No, Windows 12 isn’t coming this year
Microsoft isn’t launching Windows 12 this year; they would be foolish to try it
A new report from PC World says Microsoft plans to release Windows 12 this year. This new OS will reportedly feature a modular “CorePC” architecture and require NPU hardware for its deep AI integrations. Since then, Windows Central has rubbished this report, stating that the “false report gets the facts completely wrong”.
According to Windows Central, who have contacts that are “familiar with the Windows roadmap”, Microsoft’s plan for 2026 is to fix Windows 11, not to release its successor. This is backed up by comments from Microsoft’s Pavan Davuluri, who said the following earlier this year.
The feedback we’re receiving from our community of passionate customers and Windows Insiders has been clear. We need to improve Windows in ways that are meaningful for people,
This year you will see us focus on addressing pain points we hear consistently from customers: improving system performance, reliability, and the overall experience of Windows.
Trust is earned over time and we are committed to building it back with the Windows community,
Planned actions for 2026 include scaling back AI integrations, improving performance, and enhancing Windows’ gaming capabilities. There are also reported plans to bring back Windows’ movable taskbar.
False claims about Windows 12 – Misplaced rumours
PC World’s “Modular CorePC Architecture” claims are called “misplaced” by Windows Central. The latter outlet calls “CorePC” an attempt in 2023 to revive Microsoft’s Windows Core OS concept. This concept had versions of Windows that could “scale up and down” with various levels of app compatibility/control. This project was originally due to launch in 2024, and Windows Central believes that this project has been scrapped. This project was never intended to be part of Windows 12, at least according to Windows Central.
This year, platform work for Windows is focused on Windows 11. Microsoft wants more people to use the same version of Windows, and releasing Windows 12 now would further fragment things. While reports claim that the end of Windows 10 support makes now a great time to release Windows 12, the question that needs to be asked is this: Does it?
Other points about Microsoft’s alleged Windows 12 plans were also debunked. “Hudson Valley” is a codename from 2023, and isn’t for Windows 12. Microsoft’s planned UI shift is allegedly from a leaked concept from 2022. Furthermore, reports of a subscription-based version of Windows have circulated online since the early 2010s. All of this information has been collated and reported on under the “Windows 12” banner. Thankfully, these reports appear to be false.
We don’t need Windows 12, we need Windows 11 to be better
If Windows 12 were to be released this year, it would be based on the ideas Microsoft has had over the past few years. It would feature deep AI integrations and require NPU hardware. It would be the OS of Copilot, and its launch would be a disaster. Microsoft would market features that consumers don’t want, and the OS would therefor has no traditional “selling point”.
Microsoft has seen how badly its “Copilot” AI push has failed. Many consumers see AI and say, “I don’t want that,” and buy more affordable machines. For now, Microsoft is focusing on improving Windows 11 by addressing consumer feedback and delivering feature upgrades that people want. If Microsoft isn’t able to rehabilitate its reputation with Windows 11, it may be forced to release Windows 12 to give it a fresh start. As it stands, Windows 12 doesn’t appear to be in the works.
You can join the discussion on Microsoft’s plan for Windows on the OC3D Forums.
