By the FlowUP team, gaming PC builder in Genappe (Belgium) · Updated 28 September 2026
Windows 12 has no release date. In September 2026, Microsoft announced that there would be no Windows 12, and even clarified in early June 2026 that its upcoming announcements were “not a new OS version”. The current system remains Windows 11, which continues to evolve through annual updates. Here’s what we truly know, why the dates circulating online were wrong, and what you should do with your PC today.
In brief
- No Windows 12 announced for 2026: Microsoft confirmed it on 1 June 2026 (PCWorld).
- The 2024 and 2025 dates circulating online were rumours, never confirmed.
- Windows 11 remains the current version and receives a major update every year.
- Windows 10 is no longer supported since 14 October 2025: switch to Windows 11.
Contents
- Windows 12 release date: where are we at?
- Rumours and reality: the timeline
- What Windows 12 could look like
- What to do in the meantime?
- FAQ about Windows 12
Windows 12 release date: where are we at?
No official date exists. Just before Computex 2026, Pavan Davuluri, who leads Windows at Microsoft, shut down the rumours by saying that the expected novelty was “not a new OS version” (PCWorld, 1 June 2026). In reality, the announcement was about new Windows PCs powered by ARM processors, including NVIDIA’s N1X chip.
ARM laptop or x86 gaming PC: Microsoft is focusing in 2026 on hardware rather than a new OS.
Rumours and reality: the timeline
| Period | What was circulating | What really happened |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 to 2024 | Windows 12 for 2024, codename “Hudson Valley” | Hudson Valley became the Windows 11 24H2 update |
| 2024 to 2025 | Windows 12 for autumn 2025 | Windows 11 25H2 releases, no Windows 12 |
| 14 October 2025 | Date announced by Microsoft | End of Windows 10 support |
| June 2026 | Expected Windows 12 announcement at Computex | Microsoft denies it: no new OS, focus on ARM PCs |
Takeaway: be wary of sites that announce an exact date. As long as Microsoft hasn’t published it on its official blog, it’s only speculation.
What Windows 12 could look like
Nothing is official, but the direction Microsoft has taken in recent years provides clues:
- More built-in AI, in the spirit of Copilot and Copilot+ PCs with an AI chip (NPU).
- A growing role for ARM processors, alongside the usual Intel and AMD processors.
- Hardware requirements at least on par with Windows 11: TPM 2.0 security chip and a recent processor.
For a gaming PC, the key things won’t change: it’s the graphics card, the processor, and the drivers that determine performance, far more than the Windows version.
What to do in the meantime?
Are you still on Windows 11? There’s nothing to do other than keep Windows and your drivers up to date. If Windows 12 ever launches, Microsoft will very likely offer an upgrade from Windows 11, the way it did when moving from Windows 10 to 11.
Are you still on Windows 10? Its support ended on 14 October 2025: it no longer receives security updates, except via the paid or temporary Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme described by Microsoft. If your PC is compatible, switch to Windows 11 for free. If it isn’t (too old a processor, no TPM 2.0), then now is the right time to consider a new machine.
To get started properly, also read Windows 11 trial version, what does that mean and how to update your drivers.
Windows 11 remains the version to install in 2026.
Our gaming PCs come with modern processors compatible with Windows 11:
PC Banger GeForce RTX 5060
Intel Core i5-12400F and RTX 5060: a Windows 11-compatible setup for gaming in Full HD.
PC Novara GeForce RTX 5070 12GB
Ryzen 5 7500X3D, DDR5 and RTX 5070 12GB: a recent platform, ready for the coming years.
FAQ about Windows 12
When will Windows 12 be released?
No release date has been planned. In June 2026, Microsoft confirmed that no new version of Windows was on the agenda for its announcements.
Has Windows 12 already been released?
No. The “Windows 12” downloads offered on unofficial sites are fakes, sometimes even dangerous.
Will Windows 12 be free?
Microsoft hasn’t announced anything. For reference, the move from Windows 10 to Windows 11 was free on compatible PCs.
Should you wait for Windows 12 before buying a PC?
No. A recent PC running Windows 11 will very likely be able to move to a future version, and waiting for a system with no date won’t get you anything.
