Windows 12 is coming… here’s what we know so far.

A lot has changed in the nine years since Microsoft released the tenth and – supposedly – final version of its iconic Windows PC operating system.

The well-informed reader will already have noted the existence of Windows 11, for instance.

Launched in 2021, Windows 11 brought a wealth of new changes – support for Android apps, Xbox integration, a new interface and incompatibility with some older hardware.

In a rapidly changing world, Windows 11 continues to evolve, with the latest 24H2 update due (as its name suggests) in the second half of this year.

However, there is no pretence at Microsoft’s Washington headquarters that incremental updates to Windows 11 will continue indefinitely.

It’s accepted wisdom that Windows 12 will arrive eventually.

But what do we know about the next generation of the operating system that powers the world?

Timelines

Until Windows 10 supposedly ended the programme of cyclical updates, major releases of Windows arrived on a three-yearly schedule.

It took twice as long for 11 to arrive. That, plus the fact we’re already into the final months of 2024, indicates a three-yearly replacement isn’t on the cards.

The imminent 24H2 update will keep 11 ticking over, amid mounting industry speculation that the next generation of Windows will open this time next year.

This would dovetail with the withdrawal of Windows 10 support, giving owners of the old OS an opportunity (and a compelling reason) to upgrade their hardware.

Assuming they can, of course.

Compatibility and reliability

Some Windows 10-powered devices couldn’t run 11 when it launched in 2021, so we can expect similar issues from 12.

Backwards compatibility may be desirable, but it’s often unachievable.

The increased hardware demands levied by Windows 11 might also explain why it accounts for only a third of currently active Windows versions.

Conversely, 10 still holds 63 per cent market share, implying the introduction of an 11 replacement might be premature.

(If you’re one of the people still using Windows 7, it really is time to upgrade.)

We can also hopefully lay to rest any concerns about Windows 12 being a flawed or challenging platform in the way Windows Vista was.

Microsoft has learned many lessons from Millennial mistakes like ME – an operating system so unpopular that it was withdrawn after 400 days.

Features

At this early stage, little is known about the specifics of Windows 12, though greater AI integration appears inevitable.

This is despite a growing backlash against AI, which routinely plagiarises existing content to create pastiche replicas, and which is now the subject of numerous copyright lawsuits.

Some believe generative AI has a bright future, while others see it as a busted flush – another metaverse, cryptocurrency or NFT fad.

AI could be used to improve file finding, which is something Windows 11 users often struggle with, even when they correctly enter a word or phrase into the Search bar.

A recent Microsoft conference unveiled a Windows desktop interface which some believe represents an early version of 12, incorporating repositioned buttons and a floating search bar.

We can also expect compatibility with features not yet developed, such as WiFi7. A replacement for the unreliable Teams platform would also be welcome.

Cost

Language emanating from inside Microsoft suggests the company may be moving towards a subscription model for future iterations of Windows, at least in some markets.

This might reduce the purchase price of hardware, while increasing the ongoing costs in the same way Adobe successfully (if controversially) shifted Photoshop to a subscription model.

If 12 does require 64GB of solid state storage, as predicted, this would increase the cost of buying compatible devices.

In turn, that might mean expensive upgrades for users of older desktop PCs, though the backlash 11 attracted might mean 12’s minimum system requirements are no more onerous.

Greater hardware requirements are often an inevitable byproduct of more powerful software. Windows XP required just 64MB of RAM, whereas Windows 11 needs 4GB.

If you’re happy with your existing PC, upgrading to the latest version of 11 later this year could represent a cost-effective alternative.