Microsoft has not announced Windows 12, and there is no official Windows 12 release date. Every predicted date so far (2024, 2025 and 2026) has passed with a Windows 11 update instead. The current version is Windows 11 version 26H2, released on 29 September 2026. The next big release is reported to be Windows 11 version 27H2 in late 2027, and Microsoft could still give it a new name. Our honest estimate: a Windows 12 is unlikely before late 2027, more realistic in 2028 or later, and there’s a real chance Microsoft keeps the Windows 11 name for years.
Windows 12 might be the most predicted product that has never been announced. Tech sites first said it was coming in 2024. Then 2025. Then 2026. Each time, the date passed and Microsoft shipped another Windows 11 update. In October 2026, Windows 12 still doesn’t officially exist.
So will it ever come, and when? We sell Windows licences, so our customers ask us this every week, and we’d rather give an honest answer than a clickbait date. This guide covers what Microsoft has actually confirmed, how every Windows 12 prediction played out, what the codenames meant, which rumoured features are real, and what we think is most likely to happen next. Every claim links to a source you can check.
Is There an Official Windows 12 Release Date?
No. Microsoft hasn’t announced Windows 12, set a release date, or confirmed that a product with that name is in development. Its official Windows release information page, which lists every version and its support dates, ends with Windows 11 version 26H2. There’s no placeholder, no codename and no “coming soon”.
What Microsoft has confirmed
- 2024 was not Windows 12. In February 2024, Microsoft said “Windows 11, version 24H2 will be this year’s annual feature update”, ending months of rumours (Windows Latest).
- Windows 11 updates once a year. Microsoft’s words: “Windows 11 will have an annual feature update cadence that releases in the second half of the calendar year.”
- Windows 11 26H2 is the current release. It began rolling out on 29 September 2026 and is supported until 10 October 2028 on Home and Pro.
- A “future Windows release” is coming for some PCs. Microsoft says new Arm PCs on version 26H1 “will have a path to update in a future Windows release” (Windows Central). It didn’t name that release.
What Microsoft hasn’t confirmed
Microsoft hasn’t confirmed a Windows 12 name, release date, price, feature list, hardware requirements or upgrade path. It also hasn’t confirmed Windows 11 version 27H2, although Windows Central reports it’s planned for late 2027. When you see a confident Windows 12 date on another site, it comes from rumour or the writer’s own guess.
What Microsoft Says About the Future of Windows
Microsoft doesn’t talk about Windows 12, but its leaders have been unusually open about where Windows is heading. These are the most useful official clues:
Read together, they paint a clear picture. Microsoft wants Windows to work with AI agents that can carry out tasks for you, to accept voice and other input alongside the mouse and keyboard, and to be more secure by default. That’s exactly the kind of change that could justify a new version number one day.
Notice what’s missing, though. Every statement says “Windows”, never “Windows 12”. And after the backlash to the “agentic OS” post, Microsoft’s leaders have talked more about quality and reliability, and less about big AI launches. That suggests a careful, step-by-step approach, not a dramatic new version in the near future.
Every Windows 12 Prediction vs What Actually Happened
The best way to judge a new Windows 12 date is to look at how the old ones turned out:
| Prediction | Where it came from | What Microsoft shipped | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Windows 12 in 2024” | July 2022 reports of a return to three-year releases | Windows 11 24H2 | Wrong |
| “Windows 12 in June 2024” | 2023 Taiwanese newspaper report | Windows 11 24H2 (October) | Wrong |
| “A Windows refresh in 2024” | Intel’s CFO, October 2023 | Windows 11 24H2 | Wrong |
| “Windows 12 in 2025” | Rumours after 24H2 | Windows 11 25H2 | Wrong |
| “Windows 12 in 2026, modular and partly subscription” | PCWorld report, covered March 2026 | Windows 11 26H2 | Wrong |
Why the predictions were partly right
In fairness, the people predicting a big 2024 release weren’t completely wrong. Windows 11 24H2 moved Windows onto a new core platform, the kind of change that once came with a new version. They were wrong about the name. Microsoft has become comfortable shipping major changes inside Windows 11, which is the main reason Windows 12 keeps not happening.
The 2026 prediction and Windows 10
One argument for a 2026 launch was that Windows 10’s paid Extended Security Updates would end in October 2026, so Microsoft would want a new Windows ready. In June 2026, Microsoft extended consumer ESU to 12 October 2027 instead (Help Net Security). That deadline, and the reasoning behind a 2026 Windows 12, moved by a year.
Windows 12 Codenames Explained
Rumours about Windows 12 usually come wrapped in codenames. Here’s what each one actually refers to:
The pattern is the same every time: a codename leaks, it gets called “Windows 12”, and it ships as part of Windows 11. Keep that in mind the next time a new codename appears in the headlines.
The Real Roadmap: Windows 11 26H2 Now, 27H2 Next
Could Windows 11 27H2 be called Windows 12?
It’s the most likely candidate if Microsoft ever renames Windows in the next few years. 27H2 is expected to be a full upgrade onto a new platform for everyone, the biggest change since 24H2. But Windows Central, which first reported 27H2, says on the name: “we don’t know, and likely won’t know until much closer to the time” (Windows Central). Its writer also argues Microsoft should unify Windows 11 before moving to Windows 12, which points to 27H2 staying in the Windows 11 family.
What about Arm PCs on Windows 11 26H1?
Microsoft says PCs that shipped with 26H1 can’t install 26H2 but will get a path to “a future Windows release”. That future release is widely expected to be 27H2. If you bought a new Snapdragon X2 laptop this year, you don’t need to do anything; it stays supported until March 2028.
Why Hasn’t Microsoft Released Windows 12?
Microsoft hasn’t explained its thinking, so this is our reading of the evidence:
Rumoured Windows 12 Features: Real, Possible or Fake?
Windows 12 feature lists are everywhere. Here’s how the most common claims stand up, and which of them you can already use in Windows 11:
| Rumoured feature | Status | What we actually know |
|---|---|---|
| AI built into the system | Already happening | Copilot is part of Windows 11, and Copilot+ PCs get extra on-device AI features. |
| AI agents that do tasks for you | Direction confirmed | Microsoft says Windows is adding “agentic workloads”. No version name attached. |
| Voice and multimodal control | Direction confirmed | Microsoft’s 2030 vision describes less mouse and keyboard, more voice. |
| Required NPU (AI chip) | Not confirmed | Only some Windows 11 features need an NPU. Windows itself doesn’t. |
| Subscription-only Windows | No evidence | No consumer Windows subscription has been announced. Windows 365 cloud PCs are a separate business product. |
| Modular CorePC design | Reported, unconfirmed | Reported in 2023. Microsoft has never announced it. |
| Floating taskbar and new design | Rumour | Based on concept images. Windows 11 design changes arrive through regular updates. |
| “Windows 12 Ready” PCs on sale | Not confirmed | Reported in rumours. No such Microsoft programme has been announced. |
AI and agents: the one big change that’s real
If there’s one thing that could eventually become “Windows 12”, it’s AI agents. Microsoft is building the plumbing now: according to GeekWire, that includes identities for agents, security controls and sandboxes that keep agent code contained. Microsoft says it’s prioritising this system-level work before interface changes, so you’re likely to see it arrive gradually inside Windows 11 first.
Will Windows 12 require an AI chip?
Nobody knows. Some rumours say a future Windows will need a neural processing unit (NPU) of 40 TOPS or more. That number comes from Copilot+ PCs, where it unlocks features such as Recall. It isn’t a requirement for Windows 11, and Microsoft hasn’t said a future version will demand it.
Will Windows 12 be a subscription?
There’s no evidence of a subscription-only Windows for home users. The rumour mostly comes from leaked references to “subscription” settings, and from Microsoft’s business products like Windows 365, which streams a Windows PC from the cloud for a monthly fee. A paid tier for extra cloud AI features is possible one day, but nothing has been announced.
Windows 12 vs Windows 11: What Would Actually Be Different?
Comparing Windows 11 with a product that doesn’t exist is tricky, but we can compare Windows 11 today with the direction Microsoft has publicly described. The honest takeaway: most of what people expect from Windows 12 is arriving in Windows 11 already.
| Windows 11 today | Where Microsoft says Windows is heading | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you control it | Mouse, keyboard, touch, pen; voice typing and Copilot | More voice and multimodal input, per Microsoft’s 2030 vision | Direction only |
| AI | Copilot built in; extra on-device AI on Copilot+ PCs | AI agents that complete tasks across apps | In development |
| Security | TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, Windows Hello, passkeys | Stronger defaults, sandboxed AI agents, quantum-safe security | In development |
| Updates | One yearly feature update, monthly fixes, hotpatching on some PCs | Fewer restarts and faster updates | Partly here |
| Platform | Two Windows cores (Germanium and Bromine) | One unified platform, reportedly with 27H2 | Reported for 2027 |
| Name and price | Windows 11, from $139 (Home) at launch | Unknown | Not announced |
Will Windows 12 look different?
Probably, eventually, but don’t expect a dramatic redesign soon. Microsoft’s head of Windows has said the team is prioritising system-level work before interface changes, and visual changes such as the new Start menu have been delivered as Windows 11 updates. The glassy floating taskbars in Windows 12 videos come from designers’ concepts, not Microsoft.
Would Windows 12 run your existing apps?
Almost certainly. Running older software is one of Windows’ biggest strengths, and every recent version has kept compatibility with the apps of its predecessor. Even Windows 11 on Arm PCs runs most traditional Windows apps through built-in emulation.
Windows 12 System Requirements: Will Your PC Be Ready?
Microsoft hasn’t published Windows 12 requirements, because there’s no Windows 12. The two best reference points are the Windows 11 minimum and the Copilot+ PC specification for Microsoft’s most advanced AI features:
| Windows 11 minimum | Copilot+ PC | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Supported 64-bit CPU, 2+ cores, 1 GHz (roughly Intel 8th gen or AMD Ryzen 2000 and newer) | Processor with a 40+ TOPS NPU |
| Memory | 4 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB | 256 GB SSD |
| Security | TPM 2.0, UEFI with Secure Boot | TPM 2.0, UEFI with Secure Boot |
| Who needs it | Everyone running Windows 11 | Only for Copilot+ features such as Recall |
Our advice: if your PC runs Windows 11 well today, it’s in the best possible position for whatever comes next. If you’re buying a new PC and plan to keep it for six years or more, 16 GB of memory and a recent processor are a sensible way to stay ahead of future requirements.
Windows 12 Price: What to Expect
There’s no official Windows 12 price, and any figure you see is a guess. Here’s what history tells us:
| Version | Upgrade from previous version | Full US retail price |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 (2015) | Free for 1 year from Windows 7 and 8.1 | Home $119, Pro $199 at launch |
| Windows 11 (2021) | Free from Windows 10 on eligible PCs | Home $139, Pro $199.99 at launch |
| Windows 12 | Not announced | Not announced |
The last two versions were free upgrades for most people with a genuine licence. If Microsoft follows that pattern, a Windows 11 licence bought today would carry over. That isn’t guaranteed, but it’s been Microsoft’s approach for over a decade.
Our Windows 12 Release Date Estimate
This is our opinion, not Microsoft’s. We’ve based it on the confirmed roadmap, Microsoft’s public statements and how past versions were timed:
One more clue: Microsoft announced Windows 11 in June 2021 and released it in October 2021, less than four months later. If Windows 12 is real, you’ll likely get only a few months’ notice. Until Microsoft announces something, any specific date is a guess.
Looking further ahead? Our guide to the Windows 13 release date separates the facts from the fake leaks.
Should You Wait for Windows 12 or Buy Windows 11 Now?
Don’t wait. Windows 12 hasn’t been announced, and even our most optimistic estimate puts it more than a year away. Here’s what makes sense for each situation:
Will my Windows 11 key work on Windows 12?
Microsoft hasn’t said. History is on your side, though: Windows 10 and Windows 11 were both free upgrades for genuine licences of the previous version. Microsoft even let old Windows 7 and 8 keys activate Windows 10 and 11 for years, before closing that route in 2023 (Thurrott). If you change PCs often, a retail key is the safer choice; our guide shows how to check whether your key is OEM or retail.
Make sure you’re on the latest Windows 11
The real “next Windows” for most people is the yearly Windows 11 update. To get it, open Settings › Windows Update and select Check for updates:
If your PC is on Windows 10 and doesn’t offer Windows 11, a clean install is often quicker. Our guide to clean installing Windows 11 from USB walks you through every step.
Watch Out for Fake Windows 12 Downloads and Pre-orders
Because so many people search for Windows 12, scammers use the name. There is no Windows 12 build, beta or ISO, so anything offering one is fake. In 2021, a store sold a “Windows 12 Lite” download that turned out to be a Linux system styled to look like Windows. Fake Windows installers are also a common way to spread malware.
- No Windows 12 ISO exists. Download Windows only from microsoft.com.
- No one can sell a Windows 12 key or pre-order. Microsoft hasn’t announced the product, so there’s nothing to pre-order.
- Check that videos are labelled “concept”. Windows 12 videos on YouTube are design mock-ups, not real software.
- Trust official sources first. The Windows Insider blog and Microsoft’s release information page will be the first places a real Windows 12 appears.
How to Follow Real Windows 12 News
If Windows 12 is real, these are the places it will appear first, long before it shows up in YouTube thumbnails:
- Microsoft’s Windows release information page. The official list of every Windows version and its support dates. A new version will appear here.
- The Windows Insider blog. Microsoft tests new versions with Insiders first, and version names usually appear in test builds before launch.
- The Windows Experience blog and Microsoft events. Windows 11 was announced at a dedicated Microsoft event in June 2021. Build, held each spring, and Ignite, in the autumn, are where Windows plans are shared.
- Established Windows news sites that name their sources, such as Windows Central, Windows Latest and Thurrott.
- This page. We update it whenever Microsoft confirms anything about Windows 12 or 27H2.
A simple rule: if the only source for a Windows 12 date is a video, a social media post or a site selling something, wait for Microsoft to say it.
Get Windows 11 Today
Windows 11 is the current Windows, with new features delivered free every year. Noxkeys delivers genuine Windows 11 retail product keys instantly by email, with step-by-step activation instructions, so you’re ready today and well placed for whatever Microsoft releases next.
Browse all Windows licences, read our FAQ, or contact us if you’re not sure which edition you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Windows 12 release date?
There is no official Windows 12 release date. Microsoft hasn’t announced Windows 12. The current version is Windows 11 version 26H2, released on 29 September 2026.
Is Windows 12 coming out in 2026?
No. Microsoft’s 2026 release was Windows 11 version 26H2. Predictions of a 2026 Windows 12 turned out to be wrong.
Will Windows 12 come out in 2027?
Possibly, but it’s unlikely. The big release expected in late 2027 is reported to be Windows 11 version 27H2. Microsoft could rename it, but there’s no sign of that yet.
Has Microsoft cancelled Windows 12?
There’s nothing to cancel, because Microsoft never announced it. Microsoft simply hasn’t said whether a Windows 12 will exist.
Is Windows 11 the last version of Windows?
Microsoft hasn’t said that. It said something similar about Windows 10 in 2015, and then released Windows 11 in 2021. Microsoft’s leaders have talked about “future versions of Windows”.
Will Windows 12 be free for Windows 11 users?
Unknown. Windows 10 and Windows 11 were both free upgrades for most genuine users of the previous version, so a free upgrade would follow the pattern, but it isn’t guaranteed.
Will Windows 12 require an NPU or AI chip?
Not confirmed. Some Windows 11 features need a Copilot+ PC with a 40+ TOPS NPU, but Windows 11 itself doesn’t. Microsoft hasn’t published requirements for any future version.
Will Windows 12 be a subscription?
There’s no evidence of a subscription-only Windows for home users. Windows 365, which streams Windows from the cloud, is a separate business product.
What was Hudson Valley?
Hudson Valley was the codename for the 2024 Windows release that many expected to be Windows 12. It shipped as Windows 11 version 24H2.
What is Windows 11 27H2?
A Windows 11 release reported by Windows Central for late 2027, expected to move all Windows 11 PCs onto one new platform. Microsoft hasn’t confirmed it yet.
Can I download Windows 12?
No. There is no Windows 12 build, beta or ISO. Any site offering a download is fake and may contain malware. Only download Windows from microsoft.com.
Should I buy Windows 11 or wait for Windows 12?
Buy Windows 11. Windows 12 hasn’t been announced, while Windows 11 26H2 is supported until October 2028 and new features arrive in free yearly updates.
Will my Windows 11 key work on Windows 12?
Microsoft hasn’t said. Past upgrades from Windows 7 and 10 were free for genuine licences, which is encouraging, but there’s no guarantee for a future version.
What would be different in Windows 12?
Microsoft hasn’t said. Its leaders have described a future Windows with AI agents, more voice and multimodal input, and stronger security. Much of that is arriving in Windows 11 through updates.
Will Windows 12 run my current apps?
Almost certainly. Every recent Windows version has kept compatibility with its predecessor’s apps, and Windows 11 on Arm even runs most traditional apps through emulation.
When will Microsoft announce Windows 12?
Nobody knows. Microsoft announced Windows 11 less than four months before its release, so a real Windows 12 would likely be announced only months ahead.