Windows has been dominating the desktop operating system space for more than two decades now, and it still has a market share of over 70% which is huge and still unbeatable.
The Windows operating system has evolved over the last decade; now, Windows 11 is doing pretty well in the market. Many people are wondering when Microsoft will launch its next operating system. Let’s find out the Windows 12 release date below.
Windows 12 Release Date:
According to some trusted sources, Microsoft may launch Windows 12 in 2024 as they have already started working on this big project to bring in some exciting consumer features. Microsoft has named the Windows 12 project with the code name “Next Valley”, and it seems Windows 12 is happening for real.
There is no information on whether Microsoft will launch their new operating system with Windows 12 name because they surprised everyone when they launched Windows 10 directly by skipping version 9.
Like you, we are also eagerly waiting for the launch of Windows 12, but it might not happen as soon as they have just launched the Windows 11 OS in late 2021 only, and we may have to wait until 2024, if not more, to experience it.
What You Can Expect In Windows 12?
As you may already know, Microsoft hasn’t revealed any official information regarding Windows 12. Still, a few rumours and leaks could show some of the leaked information about this latest operating system.
FireCube on Twitter has released a mockup showing many changes in the home screen on the desktop.
This feature might relieve you if you are fed up with the fixed taskbar or widget. The floating taskbar looks pretty cool, and we can hope Microsoft implements this feature in their next update.
Apart from that, you can see the floating search bar on the top of the screen, and from the user’s point, I think searching for anything online and offline with this change will be pretty easy.
Another thing you can notice from the above image is that the icons are placed at the top instead of the bottom. Even though it looks pretty good, not everyone will love this change as most people are used to clicking on on bottom to view the battery percentage, timing, and other things from the bottom.
Deskmodder, a Windows enthusiast, suggested that Windows 12 will be fresh and it may not follow the previous versions of Windows. Still, I highly doubt that because Microsoft may not want the disastrous result of Windows 8.
If you are someone who has experienced Windows 8 for your daily usage, you would know how stressful and difficult to use it. Microsoft might be cautious with this time, and they will not repeat the same mistake, which disappointed a lot of users, including me.
These leaks aren’t just rumors because they are based on a presentation by Microsoft itself from one of its main events, and it is safe to assume that one or all of these changes might happen in the next Windows 12 operating system.
Here is another screenshot that got leaked from a Windows presentation:
Windows 12 System Requirements:
Again, there is no information available on the hardware requirements of Windows 12, but it may need to match at least the specifications of Windows 11, or else it won’t be able to run Windows 12.
Right now, the minimum requirement to run Windows 11 are:
- Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or even better plus faster.
- RAM: Minimum 4GB.
- Storage: 64GB Internal Memory or greater than that
- Graphics card: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later
- Display: High definition (720p) display greater than 9” diagonally, 8 bits per colour channel.
This isn’t a recommendation from an expert or something like that, it is directly coming from Microsoft itself. If you have these specifications on your PC laptop, you will not have any issues running Windows 11.
To use Windows 12 when it arrives in the market, you may not need to upgrade your hardware in case it matches all the requirements of Windows 11, and you can upgrade it whenever you want.
Is Windows 12 Going To Be Free?
I have no specific answer to this question, but chances are, it might be free who already happen to have Windows 11 license, and Windows may offer a free upgrade to those customers.
If you don’t have a valid Windows 11 license right now, you may not be eligible for a free Windows 12 upgrade when released to the public.
One of the easiest ways to get Windows 12 for free is, by purchasing a new laptop or PC that comes with a pre-installed operating system, and you can use it for free of cost.
Frequently Asked Questions:
A new Windows 11 license costs about $140 for the home edition, and Windows 12 will likely cost you the same.
If you don’t want to pay for a Windows license, get a laptop with a pre-installed Windows operating system with a valid license.
Windows 11 is great for gaming compared to Windows 10, as it is now well-optimized for gamers with software improvements.
Suppose you are planning to upgrade to Windows, especially for gaming purposes. In that case, you can do that without any second thoughts, as Microsoft has greatly improved their operating system for gamers Now, it supports Auto HDR and DirectStorage, which helps load games in less than a second or so.
Conclusion:
Windows has a huge fan base, and its simplicity is one of the key reasons behind that. People wait for the next Windows version after the existing operating system ages because they want to experience new features.
If you are wondering what is the windows 12 release date, I can say that it is likely to be released around Mid-2024 but there no official confirmation for the same. We must wait and see what Microsoft plans with their new big update.
Since 2014 I have been writing about tech and helping others to fix tech issues related to Android, Windows, iOS, Chromebook, and more.
I love to help others to fix any technical issues they might be facing.
