What we know about Windows 12: nothing.
In recent months, there has been an uptick in discussions and mentions of Windows 12.
Normally I wouldn’t dedicate space to the topic (for reasons that will become clear), but there’s been so much speculation and misinformation that I want to set a few things straight.
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Windows 12
Windows 12 isn’t real. Yet. Microsoft has said nothing. Every video or article claiming details is just speculation fishing for clicks. Don’t plan on 12 or worry about 12. Until Microsoft says something about it, ignore the noise.
Windows 12 doesn’t exist
At this writing, not only does Windows 12 not exist, but Microsoft hasn’t said anything about whether it ever will.
There is no information whatsoever about whether Windows 12 will exist, when it might exist, or what it might contain if it ever does exist.
None.
I know I’m being repetitive, but it’s a critical point: there has been no official word about Windows 12. Period.
Anything you hear about Windows 12 is pure speculation. Or manure. Or both.
But there are videos and articles!
I’ll say it again: at this point, anything you hear about Windows 12 is nothing more than speculation.
I’ve seen a few videos, and some — perhaps even most — admit this. They say upfront that they’re just guessing or making stuff up.
There are some interesting videos about what the creator would love to see in Windows 12 — and there’s no shortage of ideas. The Windows 12 wishlist is lengthy. Some are creative visualizations or discussions of what Windows 12 might be or could be, and those can be fascinating as well.
But anyone who isn’t Microsoft and claims to know if, when, or what Windows 12 will be is lying. Probably for clicks.
Related
Should I Update to Windows 11? (May 2025 update)
The end-of-support date for Windows 10 is getting closer. Do you need to upgrade to Windows 11?#135037
Why now? Windows 10 and 11
My theory is the impending end of Windows 10 support in October 2025, and the Windows 11 update and hardware requirements, are pushing people to think or talk about a possible Windows 12 in a few different ways.
- I hear from people who are electing to skip Windows 11 and wait for Windows 12.
- Some folks on Windows 11 are looking for a Windows 12 to fix their particular problems or pet peeves.
- There are those who, annoyed with Windows 11 hardware requirements, speculate that Windows 12 will introduce even more.
All are based on speculation and nothing more.
Do this
Ignore Windows 12. To the extent you find others’ speculation interesting or entertaining, fine, enjoy it. But don’t make any plans, decisions, or assumptions based on something we know absolutely nothing about.
I expect there will be a Windows 12, but that’s the limit of my speculation. When that happens or something else is confirmed by Microsoft I’ll update this article.
If you want to make sure to hear about it when it happens, subscribe to Confident Computing! Less frustration and more confidence, solutions, answers, and tips in your inbox every week.
“But there are videos and articles!” I saw it on the interwebs, so it must be true.
And who knows if the next version will be a version number? Version numbers began with Windows 7. Before that, they had names: Millennium, XP, and Vista, and before that, it was the year of release, and before that, it was versions numbers.
My money’s on Windows 365 CoPilot, but that’s just random, snarky, speculation based on nothing at all.
If there is a Windows 12, I highly doubt there will be a Windows 13. Some people are so superstitious they’d avoid it like the plague. In Russia there are no 13mm (1/4″) bolts on cars and no 13th floors. I don’t know if it’s stoll the case, but it was 25 years ago when I was in Ukraine.
There are a handful of older buildings in Seattle that have no 13th floor.
That’s dangerous. People will rent space on the 14th floor which is actually the 13th and wonder why they have bad luck.
“No 13th floor” used to be the rule, not the exception. (Tho sometimes #13 would be a utilities floor not open to the public.)
Corel solved the problem by calling CorelDraw version 13 “X3” then continued on with X4, X5, etc.
Well, there’s word of at least one “leak” which produced this (quoting from various computer rags):
===
Codenamed “Next Valley”:
The engineering codename for Windows 12 is “Next Valley”, which aligns with Windows 11’s codename, “Sun Valley”.
Prototype Desktop Redesign:
Microsoft has already revealed a prototype desktop redesign that could be part of Windows 12. The leak occurred during the Microsoft Ignite keynote held on October 12, 2022. The new desktop interface showcases elements like the Start menu, taskbar, and window management.
===
So it’s still one semi-factoid and a lot of maybe-might, but I think it’s a pretty good bet that Win12 will be irretrievably infested with AI, to the point where you can’t even open a file without Copilot’s “help”.
In which case, I will definitely ignore it, entirely.
“Win12 will be irretrievably infested with AI”. I don’t think they’ll wait till Windows 12. They’re already pushing Copilot+ PCs. Copilot is integrated in Edge and MS 365 Apps.
“But there are videos…!”
And every one of them likely created by A.I.!
Ignore! Ignore! Ignore!
Are you saying that not everything on the interwebs is true? I’m devastated.
New operating system versions are released in conjunction with the current available hardware (desktops, laptops, tablets etc.) and OEM trends in future hardware configurations, related to: microprocessor architecture types (instruction set, clock frequency, number of cores/threads etc.), RAM volume , L1/2/3/(4) extensions, HDD/SDD technology and volume, new USB types etc.
Different internal HW configurations, not available on the market, are used for testing new OS versions until the minimal HW configuration is recommended by the OS producer, to be used for its new version.
Different agreements are set up between HW and SW OEMs to be compliant for commonly marketing the new products and related specific extensions.
I have always ignored any hype about a new version of Windows until it gets released. When a new version is released, I read whatever I can find about it from several trusted sources, to get an idea of what I’ll be getting into, then I create a full system image of my existing installation so I can revert back to it if I don’t like the new version’s changes, and I finally upgrade to the new release, to see for myself what it offers.
In the case of a Windows 12 release, if i find that it’s too impregnated with AI, even on my not-yet-ready-for-AI hardware, I’ll either disable all the AI ‘features” I can, or revert back yo my currently installed Windows 11, because I don’t yet trust AI enough to depend on it, and probably won’t ant time soon.
My2Cents,
Ernie