that was about as plain as Microsoft gets about unreleased products (PCWorld).
2. The October 2026 event was about Windows 11
On 7 October 2026 Microsoft held its first big Windows event in two years, in San Francisco. It launched the Surface Laptop Ultra and a set of AI “agent” features: Microsoft Execution Containers became generally available in Windows 11, Copilot in the taskbar search box is rolling out “this fall”, and the Copilot app gained the ability to act on your files and PC. No Windows 12, and no new name (Engadget, Windows Latest).
3. The roadmap points to Windows 11 version 27H2
Windows 11 version 26H2 reached general availability on 29 September 2026. The next major release is expected around September or October 2027 as Windows 11 version 27H2, probably on a new platform codenamed “Strontium”. Windows Central’s Zac Bowden, one of the most reliable Windows reporters, says the name likely won’t be known until close to launch (Windows Central). So in theory, the 2027 release could be renamed Windows 12. Even then, it’s at least a year away.
| Predicted Windows 12 date | Where it came from | What Microsoft actually shipped | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late 2024 | Leaks around the “Hudson Valley” codename | Windows 11 24H2 | Wrong |
| 2025 | Intel and analyst comments | Windows 11 25H2 | Wrong |
| Mid–late 2026 | Speculation tied to new Arm chips | Windows 11 26H1 and 26H2 | Wrong |
| Late 2027 | Possible rename of 27H2 | Not released yet | Unconfirmed |
What Waiting for Windows 12 Actually Costs You
Waiting feels free, but it isn’t. Here’s what each choice looks like over the next 12 months:
| Buy Windows 11 now | Wait for Windows 12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Security updates | Every month | Only if your current Windows is still supported |
| New features | Free yearly update (27H2 in 2027) | None until you upgrade |
| Copilot and AI agent features | Rolling out now | Not on Windows 10 |
| Price | Pay once for a lifetime licence | Unknown; Windows 12 has no price |
| Risk of buying the “wrong” thing | Low: past upgrades were free | Pre-orders and “Windows 12 keys” sold now are fake |
| Software and game support | Full | Shrinking on Windows 10 |
The one thing waiting can’t give you is Windows 12 itself, because there’s nothing to buy. Anyone selling a “Windows 12 key” or offering a “Windows 12 download” today is selling something fake, often malware. We cover how to spot those in our Windows 12 guide.
If You’re Still on Windows 10
This is where the decision really matters. Windows 10’s regular support ended on 14 October 2025. Since then, home users only get security fixes through the Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme. In June 2026 Microsoft quietly extended consumer ESU by a year, so it now runs until 12 October 2027 (Help Net Security). Some articles still say October 2026; that date is out of date.
So if you’re on Windows 10, your real choice isn’t “Windows 11 or Windows 12”. It’s “move to Windows 11 now, on your own schedule” or “stay on borrowed time and rush later”. First, check whether your PC can upgrade for free with our Windows 11 compatibility checker. If it can, the upgrade costs nothing: go to Settings › Windows Update. If it can’t, often only TPM or Secure Boot needs switching on in the BIOS, and the checker shows how.
Will a Windows 11 Licence Work With Windows 12?
This is the real fear behind the question: “If I buy Windows 11 now, will I have to pay again for Windows 12?” Microsoft hasn’t said, because Windows 12 doesn’t officially exist. But history is a useful guide:
| Upgrade | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 7 / 8.1 → Windows 10 | Free upgrade | Free for a year officially; old keys kept working until Microsoft closed the loophole in 2023 |
| Windows 10 → Windows 11 | Free upgrade | Still free on compatible PCs. Windows 10 keys also activate Windows 11 |
| Windows 11 version to version | Always free | Every yearly update (24H2, 25H2, 26H2) installs free through Windows Update |
| Windows 11 → a future Windows 12 | Unknown | Not announced. The pattern points to a free upgrade, but it isn’t guaranteed |
In other words, a genuine, activated Windows 11 licence puts you in the best possible position if Windows 12 ever arrives. If Microsoft repeats the last two upgrades, you’ll get it free. If it doesn’t, you’d be no worse off than someone who waited, and you’d have had a supported system in the meantime.
One detail worth knowing: a retail licence can be moved to a new PC, while an OEM licence stays with the first PC it’s activated on. If you plan to upgrade your hardware later, retail is the safer choice. Not sure which one you have? Our OEM vs Retail key checker tells you in a minute.
Will Your PC Run Windows 12?
Nobody knows Windows 12’s requirements yet. What we do know is what Windows 11 needs today and what Microsoft’s AI features need. Microsoft has also said the next version of Windows will drop the old Snapdragon 850 chip (Windows Central), a hint that older hardware will gradually fall off.
| Windows 11 minimum | Copilot+ PC (for the AI features) | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel 8th gen / AMD Ryzen 2000 or newer, 64-bit, 2+ cores, 1 GHz | Snapdragon X, Intel Core Ultra 200V or AMD Ryzen AI 300 and newer |
| NPU (AI chip) | Not required | 40+ TOPS |
| Memory | 4 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB | 256 GB SSD |
| Security | TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot | TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, plus Pluton on many models |
Our advice: don’t try to buy hardware for an operating system that doesn’t exist. If your PC runs Windows 11 well, it will run every Windows 11 update through at least 2027. If you’re buying a new PC anyway, 16 GB of RAM and a recent processor are the best way to stay ready for whatever comes next.
Windows 12 Features You’d Be Waiting For (Most Are in Windows 11)
Most of the features people link to “Windows 12” have already shipped, or are shipping, as Windows 11 updates. Waiting for them makes little sense:
| “Windows 12” feature | Status | What’s actually happening |
|---|---|---|
| AI agents that act on your PC | In Windows 11 | Microsoft Execution Containers launched in October 2026; the new Copilot app can work with your files |
| Copilot in taskbar search | Rolling out | Coming to Windows 11 PCs “this fall” (autumn 2026) |
| Recall and on-device AI | In Windows 11 | On Copilot+ PCs with a 40+ TOPS NPU |
| Faster, smaller updates | In Windows 11 | 26H2 installs in under five minutes on 25H2 PCs (Windows Latest) |
| Running local AI models | In Windows 11 | Windows ML gains llama.cpp support; Nvidia RTX Spark PCs run large models locally |
| Floating taskbar, new design | Rumour only | Based on a 2022 concept mock-up; never confirmed |
| Subscription-only Windows | No evidence | Microsoft has never said Windows will become a subscription for home users |
How the Next Windows Will Reach You: Windows Update
Here’s the part that makes waiting pointless for most people. Since 2021, every new Windows version has arrived the same way: free, through Windows Update, on PCs that already run activated Windows 11. When 27H2 (or whatever Microsoft calls it) is ready, this is where you’ll see it:
Want to see which version and edition you have right now? Open Settings › System › About (or press the Windows key + Pause/Break):
If you see Windows 10 here, or Windows 11 says it isn’t activated, that’s your sign to act now rather than wait. Activation problems usually come with an error code, and our activation error code lookup explains each one.
Verdict by Situation
Find the card that matches you:
Building a new PC or doing a clean install? Our Windows 11 bootable USB tool gives you the exact steps for Windows, Mac or Linux, and our clean install guide walks through every setup screen.
Windows 11 Home or Pro?
If you’ve decided to buy, the next question is which edition. Most home users are fine with Home; Pro adds tools that matter for work, privacy and tinkering:
| Feature | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| BitLocker drive encryption | Device encryption only (on supported PCs) | Full BitLocker |
| Remote Desktop (connect to this PC) | No | Yes |
| Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox | No | Yes |
| Group Policy and domain join | No | Yes |
| Copilot, Recall and AI features | Yes | Yes |
| Gaming and everyday apps | Yes | Yes |
| Free yearly feature updates | Yes | Yes |
How to Buy Windows 11 Safely
Whichever edition you choose, a few simple checks keep you away from the fake keys and scam downloads that tend to spike around Windows 12 rumours:
Our Verdict
Waiting for Windows 12 means waiting for a product Microsoft says isn’t coming yet, with no date and no price. Meanwhile, Windows 11 gets the new AI features, free yearly updates, and a clear support path. If Microsoft does eventually release a Windows 12, history says people with a genuine Windows 11 licence will be first in line, probably for free.
So buy Windows 11 when you need it, not when the rumours say. We’ll keep this page updated, and if Microsoft ever announces Windows 12, you’ll find the details in our Windows 12 release date guide (and, for the long view, our Windows 13 guide).
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy Windows 11 now or wait for Windows 12?
Buy Windows 11 now if you need Windows. Microsoft hasn’t announced Windows 12, its Windows chief said in May 2026 that a new OS version wasn’t coming, and the next big release expected is Windows 11 version 27H2 in late 2027. Waiting gives you nothing to buy and less time on a supported system.
Is Windows 12 coming in 2026?
No. Microsoft’s October 2026 Windows event launched new features for Windows 11, and Windows 11 version 26H2 was released on 29 September 2026. There is no Windows 12 release in 2026.
When will Windows 12 be released?
There is no official date. The earliest realistic chance is late 2027, if Microsoft decides to rename the expected Windows 11 27H2 release. It’s just as likely that Microsoft keeps the Windows 11 name.
Will Windows 11 users get Windows 12 for free?
Microsoft hasn’t said. The last two upgrades, Windows 7 and 8.1 to Windows 10 and Windows 10 to Windows 11, were free for licensed users, so a genuine Windows 11 licence puts you in the best position.
Will my Windows 11 product key work on Windows 12?
Nobody can promise that yet. Windows 10 keys do activate Windows 11, and Windows 11 feature updates always keep your activation, which suggests Microsoft would follow the same approach.
Is it worth upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 now?
Yes. Windows 10 consumer Extended Security Updates end on 12 October 2027, after which Windows 10 gets no security fixes. If your PC meets the requirements, the upgrade to Windows 11 is free.
Can I buy a Windows 12 key or pre-order Windows 12?
No. Microsoft hasn’t released or priced Windows 12, so any Windows 12 key, pre-order or download offered today is fake and may contain malware.
Will my PC be able to run Windows 12?
Windows 12’s requirements are unknown. A PC that meets Windows 11’s requirements will get every Windows 11 update through at least 2027. For Microsoft’s on-device AI features you need a Copilot+ PC with a 40+ TOPS NPU and 16 GB of RAM.
Should I buy Windows 11 Home or Pro?
Home is enough for most people, including gaming and the new AI features. Choose Pro if you need BitLocker encryption, Remote Desktop, Hyper-V or Group Policy.