As 2025 saw the end of Windows 10 support, and Windows 11 is now the sole operating system from Microsoft, the countdown has begun for a successor.
If your Windows 10 PC has now run its course and you’re not sure whether to hold out or if you’ve been using Windows 11 since 2021 and are hoping for a software update, you’re probably wondering when we’re going to see the Windows 12 release date.
Fortunately for you, we’ve scoured the internet for and collected everything we could find on the Windows 12, including its rumoured release date, feature set, price, and more. We’ll keep this guide updated too as more information drops.
Windows 10 end of support
Microsoft officially ended its support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. If you’re still on Windows 10, this just means that you’re no longer eligible for new features or security updates, and will – over time – result in your device becoming slower and more susceptible to malware or cybersecurity attacks.
If your device meets the system requirements for Windows 11 (you can check here) then we’d strongly advise upgrading as soon as possible. Windows 11 is free to download for eligible computers, with the easiest way to check your compatibility being the PC Health Check App via the Microsoft Store.
If your device doesn’t quite meet the system requirements for Windows 11, then you have a couple of options. The first is to sign up for the Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU, a free program which provides critical security updates for Windows 10 users until October 13, 2026. That gives you a bit more time to buy a Windows 11 PC – or give you more time to learn about what Microsoft has in store for Windows 12.
The second is to bite the bullet and upgrade to a Windows 11 computer now.
If you’re in the market for a laptop, make sure to check out our guide to the best laptop to help.
When is Windows 12 coming out?
At the time of writing, Microsoft is yet to confirm when the successor to Windows 11 is expected to launch. However, we estimate that the Windows 12 release date is likely to be sometime in the second half of 2027, based on the fact that Windows 11 launched six years after the release of Windows 10. However, this is just an estimate and not set in stone.
We’ve also made this prediction based on the fact that Microsoft confirmed in a blog at CES that 2025 would be the year of the “Windows 11 refresh”. Microsoft hasn’t announced anything Windows related this year – not even at CES. So 2027 is looking likely.
This is further supported by the fact that the recent Windows 11 25H2 update will be supported by Microsoft until October 2027 (at least). As this update only started rolling out back in the summer, it’s thought that a Windows 12 release isn’t currently a priority for the company.
What could Windows 12 look like?
Although Microsoft hasn’t officially confirmed Windows 12 at the time of writing, that hasn’t stopped rumours from circulating on the internet. In fact, there are a handful of leaked features doing the rounds, from rumours of a subscription plan to more built-in AI capabilities, but these are far from confirmed.
Of course, we’ll have to wait until Microsoft finally unveils its plans for Windows 12 to confirm any rumours.
The AI rumours are more than likely true, though. It’s clear Microsoft is betting on AI integration, especially with its investment in Copilot and Copilot+ over the last year and a half. With Windows 12, you can expect more of the same – with better machine learning that can assist users in more efficient and less intrusive ways.
Will Windows 12 be free to upgrade?
As Microsoft is yet to confirm any details about Windows 12, whether or not the upgrade will be free is pure speculation. Having said that, considering Windows 11 was a free upgrade for compatible devices, we’re hopeful that Windows 12 will be free to download too.
However, it’s worth mentioning that there have been rumours surrounding a potential “subscription” model for Windows 12. At this point, the rumours are pretty unverified, with the claims found across the likes of Reddit and Community pages following a mention of subscription status in the code for a Windows Insider build.
The question as to whether Microsoft will replace Windows’ current one-time purchase model and instead implement a monthly or annual fee, or if there will be more “premium” features hidden behind a paywall is a big discussion across forums.
However, until Microsoft lifts the lid on Windows 12, all rumours are purely speculation at this point.
How can I get early access to Windows access?
If you’re a keen bean desperate to see what features Microsoft has up its sleeves for Windows 11 – and possibly beyond, you’ll want to sign up for the Windows Insider program.
This will give you early access to several new features – however, the stability of those features depends on what channel you sign up for.
That’s everything we know about Windows 12 right now. We’ll keep this post updated as we find out more, but for now catch up all on the latest computing news here.
