There is no Windows 13 release date. Microsoft hasn’t announced Windows 13, or even Windows 12. The newest version is Windows 11 version 26H2, released on 29 September 2026, and the next big update is expected to be Windows 11 version 27H2 in late 2027. Based on Microsoft’s roadmap and how often new Windows versions have appeared in the past, a Windows 13 is unlikely before 2030, if it comes at all. Every “Windows 13” video, leak or download you see today is a concept, a mod or a scam.
Search YouTube for “Windows 13” and you’ll find slick videos with glassy taskbars, floating widgets and confident release dates. Some have millions of views. None of them come from Microsoft.
We sell Windows licences, so we get asked about this constantly: should I buy Windows 11 now, or wait for Windows 13? This guide gives you the straight answer. It separates what Microsoft has actually confirmed from what’s been made up, explains the real Windows roadmap for 2026 and 2027, and gives an honest estimate of when Windows 13 could realistically arrive. Every fact links to its source, so you can check it yourself.
Is There a Windows 13 Release Date?
No. As of October 2026, Microsoft hasn’t announced Windows 13, given it a release date, or even used the name. There’s no Windows 12 announcement either. Anyone quoting a specific Windows 13 date is guessing.
The best place to check is Microsoft’s own Windows 11 release information page. It lists every version Microsoft has shipped, with support dates. The newest entry is Windows 11 version 26H2. There’s nothing after it, and no mention of a new Windows name.
What Microsoft has actually confirmed
- Windows 11 gets one feature update a year. In Microsoft’s words, “Windows 11 will have an annual feature update cadence that releases in the second half of the calendar year.” It has repeated this since 2022.
- The annual update isn’t a new Windows. In February 2024, when rumours said Windows 12 was coming that year, Microsoft confirmed that “Windows 11, version 24H2 will be this year’s annual feature update” (Windows Latest).
- Windows 11 version 26H2 is the current release. It came out on 29 September 2026 and is supported until 10 October 2028 on Home and Pro.
- Windows 11 version 26H1 is a special release for new Arm-based PCs only, and Microsoft says those PCs will get a path to a future Windows release.
- Feature updates are supported for 24 months on Home and Pro, and 36 months on Enterprise and Education.
What Microsoft hasn’t said
Microsoft has made no statement about Windows 12 or Windows 13: not a name, a date, a feature list, a price or hardware requirements. It hasn’t confirmed the version after 26H2 either. Windows 11 version 27H2 comes from reporting by Windows Central, not from Microsoft.
The Real Windows Roadmap for 2026 and 2027
Instead of guessing about Windows 13, it helps to look at what Microsoft is actually shipping. Here’s the confirmed and reported timeline:
Windows 11 version 26H2: the current release
Windows 11 26H2, also called the Windows 11 2026 Update, started rolling out on 29 September 2026. It’s a small update: PCs on 24H2 or 25H2 get it as an enablement package that installs in a few minutes. Microsoft’s release health page lists any known issues. There’s nothing in it that hints at a new Windows name.
Windows 11 version 26H1: the Arm-only release
26H1 is the odd one out. It runs on a newer Windows core and ships only on new Arm PCs. Microsoft says those PCs can’t move to 26H2, but “will have a path to update in a future Windows release” (Windows Central). That “future release” is one of the main reasons people expect a bigger update in 2027.
Windows 11 version 27H2: the next big one
According to Windows Central’s sources, Microsoft plans to bring every Windows 11 PC onto one new platform with version 27H2, around September or October 2027. It’s expected to be a full upgrade rather than a small enablement package. Could Microsoft call it Windows 12? Possibly, but even Windows Central says “we don’t know, and likely won’t know until much closer to the time.” What matters for this article: the next big release is the Windows 11 family, not Windows 13.
| Version | Released | Home and Pro support ends | Enterprise support ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 26H2 | 29 Sep 2026 | 10 Oct 2028 | 9 Oct 2029 |
| Windows 11 26H1 (Arm PCs) | 10 Feb 2026 | 14 Mar 2028 | 13 Mar 2029 |
| Windows 11 25H2 | 30 Sep 2025 | 12 Oct 2027 | 10 Oct 2028 |
| Windows 11 24H2 | 1 Oct 2024 | Ended | 12 Oct 2027 |
| Windows 10 22H2 (with ESU) | Oct 2022 | 12 Oct 2027 | Paid ESU |
Windows 13 Rumours vs Facts
Here are the claims we see most often, checked against what Microsoft has actually said.
| Claim | Verdict | What’s actually true |
|---|---|---|
| “Windows 13 releases in 2026” | False | 2026’s release was Windows 11 26H2. Nothing else is planned this year. |
| “Windows 13 releases in 2027” | Very unlikely | 2027’s big release is reported to be Windows 11 27H2. |
| “You can download a Windows 13 ISO” | False | No Windows 13 build exists. Every download is fake or modified. |
| “Windows 13 is free for Windows 11 users” | Unknown | Nobody knows, because Microsoft hasn’t announced it. |
| “Windows 13 will cost $139” | Made up | There’s no official price because there’s no product. |
| “Microsoft will skip Windows 13” | Unknown | It skipped Windows 9, but has said nothing about 13. |
| “Windows 10 was the last version of Windows” | False | A Microsoft developer said this in 2015. Windows 11 arrived in 2021. |
| “Windows 11 gets a yearly feature update” | True | Confirmed by Microsoft, every second half of the year. |
The “last version of Windows” line is a good reminder of why predictions about Windows names don’t age well. Microsoft developer evangelist Jerry Nixon said it at a conference in 2015, and it was widely reported as company policy. Six years later, Microsoft released Windows 11. Microsoft’s plans change, so treat any long-range claim with caution, including ours.
Every Windows 12 Prediction So Far Has Been Wrong
Before trusting any Windows 13 date, it’s worth looking at how the Windows 12 predictions went. People have been forecasting the next Windows since 2022. So far, every forecast has been wrong, and each time Microsoft shipped another Windows 11 update instead.
There’s a lesson here. The 2024 release really was a big change under the hood: 24H2 moved Windows 11 onto a new platform. The people predicting a major release were partly right. They were wrong about the name. Microsoft has become comfortable shipping big changes without changing the number, and that makes any Windows 13 date even harder to predict.
Why Windows 13 rumours keep spreading
Release-date articles and videos get a lot of searches, and searches mean views and advertising money. That rewards confident dates over honest uncertainty. Some websites selling software keys also use “Windows 13 is coming” stories to sell upgrades. We sell keys too, so take this from us: there’s nothing to buy for Windows 13, and anyone offering a Windows 13 key or pre-order is selling something that doesn’t exist.
Why Windows 13 Videos and Downloads Are Fake
Concept videos and fan wikis
Most “Windows 13” content online is made by designers and fans. Concept videos are mock-ups built in design or video software. They often look polished, but they’re animations, not software. Some channels label them as concepts; many titles leave that part out because “Windows 13 release date” gets more clicks.
You’ll also find “Windows 13” pages on fan wikis such as Mockupverse, where users invent imaginary Windows versions for fun. They show up in search results, but they’re fiction.
Fake Windows 13 downloads
This is where it gets dangerous. Sites offering a “Windows 13 ISO” or “Windows 13 beta download” are either selling a re-skinned copy of another operating system or spreading malware. It’s happened before: in 2021, a store sold a “Windows 12 Lite” ISO that turned out to be a Linux distribution dressed up to look like Windows. Fake Windows 11 installers carrying malware circulated the same year.
How to spot a fake Windows leak
- Check the source. Real Windows news comes from Microsoft’s blogs, the Windows Insider Program, or established tech sites that name their sources.
- Look for the word “concept”. If a video description says concept, mock-up or fan-made, it’s not real software.
- Be suspicious of exact dates. Microsoft doesn’t announce Windows versions years ahead, so a precise Windows 13 date is invented.
- Never install Windows from a third-party site. Download Windows only from microsoft.com.
- Ignore anything that asks for payment details to download, unlock or “verify” a Windows build.
What Windows History Tells Us About Windows 13
Since Microsoft won’t say when the next Windows is coming, the next best evidence is how long it’s taken in the past. Here are the major Windows releases of the last 25 years:
| Version | Released | Gap since previous |
|---|---|---|
| Windows XP | October 2001 | — |
| Windows Vista | January 2007 | 5 years |
| Windows 7 | October 2009 | 3 years |
| Windows 8 | October 2012 | 3 years |
| Windows 10 | July 2015 | 3 years |
| Windows 11 | October 2021 | 6 years |
| Windows 12 | Not announced | 5+ years so far |
| Windows 13 | Not announced | — |
Two patterns stand out. First, the gap has been getting longer, not shorter: Windows 11 arrived six years after Windows 10. Second, Microsoft now improves Windows 11 every year instead of saving changes for a new version. The 2024 release that rumours called “Windows 12” shipped as Windows 11 24H2. That’s a big reason the version number has stayed at 11.
Will Microsoft skip Windows 13?
It’s possible. Microsoft has skipped a number before: it went straight from Windows 8 to Windows 10 in 2014 and never shipped a Windows 9. Microsoft said the jump reflected how big a change Windows 10 was. A popular theory says old software checked for “Windows 9” and would have confused it with Windows 95 and 98, but Microsoft never confirmed that.
Thirteen is considered unlucky in many countries, and plenty of buildings skip the 13th floor, so people wonder whether Microsoft would avoid it too. There’s no evidence either way. Microsoft might use 12, skip to 14, choose a new name entirely, or stay with Windows 11 for years more. Anyone giving you percentages for these options is guessing.
When Could Windows 13 Actually Come Out? Our Honest Estimate
This section is our opinion, not Microsoft’s. We’ve based it on the confirmed roadmap and on Windows history, and we’ll update it as soon as Microsoft says anything official.
There’s also a real chance Windows 13 never exists. Microsoft could keep the Windows 11 name indefinitely and change it with yearly updates, much as it did with Windows 10 for six years. If you’re planning a PC purchase or a licence, plan around Windows 11.
What Happens to Windows 11 When a New Version Arrives?
Even when Microsoft does release a new Windows, the old one doesn’t stop working. History shows you get years of overlap:
| Older version | Replaced by | Support ended | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 7 | Windows 10, July 2015 | January 2020 | About 4.5 years |
| Windows 8.1 | Windows 10, July 2015 | January 2023 | About 7.5 years |
| Windows 10 | Windows 11, October 2021 | October 2025 (plus paid or free ESU to October 2027) | 4 years, up to 6 with ESU |
So even if a new Windows appeared tomorrow, which it won’t, a Windows 11 PC would most likely be supported for several more years. In practice, Windows 11 version 26H2 alone is supported until October 2028, and every yearly update you install pushes that date forward.
Would Windows 11 users get a free upgrade?
Microsoft hasn’t said, because there’s nothing to upgrade to yet. The last two transitions were free for most people: Windows 10 was free for Windows 7 and 8.1 users for its first year, and Windows 11 has always been a free upgrade for eligible Windows 10 PCs. A free upgrade path for genuine Windows 11 licences would follow that pattern, but it isn’t guaranteed.
Would your files and apps carry over?
When an upgrade path exists, Windows normally keeps your files, apps and settings during an in-place upgrade. That was true for Windows 7 to 10 and Windows 10 to 11. It’s still wise to back up first, and a clean install is often the better choice on an older PC.
How Much Could Windows 13 Cost? What History Suggests
There is no official Windows 13 price, and any figure you see is invented. What we can share is what recent Windows versions have cost, and how Microsoft has handled upgrades:
| Version | Upgrade from previous | Full retail price (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 | Free for 1 year from Windows 7 and 8.1 | Home $119, Pro $199 at launch |
| Windows 11 | Free from Windows 10 on eligible PCs | Home $139, Pro $199.99 at launch (PCWorld) |
| Windows 12 / 13 | Not announced | Not announced |
Retail prices have changed little in a decade (Home went from $119 to $139), and Microsoft has made the last two upgrades free for most users. The bigger shift has been towards subscriptions for other products, which is why rumours about a “subscription Windows” keep appearing. Microsoft hasn’t announced any subscription version of Windows for home users.
Will Your PC Run the Next Windows?
Nobody can tell you the requirements for a version that doesn’t exist. The best guide is Windows 11, because Microsoft used it to raise the bar sharply in 2021, and a successor is unlikely to lower it.
| Requirement | Windows 11 minimum |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz, 2+ cores, 64-bit, on Microsoft’s supported list (roughly Intel 8th gen or AMD Ryzen 2000 and newer) |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| Security chip | TPM 2.0 |
| Firmware | UEFI with Secure Boot |
| Graphics | DirectX 12 compatible with a WDDM 2.0 driver |
To check your PC, open the free PC Health Check app from Microsoft, or look at Settings › Windows Update, which says whether your PC can run Windows 11. If it can, it’s in the best possible position for whatever comes next.
Will the next Windows need an AI chip?
Some rumours say a future Windows will require a neural processing unit (NPU). That isn’t confirmed. What is true is that Microsoft already reserves some Windows 11 features, such as Recall, for Copilot+ PCs with an NPU of at least 40 TOPS. Those features are extras: Windows 11 itself runs fine without an NPU, and Microsoft hasn’t said that will change.
What Features Could Windows 13 Include?
Nobody knows what a future Windows will contain. What we can do is look at where Microsoft is already taking Windows 11, because any successor would almost certainly build on it:
Treat any detailed “Windows 13 feature list” you see elsewhere with suspicion. Features like a new Start menu or a redesigned taskbar now arrive in Windows 11 through regular updates, without a new version number.
Should You Wait for Windows 13 or Buy Windows 11 Now?
Our advice is simple: don’t wait for a version that hasn’t been announced. Even in the most optimistic case, Windows 13 is years away. Here’s how that plays out depending on your situation:
Will a Windows 11 key work on a future Windows?
Microsoft hasn’t said. History is encouraging, though: Windows 10 was a free upgrade from Windows 7 and 8.1, and Windows 11 was a free upgrade from Windows 10. Microsoft even let old Windows 7 and 8 keys activate Windows 10 and 11 for years, before closing that route in 2023 (Thurrott). There’s no guarantee the same will happen next time, but buying Windows 11 now hasn’t historically been money wasted.
Does it matter whether my key is OEM or retail?
Yes, if you change PCs often. A retail key can move to a new PC; an OEM key is tied to the first PC it activates. Our guide to checking whether your Windows key is OEM or retail shows how to tell.
How to Check Which Windows Version You Have
Before worrying about Windows 13, make sure you’re on the latest Windows 11. Open Settings › System › About, or press Win + R, type winver and press Enter.
If your PC is still on Windows 10 and doesn’t offer the upgrade, a clean install is often the fastest route. Our step-by-step guide to clean installing Windows 11 from USB walks you through it.
Where to follow real Windows news
- Microsoft’s Windows release information page, the official list of every version and its support dates.
- The Windows Insider blog, where Microsoft announces test builds and version names first.
- The Windows Experience blog, for official product announcements.
- This page. We update it whenever Microsoft confirms anything about its next Windows version.
Get Windows 11 Today
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Windows 13 release date?
There isn’t one. Microsoft hasn’t announced Windows 13 or given it a release date. The latest version is Windows 11 version 26H2, released on 29 September 2026.
Is Windows 13 coming out in 2026?
No. Microsoft’s 2026 release was Windows 11 version 26H2. There is no Windows 13 planned for 2026.
Will there be a Windows 13?
Nobody knows. Microsoft hasn’t announced Windows 12 or Windows 13. It could release new versions under those names, skip a number, choose a new name, or keep updating Windows 11 for years.
Is Windows 12 coming before Windows 13?
If Microsoft changes the version number, Windows 12 would almost certainly come first. Neither has been announced. The next big release is reported to be Windows 11 version 27H2 in late 2027.
When could Windows 13 realistically come out?
Our estimate is 2030 at the earliest, if it happens at all. Windows 13 would need to follow a Windows 12, and major Windows versions have historically been three to six years apart.
Are Windows 13 YouTube videos real?
No. They’re concept designs, animations or modified versions of Windows 11. Microsoft hasn’t shown any Windows 13 software.
Can I download Windows 13?
No. There is no Windows 13 build. Any site offering a Windows 13 ISO or download is fake and may contain malware. Only download Windows from microsoft.com.
Should I buy Windows 11 or wait for Windows 13?
Buy Windows 11. Windows 13 hasn’t been announced and is likely years away, while Windows 11 26H2 is supported until October 2028 and gets yearly updates.
Will Microsoft skip Windows 13?
It’s possible but unknown. Microsoft skipped Windows 9 and went from Windows 8 to Windows 10, but it has said nothing about the number 13.
How much will Windows 13 cost?
There’s no price because Windows 13 hasn’t been announced. For reference, Windows 11 launched at $139 for Home and $199.99 for Pro in the US, and was a free upgrade for eligible Windows 10 PCs.
Will Windows 13 be a free upgrade from Windows 11?
Unknown. Windows 10 and Windows 11 were both free upgrades for most users of the previous version, so it would follow the pattern, but Microsoft hasn’t made any commitment.
Will my PC run Windows 13?
Nobody knows the requirements yet. A PC that meets Windows 11’s requirements, including TPM 2.0 and a supported processor, is in the best position for any future version.
Is Windows 11 27H2 the same as Windows 12?
Not as far as anyone knows. Windows 11 27H2 is a reported Windows 11 update for late 2027. Microsoft could choose a new name for it, but nothing suggests that yet.
How long will Windows 11 be supported?
Each Windows 11 version is supported for 24 months on Home and Pro and 36 months on Enterprise and Education. Staying on the latest yearly update keeps you supported. Version 26H2 is supported until 10 October 2028 on Home and Pro.