Windows 12 to be launched in 2024: Everything you want to know

Good news! Rumors are spreading around about Microsoft’s launch of Windows 12 in mid-2024. Here’s all that you are curious about–

For over two years, Windows 11 has been keeping its users happy. Although it is old now, the updates and its new versions have satisfied users. Be it the Windows 11 version 22H2 in 2022 or multiple Moment updates throughout 2023, version 23H2 has also started to stream. But now, as from the sources, the Windows 12 might soon surprise you all.

Microsoft hasn’t announced anything public about a new Windows version yet. It played down rumors we had heard about Windows 12. The company has promised that Windows 11 will get updates yearly and smaller updates with new features. But Windows 12 is said to be coming next year, and hardware partners have even said it. So what will it be like?

Windows 12 Release Date

Get ready for the next big thing in 2024 – the new Windows! Yep, after Windows 11, we’re in for some more tech magic. The details are a bit hush-hush right now, but word on the street is we might see it in the fall or later. Microsoft’s playing it coy about Windows 12, but let’s see what unfolds!

They’ll call them Windows 11 features until we’re close to the big day. Not every cool thing from the Insider Program will make it to Windows 12, but stay tuned for some awesome surprises. Microsoft kept Windows 11 under wraps until it was nearly ready, so who knows what they’ve got cooking this time!

The information that Windows 12 will be released in 2024 comes from a trustworthy Windows reporter called Zac Bowden from Windows Central. He got the information from trustworthy sources at Microsoft. According to these sources, Microsoft plans to update the Windows operating system every three years. If they claim true, Windows 13 will come out in the fall of 2027, and Windows 14 will come out in the fall of 2030.

Features of Windows 12

The New Desktop Interface

The new user interface has a progress bar on top of a floating taskbar resembling the one on macOS. Many people think it’s one of the prototype styles used in the real Windows 12 release. Microsoft wants to make Windows 12 easier to use with touch screens, keyboards, and mice.

The idea fits with the fact that Microsoft is separating the desktop from explorer.exe for Windows 12, which includes the window, notification center, and other desktop parts. The process to separate “Immersive Shell” from File Explorer has already begun at Microsoft.

The Phoenix version

Microsoft is also trying a completely new idea for its Edge browser within the company. Project “Phoenix” has fully redesigned the company’s browser from the ground up. It looks like the Arc browser. Microsoft Edge is now testing a split-screen mode and a new UI/UX with a Tab Activity Center and many tab control features. It also works with Digital Wellbeing/Screen Time features. The Phoenix version of Edge will come out with Windows 12.

Faster Updates

The same report that discussed the modular design also touched upon another alteration in the structure of Windows 12, introducing the concept of state separation. In simple terms, this involves isolating certain segments of the operating system from user access and placing them in a distinct partition. The objective is to facilitate smoother updates for Windows, allowing the system to update these core partitions effortlessly without requiring user intervention. This streamlined process ensures faster installation of updates with minimal downtime, addressing a long-standing user preference.

Additionally, state separation enhances the reliability of the reset experience. With user access restricted from the partitions containing system files, the likelihood of file corruption decreases, resulting in a more effective PC reset process.

AI Integration

Microsoft is likely to add many of the OpenAI tools to Windows 12, and they’ve already started doing that with Microsoft Teams. All your Office apps, Microsoft Designer, and VSCode will have useful AI tools on Windows 12. Plans are already in place for ChatGPT to run Bing soon, making search better on Windows 12. In general, Windows 12 will have additional features that AI drives.

Windows Explorer and Notepad

A recent leak by a Microsoft employee revealed that tabs will also be added to Notepads. You can open more than one copy of Notepad in the same window and change several text files simultaneously. Besides that, Microsoft is changing much about Windows File Explorer and adding many new features. A new feature called “Detailst lets you see what it has been doing lately and control who can see it.

After that, the home page will have suggested files at the top and work with Microsoft 365. From File Explorer, people can see email threads tied to the file. The updated File Explorer and Notepad might appear on Windows 12; we need to find out need to find out.

Can I Run Windows 12 on my Desktop

It’s a pressing question, and the good news is, probably not. Microsoft has been generous with free major Windows updates for a while now, and it’s likely to stay that way. But here’s the catch – the Windows 12 software itself might not be free. So, if you’re without a Windows license, you’ll still need to make a purchase.

There were whispers about a subscription model for Windows 12, but don’t worry, that’s off the table. You won’t be opening your wallet every month to use Windows 12. Of course, if you’re putting together a custom PC without a valid Windows 10 or 11 license, you’ll need to snag one, business as usual.

Now, the real wallet-checker might be whether your PC is up to snuff for Windows 12, but we’ll dive into that in a whole different section.

Will I be Forced to Upgrade

The answer is probably no. Microsoft has considerably dialed back its efforts to push users into forcefully installing new Windows versions. Windows 11 remains an optional update for Windows 10 users, and it’s probable that this approach will persist in future releases.

While updating to new Windows versions can become obligatory as your current version approaches the end of its support period, such as the original release of Windows 11 being supported for 24 months for Home or Pro editions, it’s essential to update to a newer version once this two-year period has elapsed.

Window 12 Free or Paid

If we look at Microsoft’s past, it seems likely that moving from Windows 10 to Windows 11 was free. The same will likely happen for Windows 11 to 12. In addition, PCs that are qualified and already have Windows 10 could also get Windows 12 for free.

You might have to buy a business license for Windows 12 from Microsoft if you want to run it on a PC built just for you. You might have to pay $139 for a real copy of Windows 12. It is the same price as Windows 10 and 11 Home.

Conclusion

Microsoft hasn’t said anything public about its plans for the Windows roadmap. Since the pandemic made more people use Windows, the company has put more work into it over the last two years. When Microsoft first announced “the PC is back” at the pandemic’s start, they planned to release Windows 10X on devices with two screens. However, they changed 10X to Windows 11 instead.

FAQs

When Windows 12 will release?

Reports suggest that the next significant iteration of Windows is poised for a launch in 2024, approximately three years after the introduction of Windows 11.