Windows 12: Expected price, release date, specs, and more rumors

Windows 12 is a potential future update to the Windows operating system. It is expected to be released in 2024, although there has been no official confirmation from Microsoft. Some of the possible features for this Windows 11 successor include user interface improvements, better Android app support, AI, and increased reliance on the Settings app.

When will Windows 12 be released?

It's important to note that Windows 12 is not yet confirmed. Note that Windows 12 may not even be the name Microsoft came up with (like XP and Vista). Codenames previously seen for this version of Windows include Hudson Valley and Next Valley.

Tom's Hardware spotted German site Deskmodder.de mentioning that Microsoft will start working on Windows 12. Notably, that news comes in early 2022, less than 6 months after Windows 11 first launched to the public!

It's impossible to comment on the reliability of this source, but whether or not this version is actively being developed, Windows 12 won't be around for a while, considering that Windows 11 hasn't been out for long.

Looking back at some of the recent major Windows releases, there really isn't a consistent timeline that users can use to predict when Windows 12 will arrive.

Starting with Windows 7 2009:

• Windows 8 came out 3 years later (2012)
• Windows 10 came out 3 years later (2015)
• Windows 11 comes 6 years later (2021)

..., so Windows 12 could be released in 3 years (2024)

Windows Central notes: "Microsoft currently intends to release “major” versions of the Windows client every three years, with the next release currently scheduled for 2024, three years after Windows 11 ships in 2021. "

Before its general release, Windows 12 will likely follow a similar release structure to other versions of Windows. For example, the first Windows 11 Insider Preview build was available a few days after Microsoft announced the operating system and a few months before its general release.

This version is expected to have a similar timeline, so you'll be able to access a pre-release build of Windows 12 through the Windows Insider program whenever that time comes.

Windows 12 Price Rumors

It's likely that Windows 12 will be offered as a free, optional update to Windows 11 users , and possibly Windows 10 users , who have a valid copy of Windows.

Microsoft will likely price Windows 12 the same way they did Windows 11:

• $139.99 for Windows 12 Home
• $199.99 for Windows 12 Pro

How to try new Windows 12 features today

1. Windows and desktop file manager

The design of the desktop and Windows Explorer is one area where Microsoft is putting a lot of effort. This will certainly continue to be the case in the future. However, the changes do not only affect Windows Explorer as a standalone file manager. The Explorer.exe process also provides the desktop interface with icons, taskbar, and context menus. When Explorer.exe crashes, not only the file manager window but also the desktop disappears.

However, there were plans to separate the core components of the operating system from the usable programs. Microsoft planned to do this with Windows 10X, but this plan was canceled in 2021. The interface of this system, especially the central taskbar and Start menu, was later implemented in Windows 11.

The modular architecture, with a concept called Core PC, will improve the stability of the system in the future and speed up updates. However, only Microsoft itself can achieve such a major reorganization of Core PC.

2. Use alternative file managers for Windows

If you use a different file manager, Explorer.exe's instability may no longer affect your desktop. A modern file manager that looks similar to Windows Explorer but offers more functionality is called Files.

Files can display different folders in some tabs. For example, in the context menu of tabs, you will find the menu items “Duplicate tab” and “Open tab in new window” . A new tab can be created with the Ctrl + T key combination or via the “+” button.

If you want to work with Split View, you can click “New panel” in the three-dot menu on the right side of the toolbar. This lets you display two folders side by side.

• Handling archives : Files or folders can be packed into archives in Zip and 7-Zip formats via the “Compress” context menu item. Compress > Create archive brings up a dialog where you can specify a name and format as well as a password for encryption. Zip, 7-Zip and Rar archives can be opened by double-clicking, viewing the contents or extracting the file.
• Organizing files and folders : Using the “Edit tags” context menu item, you can assign tags like “Home” or “Work” that the files will display in the “Tags” column. You can also search for items by tag if you add “tag:” to the beginning of your search term in the top right field. You can rename and add new tags to “Tags” in the settings.

3. Tweak the Windows taskbar

The Windows interface can only be customized to a limited extent. For example, in the “Settings” section under “Personalization” you can change the design or choose a different wallpaper. There are also some options for the taskbar, some of which have been removed in Windows 11.

Many users want a more customizable Windows taskbar. Perhaps Microsoft will take these wishes into account in Windows 12. You can see a possible idea for a functional and attractive desktop in the following video. However, this is not an official Microsoft video, but a Windows fan project.

4. Try updating Windows features early

Microsoft first makes new features available to a small group of interested users. On production computers, you should only use the Release Preview channel. Generally, all prerelease versions should be used on test computers or virtual machines.

New features are rolled out in waves and in different regions, so there is no guarantee that your Windows will actually receive a particular feature update first.

If you want to learn about what's coming next, visit https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider. There you can find out which update channels are available, what the build numbers are called, and what's changed.

5. Unofficial Ways to Get the Latest Updates

The uupdump.net website always provides the latest versions from all update channels. Version numbers are as of December 2023 and are for reference only. Future build numbers will change and provide different functionality.

After selecting the version, set the language to “English” and click “Next”. Then check the required version and click “Next”. Enable the “Download and convert to an ISO file” option and check the “Integrate updates if available (Windows converter only)” box . Then click “Create download package” and download the ZIP file.

Extract the downloaded ZIP file and start “uup_download_windows.cmd”. The script downloads the installation files from Microsoft servers and creates an ISO file from them.

You can use the ISO file for a fresh installation or a parallel installation. You can update a running Windows by inserting the ISO file into the file system in Windows Explorer via the “Deploy” context menu item and then launching “Setup.exe” from the virtual DVD drive.

6. Unlock hidden Windows features in advance

Microsoft provides new features to Windows through updates, but these features are only enabled after a certain date. The preview builds 22631.2787 (Windows 11) and 19045.3757 (Windows 10) mentioned above, for example, include Windows Copilot, which allows for searching and controlling Windows using artificial intelligence (AI).

If you want to try out the features right now, you'll need to install the versions of Windows mentioned, join Insider, and enable the new features. To do this, you'll need Vivetool , from which you should always download the latest version.

Please note : All information is a snapshot from December 2023, this is for example only. Other steps may be required due to updates installed in the meantime.

Step 1 : Open CMD with admin rights, change to Vivetool download folder and start

vivetool.exe /enable /id:44353396

Step 2 : Copy the file “C:\Windows\System32\IntegratedServicesRegion-PolicySet.json” to the backup folder and open it in a text editor. Search for “Windows Copilot”.

Step 3 : In CMD with admin rights, change access rights by

takeown /f "C:\Windows\System32\IntegratedServicesRegionPolicySet.json" && icacls "C:\Windows\System32\IntegratedServicesRegionPolicySet.json" /
grant Administratoren:F /c /l

Then copy the previously changed json file to the “C:\Windows\System32” folder.

Step 4 : Restart Windows. With Windows 11, the Windows Copilot icon will appear on the taskbar. In tests with Windows 10, this is not always the case. If this is the case for you, press the Win + R key combination , type

microsoft-edge://?ux=copilot&tcp=1&source=taskbar

... and confirm with “OK” .

7. Using artificial intelligence without Microsoft

The innovations planned for the future at Microsoft are all related to AI. Copilots will be available not only for the operating system but also for some applications and Microsoft Office.

People will have to figure out for themselves how useful this is in their day-to-day work, but not everyone is comfortable sending personal data to Microsoft beyond search queries.

If you want to try an alternative, you can use GPT 4 All for example. The program allows you to download freely available AI models and use them locally without an Internet connection. These models are several GB in size and require up to 8 GB of RAM. It works similarly to Bing Chat or Windows Copilot. You type in a question or task and get an answer from the AI.

AI support could also be useful in Powershell or Command Prompt, features that Microsoft may be planning for Windows Terminal. Terminal GPT can already do this. If you ask the tool for a command line, it will check the response and can execute it immediately. Shell GPT works in a similar way, but requires a paid API key for Chat GPT.

Lama Cleaner is an AI-powered image processing tool that works with local models. It specializes in inpainting, where images are edited in a way that the viewer does not notice the changes. You can remove unwanted objects from the image and the background is reconstructed properly.

8. Control your computer with your voice

Speech recognition and speech output are also among future Windows features. For example, AI could be used to dramatically improve recognition rates to help control PCs.

If you already use Amazon Alexa, you can also install the associated app on your PC through the Microsoft Store. To use voice control on your PC, you also need Triggercmd and a free account at www.triggercmd.com, which is limited to one command per minute ($29.95/year). Alexa can be expanded with many capabilities, such as smart home control.

Windows 12 system requirements

To install Windows 12, your computer must meet the minimum system requirements. These requirements will likely be similar or identical to the minimum system requirements for Windows 11.

Here are the expected system requirements:

• 8GB RAM
• 64GB storage capacity
• 64-bit processor
• CPU clock speed 1GHz
• Internet connection and Microsoft account (for initial setup)

Windows 11 introduced some specialized requirements that were not seen in previous versions of Windows. These included TPM 2.0 and UEFI with Secure Boot. Windows 12 will likely have similar requirements.

If your computer can run Windows 11, chances are you'll be able to install Windows 12 as well. However, no one knows for sure until Microsoft makes an official announcement.