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Windows 12 is likely Microsoft’s successor to Windows 11 — and it could be coming sooner than you think.
Rumors suggest the imaginative operating system could arrive in 2024, and the possibility that Windows 12 could follow so soon after Windows 11 has entranced some of us at TechRadar.
And while Microsoft is still lagging behind the annual updates that govern macOS and some other operating systems, at least Microsoft’s upcoming “Moments” releases will be refreshed more regularly.
When it comes, we’d love to see a bigger evolution compared to what Windows 11 brought. So, what improvements and new features can Windows 12 have? Users have peppered Microsoft with feature requests, and some of those wishes have been granted with the 2022 update, which brought with it a refined taskbar.
With this in mind, here’s everything we’ve found so far about Windows’ next big update, in addition to five features we’d love to see coming in Windows 12 as well.
Windows 12: to the limit
- What is it? Windows 12 is the rumored successor to Windows 11
- When would be a good time? Possibly 2024 based on the three-year schedule
- How much is it? Should be free as Windows 11 currently is
Rumors of Windows 12 release date
This is still very early for Windows 11 – we’re not even at the one-year anniversary of the update’s announcement. However, if we continue with previous releases, we expect Windows 12 to arrive in late 2024, just as support for Windows 10 ends.
Windows 12 supported devices
When Microsoft announced availability for Windows 11, the main requirement was that machines have a hardware feature called TPM enabled, a security feature found on most motherboards.
While Microsoft will likely ask for the same requirement again, almost every PC might still have TPM enabled.
Other than that, it will likely have similar requirements to Windows 11:
- 64-bit processor
- 1Ghz clock speed
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB drive
- UEFI, suitable for secure boot
- TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module)
- A screen larger than 9 inches with HD resolution (1366×768)
- DirectX 12 Compatible Graphics Card / WDDM 2.x
- Internet connection
What we want to see
We don’t know much about Windows 12 yet, or if the rumored upgrade will even become a reality, but we do have a good idea of what we want from it, with the following features at the top of our list.
1. Merge Skype and Teams in MSN Messenger 12
It’s no secret that Microsoft’s video calling and messaging app collaboration efforts haven’t been great in recent years. At a time when people had to communicate more remotely, Zoom took the lead and Skype was bewilderedly pushed aside.
While a number of new features have been added to both Teams and Skype, there is still confusion about which one to use. For example, if you need to participate in a job interview listed on Teams, chances are you’ll need to quickly install the app and make sure it works.
Instead, let’s see them both retire and mark a fresh start for Windows 12, with the return of MSN Messenger to do the job these two apps have been hobbling around with.
Not only would we love to see the return of nudges, winks, and classic sounds if users want them to, but we’d also love to see powerful features to make it head-to-toe with Zoom, Google Meets, and FaceTime. Maybe integration with Slack, so if a video meeting is needed it can be requested in a channel and one button launches MSN Messenger with the required invitees.
Microsoft needs to reboot how 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’s Senior Computing Editor Matt Hanson, and an intriguing request. There have been similar features in iPhones and Android phones for several years now, with animations moving across these devices. But for PC and Mac, they are relegated to third-party apps like Wallpaper Engine (opens in new tab)to have animated wallpapers with the ability to display information from your PC.
To do something similar in Windows 12, Microsoft could further ramp up its theming efforts, something that has seen improvements in Windows 11, thanks to the dark themes.
Having a special section for wallpapers, where you can put static bytes of information on the desktop that works with an animated live wallpaper, could appeal to all kinds of users.
Microsoft could also bring back earlier wallpapers, such as Windows XP’s slope, but have it animated, in addition to some clouds showing battery status or weather.
This can significantly update the desktop and make it much more current, without having to rely on widgets or a taskbar to show changes.
3. Dedicated podcast app
While it was great to see the return of Windows Media Player from Microsoft, having extra features like podcasts doesn’t feel relevant to what Media Player is for.
macOS has had its own podcast app since Big Sur in 2019, but if you want to use a similar app on Windows, it’s not clear where to start, as Microsoft doesn’t offer a dedicated podcast app.
That’s why Windows 12 should include a dedicated podcast app that can be used on other platforms, such as iOS and Android, so that your subscriptions can be synced across all your devices.
Podcasts are extremely popular and it would be great for Windows users to manage them all in a first-party app. It’s something that could boost the company’s efforts to make content available on almost any device.
4. Dedicated Streaming App
A stormy idea from our resident Computing writer Jess Weatherbed, because there’s no integrated option in Windows yet to stream what you’re playing.
There have been apps like OBS and Twitch for years that offer ways to stream what you’re playing or watching with others. However, these apps have always gone the extra mile to ensure you’re streaming to viewers in good quality and with low latency.
Then there’s the added aspect of the peripherals streamers use to make them more visible, or Stream Decks to easily control their settings with hotkeys.
It can be overwhelming to manage multiple apps to control them all. Therefore, Windows 12 could benefit from having one app that can manage your streams and peripherals.
Microsoft has been pushing gaming in Windows 11 since its announcement in June 2021, with a redesigned Xbox app and HDR support. But countless gamers also stream these games via Windows, so there’s a big opportunity here.
It’s attractive to have one app to control ring lights and the streams for viewers, for example, shifting the heavy lifting to one app. It could automate streams based on the schedule and games being played, in addition to different lighting scenarios for the different times of the day.
This could encourage more gamers to see Windows as a service, as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has stated since the release of Windows 10 in 2015, while also making Windows 12 an attractive prospect for streamers to gain more followers and revenue for their careers. to earn. .
5. Companion App for Android
A suggestion from our editor-in-chief at TechRadar Pro, Desire Athow – this could be an extension of Your Phone, Microsoft’s attempt to sync your mobile with Windows. But when you open this new app in Windows 12, it would have a layout reminiscent of Windows Phone and the tile layout, allowing for a desktop experience from your phone.
This would be similar to Samsung DeX, which can turn your Galaxy S22 or Galaxy S22 Ultra into a desktop once connected to a peripheral.
However, this new app would go beyond DeX and Microsoft’s Your Phone efforts. When you connect to a monitor, it would become a full-fledged Windows 12 desktop, displaying everything from your main PC. And when you click on an icon, it downloads the content from the cloud and displays it in its native resolution.
It would be an innovative extension of the cloud, where you can access your files from anywhere. Here you would have your desktop with you and all you need to do is connect your smartphone to a monitor, either with touchscreen functions or a keyboard and mouse.
As with the streaming feature above, this would relaunch Nadella’s plans to see Windows as a service. Having your PC in an app is a tempting thought and could help in those situations where you have a short chance of getting work done somewhere with an extra monitor, keyboard and mouse.