It is rumored that Microsoft is reportedly working on a new version of Windows to replace Windows 11, and Windows 12 may be released by the end of 2024. Microsoft has released the version Next Valley which has revealed a prototype of redesigned desktop. We’re also expecting changes to the lock screen and notification center, as well as AI integration across the Windows 12 OS.
When will Windows 12 be released?
Many are talking about when will Windows 12 be released. Keep in mind that Microsoft has not yet announced a release date for Windows 12, while it is rumored that Microsoft plans to release Windows 12 in 2024. The rumor was from an editor, who heard from his inside sources at Microsoft.
If Microsoft sticks to these plans and the sources are accurate, we can expect Windows 12 has already been on the way.
What news features may be included in Windows 12?
The leak comes from the Microsoft Ignite keynote on October 12, 2022. Microsoft tentatively showed off an image of Microsoft Teams running on a Windows 11-style desktop. However, if you look closely, you’ll see the following changes:
Floating taskbars instead of edge-to-edge taskbars.
The floating search box in the top center of the screen.
System icons, such as the system tray and notification icons, appear on top of the desktop background in the upper-right corner of the screen.
The weather is displayed in the upper left corner of the screen, above the desktop background.
On February 7, 2023, Microsoft announced plans to integrate AI chat functionality into Bing. It’s not just Bing — the Microsoft Edge browser is getting an AI chat sidebar that also works a lot like ChatGPT. This sidebar lets you interact with the current webpage using AI chat. Microsoft Office is also getting AI capabilities. If all goes well, we imagine that Windows 12’s large search bar will integrate an AI chat feature that will also interact with other applications on the Windows desktop. Therefore, we could also expect to include AI functionality.
Will Windows 12 be free?
If your PC can run Windows 12, we hope it’s a free download.Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 are free updates for existing Windows users. Microsoft says the Windows 10 free upgrade offer has ended, but there are still ways to upgrade your Windows 7 or Windows 8 PC to Windows 10 for free.
For new Windows 12 users who haven’t upgrade from previous system, might buy Windows 12 key to activate it. Microsoft is selling Windows 11 Home for $139.99 and Windows 11 Pro for $199.99. Therefore the price for Windows 12 might be similar to that of Windows 11.
One thing you should pay attention to is that if you’re just using Windows in a virtual machine, both Windows 10 and Windows 11 will work fine when you install them without a product key – they just remind you that they are not activated and can be purchased to Upgrade from within Windows 10 or Windows 11 to get rid of nagging. The same may be true for Windows 12.
What are the hardware requirements of Windows 12?
If your PC can’t run Windows 11, it probably won’t be able to run Windows 12 “Next Valley,” either. However, if you’ve upgraded your unsupported PC to Windows 11, we think it’s very likely that your unsupported PC won’t be able to run Windows 12 at all.
