This question – when will we see a Windows 12 – was raised recently by a regular DCT commenter, and it’s a darn good question.
While there is no official word regarding the next Windows iteration, with a combination of historical data and logic, we can ascertain a reasonable theory.
Windows 11 Lifecycle
As you can see from the above official Windows 11 lifecycle chart, there is typically a 2-year turnaround between builds, with each build reaching end-of-life around 2 years after its initial release.
If Microsoft follows that traditional pattern with 26H2, it means that 26H2 will be released around September/October 2026 and reach end-of-life 2 years later, around September/October 2028.
So, I believe it’s safe to say that September/October 2028 would be the logical date for Microsoft to release a new Windows iteration. I would certainly be surprised if Microsoft released a new Windows before that date.
*A word on Windows 11 26H1: Windows 11 26H1 is based on a different Windows core and available only for select new PCs that initially hit the market in the first quarter of 2026; it is not available for existing PCs.
Indeed, according to Microsoft, PCs running 26H1 will follow an entirely different update path from all other PCs.
Will There Be Two Windows Versions?
I’ve been saying for ages that the next Windows iteration is more likely to be called either “Windows Copilot” or “Windows AI” rather than Windows 12. However, the advent of Windows 11 26H1 has thrown a spanner in that theory.
Assuming Windows 11 26H1, with a very different core, is aimed at new PCs that are fully equipped to handle AI effectively, I now suspect we might end up with two different Windows versions – one for the new AI-specific PCs and another for existing traditional PCs.
What they might be named is well and truly open to conjecture. Goodness knows, Microsoft’s traditional naming convention has been a mystery for years. That said, perhaps “Windows Copilot” for the new AI machines and “Windows 12” for the traditional PCs.
As always, your thoughts via the comments are most welcome.
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