Is There a Windows 12? Release Date, Rumours and Requirements

Is there a Windows 12? No. As of October 2026 Microsoft has not announced, named or dated a Windows 12, and the current version of Windows is Windows 11, which received its 26H2 feature update on 29 September 2026. Everything you read about a Windows 12 release date, price or subscription is rumour until Microsoft confirms it. Buying Windows 11 today is the supported choice.

Is There a Windows 12 Release Date?

There is no Windows 12 release date, because Microsoft has not announced a product called Windows 12. Microsoft's official Windows release information lists Windows 11 versions only, with new feature updates continuing on an annual cycle.

In late May 2026, ahead of its Build developer conference, Pavan Davuluri, who leads Microsoft's Windows and devices business, posted on X that something new was coming for developers, "and no, it's not a new OS version." Tech press widely read that as Microsoft ruling out a Windows 12 announcement at that event. It does not mean Windows 12 will never exist, only that there is no announced product to wait for.

What Is the Latest Version of Windows Right Now?

The latest version of Windows is Windows 11, version 26H2, released on 29 September 2026. Microsoft also shipped version 26H1 in February 2026, but only for certain new devices; it is not offered as an update to existing PCs.

Dates are from Microsoft's Windows 11 release information page. Our article on Windows 11 25H2 vs 26H1 explains why 26H1 is limited to new hardware.

The practical point: Microsoft is adding features to Windows 11 through these annual updates and monthly releases rather than holding them back for a new numbered version. New AI features, design changes and security improvements have arrived this way since 2021.

Why Is There No Windows 9?

There is no Windows 9 because Microsoft jumped straight from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 in 2014. At the launch event, Windows chief Terry Myerson said the new release was such a big step that "it wouldn't be right to call it Windows 9."

A popular theory says Microsoft skipped the number because badly written old software checked whether the Windows name started with "Windows 9" to detect Windows 95 or 98, and could have misread a real Windows 9. Microsoft has not confirmed that explanation, so treat it as a plausible story, not the official reason. The episode is a useful reminder that Microsoft's naming does not follow a predictable sequence, which is why guessing a Windows 12 date from the gap between past versions is unreliable.

Will Windows 12 Be Subscription-Based?

There is no evidence that Windows 12, or any future Windows, will be subscription-based for home users. Microsoft has made no such announcement, and the rumour has circulated for years without confirmation.

It is easy to see where the idea comes from. Microsoft already sells subscriptions around Windows: Microsoft 365 for Office apps, Windows 365 cloud PCs for businesses, and Extended Security Updates for older versions. But Windows 11 itself is sold as a one-time licence. A retail or OEM Windows 11 key activates a digital licence tied to your PC's hardware (and to your Microsoft account if you link it), with no renewal fee, and Microsoft's annual feature updates are free for that licence. If you are weighing one-time purchases against subscriptions for Office, our comparison of Microsoft Office vs Microsoft 365 covers that decision.

What Would Windows 12 Requirements Be?

Nobody outside Microsoft knows the requirements for a Windows 12, because there is no announced product. Any spec list you see online is a guess.

What is known is the direction Microsoft has taken. Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage and a supported 64-bit processor, and Microsoft has publicly refused to relax the TPM 2.0 requirement. That matters because the TPM is what lets Windows protect encryption keys and verify that the PC started cleanly; relaxing it would weaken features like BitLocker and Windows Hello. It is reasonable to expect any future Windows to keep those security foundations rather than drop them. Check where your PC stands today with our Windows 11 requirements checklist.

Should You Wait for Windows 12 or Buy Windows 11 Now?

Buy Windows 11 if you need Windows now. Waiting for an unannounced product leaves you on an unsupported or unlicensed system for an unknown length of time.

• Windows 10 users: general support ended on 14 October 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates now run to 12 October 2027, which buys time but not new features.
• New PC builders: a Windows 11 licence activates today and receives every annual feature update Microsoft releases for Windows 11 at no extra cost.
• Business users: Windows 11 Pro gives you BitLocker, Remote Desktop hosting and Group Policy now, rather than waiting for features that may never be announced.

If Microsoft does release a Windows 12, it has historically offered upgrade paths for recent versions, though nobody can promise what any future offer will look like.

A Common Mistake We See

A common mistake is buying a key advertised as "Windows 12" or a "Windows 12 preview licence". No such product exists, so any listing using the name is either mislabelled or not genuine. The same applies to download sites offering a "Windows 12 ISO": at best it is a modified Windows 11 image, at worst it carries malware.

If you see the name on a listing, treat it as a red flag about the seller. Our guide to buying cheap Microsoft software without fake keys explains what to check before you pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Windows 12 yet?

No. As of October 2026, Microsoft has not released or announced Windows 12. The current version is Windows 11, with the 26H2 feature update released on 29 September 2026. Anything sold or downloaded as "Windows 12" today is not a genuine Microsoft product.

When will Windows 12 come out?

Microsoft has not given any date. In May 2026 Windows chief Pavan Davuluri said the company's upcoming announcements were not a new OS version. Release dates you see online are speculation, so plan around Windows 11, which has supported versions running into 2028 and beyond.

Will Windows 12 be free for Windows 11 users?

Nobody can say, because Microsoft has not announced Windows 12 or its pricing. Windows 10 to Windows 11 was a free upgrade for eligible PCs, but that is history, not a promise. Until Microsoft confirms details, treat any claim about free or paid upgrades as rumour.

Is Windows 12 going to be a subscription?

There is no confirmation of a Windows 12 subscription. The rumour has circulated for years without evidence. Windows 11 is sold as a one-time licence with free annual feature updates, while Microsoft's subscriptions cover separate products such as Microsoft 365 and business cloud PCs.

Why did Microsoft skip Windows 9?

Microsoft said the release that followed Windows 8.1 was too big a change to call Windows 9, so it named it Windows 10. A popular but unconfirmed theory links the skip to old software that misread version names beginning with "Windows 9" as Windows 95 or 98.

Will my PC run Windows 12?

No one can say until Microsoft publishes requirements. The safest assumption is that a PC meeting today's Windows 11 requirements, including TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, is better placed than one that does not. Check your hardware against the Windows 11 checklist first.

Conclusion

Is there a Windows 12? Not as of October 2026: Windows 11 is Microsoft's current operating system, and it keeps improving through annual updates such as 26H2. If you need Windows now, a genuine licence from our Windows 11 collection activates online with instant email delivery and is covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee.

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