Last checked: 29 October 2026
Windows 12 has been “coming next year” since 2023. One wave of articles promised it for 2024, another for 2026. Neither happened. So if you’re trying to decide whether to buy a PC, upgrade from Windows 10 or buy a Windows licence now, the rumours aren’t much help.
This page sticks to what’s actually known. You’ll find what Microsoft has said about Windows 12, the honest release-date picture, what hardware to expect, what it might cost, and whether waiting makes sense. Every claim is labelled as confirmed, rumour or our own estimate, and we update the page whenever Microsoft says something new.
In short
- Is Windows 12 out? No. As of 29 October 2026, Microsoft hasn’t announced it.
- Release date, requirements, price: none are official. Anything claiming otherwise is a guess.
- What Microsoft is doing instead: updating Windows 11. Version 26H2 rolled out from late September 2026, and new AI features were announced for Windows 11 on 7 October.
- Should you wait? No. Windows 11 is the current version, and the new features are arriving there. If you need a licence, get a Windows 11 Pro key.
Is Windows 12 coming? Where things stand in 2026
Not yet, and Microsoft has said so plainly. On 29 May 2026, the day before its Build developer conference, Windows chief Pavan Davuluri posted: “Something new is coming for developers. And no, it’s not a new OS version.” Build came and went without Windows 12. Microsoft’s big Windows and Surface event on 7 October 2026 didn’t announce it either: the new features shown there are coming to Windows 11.
Microsoft has said its focus for Windows in 2026 is fixing the problems customers complain about most, not replacing the operating system. Here’s how the story has moved since the first leaks.
- 1
2023: The first leaks
Reports describe a next-generation Windows codenamed “Hudson Valley” and a modular “CorePC” design.Rumour
- 2
2024: “Windows 12 launches this year”
Widely predicted. Microsoft released Windows 11 24H2 instead.Didn’t happen
- 3
March 2026: A 2026 launch “scenario”
A widely shared rumour article was walked back; its own publisher said it didn’t meet its standards.Withdrawn
- 4
29 May 2026: “Not a new OS version”
Pavan Davuluri rules out a new Windows version at Build 2026.Confirmed
- 5
Late September 2026: Windows 11 26H2
The yearly Windows 11 feature update starts rolling out free to existing Windows 11 PCs.Confirmed
- 6
7 October 2026: Windows and Surface event
New AI features announced for Windows 11. No Windows 12.Confirmed
Confirmed vs rumoured: the Windows 12 fact-check
Most Windows 12 articles mix leaks, concepts and guesses into one story. Here they are separated.
| Claim | Status | What we know |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 12 launches in 2026 | Denied | Microsoft’s Windows chief ruled out a new OS version in May 2026. |
| Windows 11 keeps getting updates | Confirmed | 26H2 rolled out from late September 2026, supported until October 2028 for Home and Pro. |
| Codename “Hudson Valley” | Old rumour | Reported in 2023 and tied to 2024 plans, which became Windows 11 24H2. |
| Modular “CorePC” Windows | Unverified | A 2023 internal project in reports; nothing has shipped under that name. |
| Needs a 40 TOPS NPU | Rumour | Borrowed from the real Copilot+ PC spec. No Windows 12 requirements exist. |
| Subscription-only Windows | Rumour | Discussed for a decade; never launched for consumers. |
| Floating taskbar redesign | Old concept | From a 2022 concept image. 26H2 instead lets you move the taskbar to any edge. |
| Free upgrade from Windows 11 | Unknown | Windows 10 to 11 was free for eligible PCs. Nothing is promised for a future version. |
How to tell a real Windows 12 report from a rumour: real news arrives through Microsoft’s own blog, a Windows Insider preview build or an official Microsoft event. “Sources say” stories and concept videos are not confirmation.
Windows 12 release date: what to expect
There is no Windows 12 release date. Any article giving one is guessing.
What we can do is tell you what a real launch would look like, so you can spot it. These are the signs, roughly in the order they’d appear:
- A Windows Insider preview build carrying a new version name. Microsoft tested Windows 11 publicly for months before launch.
- An official Microsoft announcement on its Windows blog or at an event such as Build or a fall Windows event.
- PC makers announcing machines that ship with the new version.
For context, Windows 11 arrived in October 2021, about six years after Windows 10. Since then, Microsoft has shipped one Windows 11 feature update a year, and reports suggest a bigger Windows 11 update in 2027 rather than a new version.
Our estimate, not Microsoft’s
Based on Microsoft’s statements and its Windows 11 update plans, we don’t expect a successor before 2027 at the earliest. It may not be called Windows 12. We’ll update this the moment Microsoft says otherwise.
Windows 12 system requirements: what we know
Microsoft hasn’t published any Windows 12 requirements. But two real, official specifications tell you what modern Windows expects, and where the “Windows 12 needs an NPU” rumour comes from.
| Windows 11 minimum | Copilot+ PC | Windows 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz, 2+ cores, 64-bit, on Microsoft’s supported list | Recent chip with a built-in NPU | Not announced |
| NPU (AI chip) | Not required | 40+ TOPS | Not announced (rumoured 40 TOPS) |
| Memory | 4 GB | 16 GB | Not announced |
| Storage | 64 GB | 256 GB SSD | Not announced |
| Security | TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, UEFI | TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, UEFI | Not announced |
Windows 11 figures from Microsoft’s Windows 11 specifications. Copilot+ PCs are Microsoft’s AI-ready laptop category; TOPS (trillions of operations per second) measures how fast the NPU runs AI tasks.
Check your PC today
You can’t check for Windows 12, but you can check the two things that matter now: whether your PC runs Windows 11, and whether it has an NPU for local AI features.
1. Is your PC ready for Windows 11? Open Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app and select Check now.
PC health at a glance
Let’s check if this PC meets the system requirements. If it does, you can get the free upgrade when it’s available.
Check now1You’ll get notifications in Windows Update when the upgrade is ready to install.
- 1Select Check now in the “Introducing Windows 11” card.
- 2A green tick means your PC qualifies. If it doesn’t, See all results lists what’s missing, usually TPM 2.0, Secure Boot or the processor.
2. Does your PC have an NPU? Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, select Performance, and look for an NPU entry in the list.
1%
S: 24 R: 312 Kbps
3%
0%
- 1An NPU 0 entry means your PC has a neural processing unit. No entry means no NPU, which is common on PCs older than 2024.
- 2The chip name, here Intel AI Boost. On AMD it shows as AMD Ryzen AI, on Snapdragon as Qualcomm Hexagon NPU.
- 3Utilization rises when apps use local AI features, such as background blur or live captions.
Buying a PC now? You don’t need to chase rumoured Windows 12 specs. A machine with 16 GB of RAM, an SSD and a recent processor with an NPU covers Windows 11 comfortably and is ready for the AI features Microsoft keeps adding, whatever the next version is called.
Windows 12 price: will it be free?
Microsoft hasn’t announced a Windows 12 price, because it hasn’t announced Windows 12. What we do know is what Windows costs today and how past upgrades worked.
Windows 11 Home
$139
Microsoft Store, US price
Windows 11 Pro
$199.99
Microsoft Store, US price
Windows 12
Not priced
No announcement as of Oct 2026
- Past upgrades were free. Eligible Windows 10 PCs moved to Windows 11 at no cost, keeping the same edition: Home went to Home, Pro to Pro.
- There’s no promise for the next one. Microsoft hasn’t said whether a future version would be a free upgrade. Treat any “Windows 12 will be free” headline as a guess.
- The subscription rumour. Talk of a pay-monthly Windows has circulated for about ten years and never launched for home users. Windows 365 cloud PCs exist, but they’re a separate business product, not a replacement for a Windows licence.
For a full breakdown of today’s prices, including cheaper legitimate options, see what Windows 11 costs in 2026.
What’s coming instead: the “Windows 12” features arriving in Windows 11
Much of what the rumours promised for Windows 12 is turning up as free Windows 11 updates.
Windows 11 26H2 (rolling out since late September 2026)
- Move the taskbar to the top, left or right of the screen, plus a smaller taskbar size.
- Resizable Start menu with small, large and automatic sizes; “Recommended” becomes “Recent.”
- Pause updates for up to 35 days at a time, with better restart timing.
- A redesigned File Explorer right-click menu you can customise.
- NPU columns in Task Manager, so you can see which apps use the AI chip.
It’s a small update for PCs already on Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2, and it has no new hardware requirements.
Announced at Microsoft’s 7 October 2026 event
- Copilot working with your files: with your permission, it can find, move and rename files on your PC, and you can switch this off.
- A new Windows Search that lets you run quick actions straight from the search box.
- Safer AI agents: agents run in isolated containers, and Microsoft Defender can flag malicious prompts.
- Local AI models that run on your PC instead of in the cloud, aimed at new high-end AI laptops.
Microsoft says these features arrive over the coming months, as updates to Windows 11.
Should you wait for Windows 12?
For almost everyone, no. Here’s the answer for your situation.
You’re on Windows 10
Free security updates (ESU) run to October 2027, but nothing is announced to replace Windows 11.You’re buying a new PC
Waiting for an unannounced version just delays your work.You’re on Windows 11 Home
You need BitLocker, Remote Desktop or business features.You run a small business
Planning a PC refresh or new hires this year.Three real-world examples
- Priya, a freelance writer, has a 2021 laptop still on Windows 10. PC Health Check passes, so she upgrades to Windows 11 for free today instead of waiting on ESU and rumours.
- A four-person accounting firm is replacing two old desktops. They buy new PCs with Windows 11 Pro now, rather than run unsupported machines through tax season for a version with no date.
- Arjun, a student, bought a laptop with Windows 11 Home and now needs Remote Desktop for a lab course. He enters a Pro key in Settings and upgrades in ten minutes. Our Windows 11 Pro key guide shows exactly how.
Windows 11 Pro
The current version of Windows, with BitLocker, Remote Desktop and Hyper-V. Upgrades Home to Pro without reinstalling.
Get a Windows 11 Pro keyWindows 11 Home
Everything you need for everyday work, study and gaming, for a one-time payment.
Get a Windows 11 Home keyRunning a server for your team too? Our Windows Server 2025 Standard guide covers cores, CALs and pricing.
Beware of “Windows 12 download”, ISO and key scams
Because people search for Windows 12 every day, scammers fill the gap. Today, any of these is fake:
- A “Windows 12 ISO” or “Windows 12 download”
- A “Windows 12 activator” or “Windows 12 product key”
- A “Windows 12 upgrade tool” or “Windows 12 beta” outside Microsoft’s own Insider programme
- A video showing a “Windows 12 install,” which is usually Windows 11 with a custom theme
These downloads usually carry malware, adware or password stealers. If you want to see what Microsoft is testing next, the only real route is the Windows Insider Program, built into Windows 11 at Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program. Use it on a spare PC, not your work machine.
To be clear about our own position: we sell Windows 11 keys, and we won’t list a Windows 12 key until Microsoft actually releases Windows 12. If you ever see one for sale, walk away. Questions about any key? Our FAQ explains how our keys are delivered and refunded.
How we keep this page updated
What would change our answer
A Windows Insider build with a new version name, an announcement on Microsoft’s Windows blog, or a launch at Build or a fall Windows event. We check after every Microsoft event and at least once a month.
Frequently asked questions
Is Windows 12 coming out in 2026?
No. Microsoft’s Windows chief said in May 2026 that no new OS version was coming, and Microsoft’s October 2026 Windows event announced new features for Windows 11 instead. As of 29 October 2026, there’s no Windows 12 announcement.
When is the Windows 12 release date?
There isn’t one. Microsoft hasn’t announced Windows 12 or a release date. Based on its Windows 11 update plans, we don’t expect a successor before 2027 at the earliest, and it may not be called Windows 12. Watch for a Windows Insider preview build as the first real sign.
What are the Windows 12 system requirements?
None have been published. Today’s best guides are Windows 11’s minimum (4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot) and Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC spec (40+ TOPS NPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD). Any specific Windows 12 requirement list is a rumour.
Will Windows 12 need an NPU?
Nobody knows yet. The “40 TOPS NPU” claim comes from Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC requirements, not from any Windows 12 announcement. Windows 11 runs fine without an NPU; some newer AI features need one.
How much will Windows 12 cost?
Microsoft hasn’t set a price. For reference, Windows 11 Home costs $139 and Windows 11 Pro $199.99 on Microsoft’s US store, and licence resellers sell genuine keys for less. Past major upgrades for eligible PCs were free.
Will Windows 12 be a free upgrade from Windows 11?
Unknown. The move from Windows 10 to Windows 11 was free for eligible PCs and kept the same edition, but Microsoft hasn’t said anything about a future version. Don’t buy or delay anything based on a free-upgrade promise.
Can I download Windows 12 now?
No. Windows 12 doesn’t exist as a product, so any “Windows 12 ISO”, download or activator is fake and likely malware. The only way to try Microsoft’s upcoming features is the Windows Insider Program in Windows 11 settings.
Is Windows 12 going to be subscription-only?
There’s no evidence of that. A subscription Windows has been rumoured for about a decade and never launched for home users. Windows 11 is still sold as a one-time licence, and Windows 365 cloud PCs are a separate business product.
Should I buy Windows 11 now or wait for Windows 12?
Buy Windows 11 now if you need it. There’s no announced successor, Windows 11 26H2 is supported until October 2028, and Microsoft is adding its new AI features to Windows 11. Waiting would leave you on older software for an unknown time.
Will my Windows 11 Pro key work with Windows 12?
Nobody can promise that yet. When Windows 10 was replaced, valid Windows 10 licences upgraded to Windows 11 for free on eligible PCs. If a future version follows the same pattern, a genuine Windows 11 licence would be the starting point, but Microsoft hasn’t announced anything.
The bottom line
Windows 12 isn’t announced, has no release date, no official requirements and no price. Microsoft’s own Windows chief has said no new version is coming for now, and the features the rumours promised are arriving in Windows 11 instead. Don’t wait, don’t download “Windows 12” files, and plan around Windows 11 26H2. When Microsoft does announce a successor, this page will tell you the same day.
Need a licence today? Get a Windows 11 Pro key, or read our Windows 11 Pro key guide first.
