Windows 12: Is It Coming? What Microsoft Has Actually Confirmed (2026)
“Windows 12” is one of the most-searched topics in the Microsoft world, so here is the honest answer as of October 2026: there is no Windows 12, and Microsoft has not announced one. Windows 11 is still the current version – its 2026 update, version 26H2, arrived on 29 September 2026. This guide explains what Microsoft has actually said, where the rumours came from, what is new in Windows 11 instead, and what that means for the PC you use today.
Is Windows 12 coming out?
Not in the foreseeable future. Microsoft has not announced a Windows 12, has not given a release date and has not shown a preview build. Its plans for 2026 are all about improving Windows 11: version 26H2 shipped on 29 September 2026, and well-sourced reporting suggests a new numbered Windows is not planned before 2027 at the earliest. If you have been holding off on buying a PC or a licence while waiting for Windows 12, there is nothing to wait for.
The short answer
- No Windows 12 has been announced. In May 2026, Windows chief Pavan Davuluri said Microsoft’s next big reveal was “not a new OS version”.
- Windows 11 is the current version. The Windows 11 2026 Update (version 26H2) was released on 29 September 2026.
- New features arrive as Windows 11 updates, including more AI features and fixes based on user feedback.
- Waiting does not pay off. A Windows 11 PC or licence bought today keeps receiving those updates.
- Still on Windows 10? Free support ended on 14 October 2025. Extended Security Updates for home PCs now run until 12 October 2027.
What Microsoft has actually said
Microsoft has not published anything about a Windows 12. The clearest statement came from Pavan Davuluri, who leads Windows and Devices at Microsoft. Ahead of the Build developer conference in May 2026 he wrote that something new was coming for developers – “and no, it’s not a new OS version”. Since then, Microsoft’s announcements have focused on Windows 11: the 26H2 update, more AI features that run on the PC itself, and new Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft has also invited the press to a Windows and Surface event on 7 October 2026. Reports expect new hardware and local AI features, not a new version of Windows.
Where did the Windows 12 rumours come from?
The speculation was understandable. Microsoft has historically released a new numbered Windows every few years, so after Windows 11 many assumed “Windows 12” would follow around 2024–2025. Leaks, concept videos and analyst predictions filled the gap. But Microsoft’s strategy shifted towards continuous delivery — shipping major features to Windows 11 through regular updates — which makes a brand-new numbered release far less likely in the near term.
The rumours flared up again in March 2026, when a widely shared article claimed that an AI-first, modular Windows 12 would launch that year, based on internal projects with code names such as “CorePC” and “Hudson Valley”. The publication later withdrew the claim and admitted the piece did not meet its standards. Both code names date back to 2023 and were never confirmed as Windows 12.
What is new in Windows 11 instead
Microsoft now delivers big changes as yearly Windows 11 updates rather than new version numbers. The latest is the Windows 11 2026 Update (version 26H2), released on 29 September 2026. On PCs running version 24H2 or 25H2 it installs as a small update with a single restart, because most of its features have already arrived through monthly updates. Highlights include:
- an AI agent in Settings on supported PCs, which changes options when you describe what you want in plain language,
- richer image descriptions in Narrator and further accessibility improvements,
- a view of AI workloads and NPU activity in Task Manager,
- more ways to personalise the Start menu and the taskbar,
- improvements to Windows Search and File Explorer.
Version 26H2 does not change the hardware requirements: if your PC runs Windows 11 today, it can install the update. Home and Pro editions of 26H2 are supported until October 2028. If your PC still runs version 24H2, its support ends on 13 October 2026, so install 26H2 through Windows Update.
What this means for you right now
If you are buying a new PC, upgrading from Windows 10, or choosing a licence, the decision is clear:
- Windows 11 is the current, supported operating system. Buying it now is not “buying the old one” — it is the platform Microsoft is actively building the AI future on.
- There is no penalty for not waiting. Because future improvements arrive as Windows 11 updates, a licence you buy today keeps getting better.
- Windows 10 is out of free support since 14 October 2025. Home PCs can still get security updates until 12 October 2027 through Extended Security Updates, but moving to Windows 11 is the secure long-term choice.
How to get the latest Windows 11 today
- Check your version: press the Windows key and R, type winver and press Enter.
- On Windows 11: open Settings → Windows Update and install the 2026 Update (version 26H2) when it is offered.
- On Windows 10: run Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app. If your PC meets the requirements, the upgrade to Windows 11 is free through Windows Update.
- New PC or new build without Windows: you need a Windows 11 licence. Home suits most private users; Pro adds BitLocker, Remote Desktop hosting and Hyper-V. Our guide to Windows 11 Pro vs Home explains the differences.
Don’t wait for a Windows 12 that isn’t coming
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Frequently asked questions
Is Windows 12 real?
Not as a product. Microsoft has not announced Windows 12, and in May 2026 its Windows chief said the company’s next big announcement was “not a new OS version”. New features are delivered as updates to Windows 11 instead.
Should I wait for Windows 12 before buying a PC or licence?
There is no reason to wait. Microsoft has not announced Windows 12 or a release date, and new features keep arriving through Windows 11 updates. A Windows 11 licence bought today runs the current platform and keeps receiving those improvements.
Is Windows 11 still the latest version of Windows?
Yes. Windows 11 is the current, fully supported version of Windows and the one Microsoft is building its AI features into. It is the right choice for both new PCs and upgrades from Windows 10.
What happened to Windows 10?
Windows 10 reached the end of its free support on 14 October 2025. It still runs, and home PCs can receive security updates until 12 October 2027 through Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates programme. Upgrading to Windows 11 on a compatible PC is the best long-term option.
Will there ever be a Windows 12?
Microsoft has not committed to a Windows 12, and current signals point to continuous updates of Windows 11 instead. Naming could always change in future, but for any decision you are making today, Windows 11 is the version that matters.
What is the latest version of Windows 11?
The Windows 11 2026 Update, version 26H2, released on 29 September 2026. Home and Pro editions are supported until October 2028.
Will Windows 12 be a free upgrade?
Nobody can say, because Microsoft has not announced Windows 12. The step from Windows 10 to Windows 11 was free for eligible PCs, but Microsoft has made no promise about any future version.
Sources: PCWorld – No Windows 12 at Build, Windows Central – No AI-focused Windows 12 this year, Windows Latest – Windows and Surface event on 7 October 2026, Pureinfotech – Windows 11 26H2 released, Microsoft Lifecycle – Windows 11 Home and Pro. Last updated: 4 October 2026.
