It’s Official: The Next Version of Windows Will Not Be Windows 12
Microsoft has confirmed that the next major update to Windows will be Windows 11, version 24H2, and not Windows 12. This was revealed via recent updates in the Windows Insider program and later confirmed by Microsoft.
That’s right! The next version of Windows, scheduled for release this autumn, will be called Windows 11, version 24H21. Contrary to all the press hype, it will not be called Windows 12
The next version of Windows 11 will be based on the new Germanium version of the Windows platform that aims to enhance AI experiences and improve overall “quality of life”.
Microsoft also confirmed that Windows 11 will follow an annual feature update cycle, with releases in the second half of each calendar year. All Windows 11 users will have easy access to these updates.
It looks like there are several reasons for this decision not to release Windows 12:
- Avoiding user base fragmentation: Keeping all Windows users on the same version simplifies updates and support. Introducing a new Windows 12 might further split the user base, making it harder for developers and Microsoft to manage compatibility and features. Not to mention that it’s far less confusing to Windows users.
- Focus on continuous updates: Instead of major overhauls like Windows 10 to 11, Microsoft seems to be shifting towards a model of frequent updates within Windows 11. This allows for smaller, more manageable changes and quicker response time to user needs.
- Building upon existing features: By building upon Windows 11, Microsoft can refine and introduce new ones without starting from scratch.
This comes as a surprise to many who seemed certain that Windows 12 would be the next version of Windows and that it would include much more stringent system requirements. Releasing Windows 12 with much higher processor and RAM requirements would have left many Windows users once again scrambling for newer, more powerful PCs.
Instead, it looks like Microsoft has decided to take a more incremental and unified approach to the future of Windows. We’ll see how this plays out in the long run, but one thing’s for sure: The next version of Windows will not be Windows 12.
But we remind you that once upon a time, Microsoft promised that Windows 10 would be the last named version of Windows…
“next major update to Windows will be Windows 11, version 24H2, and not Windows 12” Big deal !!!
The big deal is obvious – the next version of Windows WILL NOT BE Windows 12 as so many tech news sites were reporting and about which we were receiving a lot of questions. And it’s a big deal because if the next version of Windows were Windows 12, you’d have to have a PC with 16 GB of RAM and a very high-end processor if you wanted to run it. And while you may have 16GB of RAM and a very high-end processoer – most people don’t.