Windows 12 is likely to be the sequel to Microsoft's Windows 11, and it could be coming sooner than you think.
Rumors suggest the imaginatively titled operating system could arrive in 2024, and the possibility that Windows 12 could follow so soon after Windows 11 has some of us at TechRadar excited.
And while that still leaves Microsoft behind the annual updates handled by macOS and some other operating systems, future releases of Microsoft's "Moments" will at least see more regular updates.
Whenever that happens, we'd like to see a bigger evolution than what Windows 11 brought. So what improvements and new features might Windows 12 have? Users have peppered Microsoft with feature requests, and some of those wishes were met with the 2022 update, which brought a slick taskbar.
With that in mind, here's everything we've found so far about the next major Windows update, plus five features we'd also like to see in Windows 12.
Windows 12: get straight to the point
- What is it? Windows 12 is the supposed successor to Windows 11
- When will it come out? Possibly 2024 according to the three-year calendar.
- What are the prices for the premium plan? It should be free like Windows 11 currently is
Windows 12 release date rumors
It's still very early days for Windows 11: We're not even one year after the update announcement. However, for older versions, we expect Windows 12 to arrive in late 2024, just as support for Windows 10 ends.
Windows 12 Compatible Devices
When Microsoft announced the availability of Windows 11, the main requirement was that machines have a hardware feature called TPM enabled, which is a security feature found on most motherboards.
Although it is very likely that Microsoft will ask for the same requirement again, the TPM may be enabled on almost all PCs anyway.
Other than that, it likely has similar requirements as Windows 11:
- 64 bit processor
- 1Ghz clock speed
- 4 GB of RAM
- 64GB disk
- UEFI, secure boot supported
- TPM 2.0 (Secure Platform Module)
- A screen larger than 9 inches with HD resolution (1366x768)
- DirectX 12 / WDDM 2.x compatible graphics card
- Internet connection
what we want to see
We still don't know much about Windows 12, or if the supposed update will come to fruition, but we have a good idea of what to expect from it, with the following features topping our list.
1. Combine Skype and Teams in MSN Messenger 12
It's no secret that Microsoft's efforts in video calls and collaboration via messaging apps have been less than stellar in recent years. At a time when people needed to communicate more remotely, Zoom took the lead and Skype fell behind.
Although new features have been added to both Teams and Skype, there is still some confusion about which one you should use. If you need to attend a job interview in Teams, for example, you'll probably need to quickly install the app and make sure it works.
Instead, let's see both retire and mark a fresh start for Windows 12, with the return of MSN Messenger to do the job those two apps limped off with.
Not only would we like to see the return of classic thumbs, winks and sounds if users want them, but we would also like to have powerful features to go hand in hand with Zoom, Google Meets and FaceTime. Maybe it has integration with Slack, so if you need a video meeting, you can invite to a channel and one button will launch MSN Messenger with the necessary invitees.
Microsoft needs to reset the way it sees itself for messaging apps, and the return of MSN Messenger could be a good start for that.
2. live wallpaper
A request from TechRadar Senior IT Writer Matt Hanson and an intriguing question. There has been similar functionality on iPhone and Android phones for a few years now, with animations moving across these devices. But for PC and Mac, they have been relegated to third-party applications, such as Wallpaper Engine (opens in a new tab), in order to have animated wallpapers with the ability to display information from your PC.
For something similar in Windows 12, Microsoft could further push its theme efforts, something that saw improvements in Windows 11, thanks to its dark themes.
Having a dedicated wallpaper section, where you can put snippets of static information on your desktop that works with a live wallpaper, could appeal to all kinds of users.
Microsoft could also bring back older wallpapers, like the hillside from Windows XP, but make them animated, along with some clouds that show battery status or weather.
This can dramatically refresh your desktop and make it much more up-to-date, without having to rely on widgets or a taskbar to display the changes.
3. Dedicated podcast application
While it's great to see the return of Microsoft's Windows Media Player, having additional features like podcasts doesn't seem relevant to the purpose of Media Player.
macOS has had its own podcast app since Big Sur in 2019, but if you want to use a similar app on Windows, you don't know where to start, as Microsoft doesn't offer a dedicated podcast app.
That's why Windows 12 should include a dedicated podcast app that could also be used on other platforms, like iOS and Android, so your subscriptions can be synced across all your devices.
Podcasts are very popular and managing them all in one proprietary application would be great for Windows users. This is something that could really help boost the company's efforts to make content available on almost any device.
4. Dedicated streaming app
A stellar idea from our resident IT writer Jess Weatherbed, as there isn't yet a built-in option in Windows to stream what you're playing.
For years, there have been apps like OBS and Twitch that have offered ways to stream what you're playing or watching with others. However, these apps have always required extra effort to ensure that they stream to viewers in good quality, with low latency.
Then there's the added aspect of peripherals streamers use to show them off in a better light, or Stream Decks to easily control their settings with hotkeys.
It can be overwhelming managing multiple apps just to control everything, so Windows 12 could benefit from a single app that can manage your sources and devices.
Microsoft has been pushing gaming on Windows 11 since its announcement in June 2021, with a redesigned Xbox app and HDR support. But countless gamers also stream these games through Windows, so there's a huge opportunity here.
Having one app to control, say, ring lights and streams for viewers is appealing as it moves the heavy lifting into a single app. You could automate flows based on the current schedule and games, as well as different lighting scenarios for different times of day.
It could encourage more gamers to think of Windows as a service, as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has said since the launch of Windows 10 in 2015, while also making Windows 12 an attractive prospect for streamers to get more subscribers and income for your career. .
5. Complementary application for Android
A tip from our TechRadar Pro editor Desire Athow: This may be an extension of Your Phone, Microsoft's effort to sync your mobile device with Windows. But when you open this new app on Windows 12, it will have a layout that is reminiscent of Windows Phone and its tiled layout, and it will enable a desktop experience from your phone.
It would be similar to Samsung DeX, which can turn your Galaxy S22 or Galaxy S22 Ultra into a desktop once it's connected to a device.
This new app, however, would go beyond the efforts of DeX and Microsoft Your Phone. When connected to a monitor, it becomes a full Windows 12 desktop, displaying everything on your main PC. And when you click an icon, it downloads content from the cloud and displays it in its native resolution.
It would be an innovative extension in the cloud, where you can access your files wherever you are. Here, you'll take your desktop with you and all you need to do is connect your smartphone to a monitor, either with touchscreen functionality or with a keyboard and mouse.
As with the previous streaming feature, this would again reinforce Nadella's plans to see Windows as a service. Having your PC in one app is an appealing idea, and could help in situations where you have a small window of opportunity to work somewhere with a spare monitor, keyboard, and mouse.