Any update on a release date for Windows 12 and/or its system requirements?

Question

There's been a lot recently in the press about MS being concerned about the number and/or market share of devices still running Win10 or older versions.

Given the debacle over the release of Win11 regarding which processors it will/won't support, the requirement for TPM2.0, how much RAM and disk space would be required, etc., it behoves MS to be forthcoming about when Win12 will be released and what its minimum hardware requirements will be, along with variations for NPUs et al.

A lot of people out there are waiting to upgrade their kit to catch up, myself included, but we don't want to buy kit now knowing that, with Win12 allegedly just around the corner, whatever we spend our hard-earned cash on might then not be compatible. Also bear in mind that some companies out there will be looking to upgrade hundreds, if not thousands, of PCs and that will require planning, a structured rollout, time, effort and capital expenditure.

MS is always extolling security, future-proofing and forward-thinking, but are preventing the user-base from practising exactly that by failing to provide the necessary information in a timely fashion.

This information needs to be provided as soon as possible. If Win12 is not due in October (as is speculated all over the press), then MS should be publishing a schedule so that people are kept in the loop.

Otherwise, if I were to don my Hat Of Scepticism, I would suspect that MS are just looking to generate revenue by deliberately withholding the information so that people sign up for an extended support contract. Said contract would then effectively becomes redundant as soon as MS does release the information as people will then be able to upgrade their kit, but I suspect that MS wouldn't then do a pro rata refund on the unused contract time.

Answer 1

And therein lies the crux of what I said above - anything you can read about Win12 is currently speculation based on the rollout history of previous versions, which Microsoft really should be officially responding to.

(I think pretty much everyone is aware of the impending 25H2 release for Win11, but that's not what I was asking about.)

Microsoft should be up front and either confirm or deny the existence of any plans for Win12.

If they confirm it is in the works, they should be able to give us a (speculative) release date so that people can plan accordingly.

The last thing I want to do is go and spend several hundreds of pounds on upgrading my system now so that it meets or exceeds the current requirements for Win11, only to find out in December that Win12 will soon be available but I can't upgrade to it because my hardware doesn't match the new minimum requirements.

Answer 2

There is no mention of Windows 12 from Microsoft.

The Insider forum is still testing Windows 11 coming updates, the next version release being 25H2.

What you may read about Windows 12 is speculation.

Answer 3

Considering Windows 10 has been with us for 10 years I doubt Windows 11 will be less than that.

I understand what you're getting at but users in this community will have no more idea than you.

Microsoft are not active in this forum and certainly wouldn't announce something like a new OS name here as was the case with Windows 11.