Windows 12 will likely be Microsoft’s follow-up to Windows 11 – It could come sooner than you might imagine.
Rumor has it that the fictitiously named OS Could reach in 2024and the possibility of it Windows 12 could soon follow after Windows 11 Some of us at TechRadar have been delighted.
And while that still leaves Microsoft behind annual updates macOS And some other operating systems, upcoming Microsoft Moments versions He’ll at least watch it get more regular updates.
When that happens, we’d like to see more evolution compared to what Windows 11 brought. So, what improvements and new features might Windows 12 have? Users have been filling Microsoft with feature requests, with some of those wishes granted with 2022 updatewhich brought a redundant taskbar.
With that in mind, here’s everything we’ve found so far about Windows’ next major update, along with five features we’d also love to see arrive in Windows 12.
Windows 12: Cut to the chase
- What is this? Windows 12 is the rumored successor to Windows 11
- When does it come out? Possibly 2024 on a three-year timeline
- How much does it cost? It should be as free as Windows 11 right now
Windows 12 release date rumors
It’s still very early days for Windows 11 – we’re not even on the first anniversary of the update’s announcement. However, going back to the previous versions, we expect Windows 12 to arrive in late 2024, just like Windows 10 support ends.
Windows 12 supported devices
When Microsoft announced the availability of Windows 11, the main requirement was for devices to have a file A hardware feature called TPM is enabledwhich is a security feature that can be found on most motherboards.
While Microsoft will likely make the same requirement again, it may be at a point where the TPM is enabled on almost every computer anyway.
Other than that, it will likely have similar requirements to Windows 11:
- 64 bit processor
- Clock speed 1 GHz
- 4 GB of RAM
- 64 GB drive
- UEFI, Secure Boot Capable
- TPM 2.0 (trusted platform unit)
- Screen over 9 inches with HD resolution (1366 x 768)
- DirectX 12 / WDDM 2.x compatible graphics
- Internet connection
What we want to see
We don’t know much about Windows 12 yet, or whether the rumored upgrade will ever become a reality, but we have a pretty good idea of what we want from it, with the following features topping our list.
1. Integrate Skype and Teams into MSN Messenger 12
It’s no secret that Microsoft’s efforts at video calling and collaboration through messaging apps have been less than stellar in recent years. At a time when people needed to communicate more remotely, it was Zoom that took the lead and left Skype bewilderingly by the wayside.
Although there are some new features that have been brought to both Teams and Skype, there is still an air of confusion as to which one you should use. If you need to participate in a job interview that’s in Teams, for example, you’ll need to quickly install the app and make sure it works.
Instead, let’s see them retire and mark a fresh start for Windows 12, with MSN Messenger back to do the job that these two apps struggled with.
Not only do we want to see the classic alerts, winks, and sounds back if users want to, but we’ll also be keen on powerful features to make it go toe-to-toe with Zoom, Google Meets, and FaceTime. You probably have Slack integration, so if a video meeting is needed, it can prompt in a channel and with one button, MSN Messenger will launch with the desired invitees.
Microsoft needs to restart the way it sees itself for messaging apps, and the return of MSN Messenger could be a great start to that.
2.Live wallpaper
Request from TechRadar’s Senior Computing Editor Matt Hanson, and interesting at that. Similar features have been in iPhone and Android phones for several years now, with animations moving across these devices. But for PC and Mac, it has been converted to third-party applications, such as wallpaper engine (Opens in a new tab)To be able to have animated wallpapers with the ability to view information from your computer.
For something similar in Windows 12, Microsoft can increase its efforts on themes, something that has seen improvements in Windows 11, thanks to its dark themes.
Having a dedicated wallpapers section, where you can put static bytes of information on your desktop working with an animated live wallpaper, can appeal to all kinds of users.
Microsoft can also bring back previous backgrounds, like the slope of a hill in Windows XP, but make them animated, along with some clouds that display battery status or weather.
This can dramatically refresh your desktop and make it more up to date, without having to rely on widgets or the taskbar to display changes.
3. A dedicated podcast app
While it’s great to see the return of Windows Media Player from Microsoft, having extra features like podcasts seems irrelevant to the topic of Media Player.
macOS has had its own podcast app since Big Sur in 2019, but if you wanted 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 also be used on other platforms, such as iOS and Android, so that your subscriptions can be synced across all your devices.
Podcasts are very popular, and managing them all in a first-party app would be great for Windows users. It’s something that can really help motivate the company’s efforts to make content available on almost every device.
4. Custom streaming app
Great idea by our resident computing writer Jess WeatherbedThere is still an option integrated into Windows for streaming what you’re playing.
For years, there have been apps like OBS and Twitch that provide ways to broadcast what you’re playing or watching with others. However, these apps have always required that extra effort to make sure you’re streaming to viewers in good quality, with low latency.
Then there is the extra aspect of Peripherals used by banners To help show it in a better picture, or Stream Decks to easily control its settings with hotkeys.
It can be hard to manage multiple apps just to control all of them, which is why Windows 12 can benefit from having a single app that can manage your broadcasts and peripherals.
Microsoft has been pushing games in Windows 11 since it was announced in June 2021, with a redesign of the Xbox app and HDR support. But countless gamers are also streaming these games via Windows, so there is a great opportunity here.
Having a single app to control, say, loop lights and streaming for viewers is attractive, turning the heavy load into a single app. It can automate broadcasts based on the schedule and games being played, along with different lighting scenarios for different times of the day.
This may encourage more gamers to see Windows as a service, as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has been declared Since the release of Windows 10 in 2015, while also making Windows 12 an encouraging prospect for live stream creators to gain more followers and income for their professions.
5. Companion app for Android
Suggestion from our editor-in-chief at Pro radar technologyAnd the Desire Atho – This could be an extension of your phoneMicrosoft’s effort to sync your mobile phone with Windows. But when you open this new app in Windows 12, it will have a design reminiscent of Windows Phone and its tile layout, and will enable the desktop experience from your phone.
This will be similar to Samsung DeXwhich can be transformed Galaxy S22 or Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in the desktop once it is connected to a peripheral device.
This new app will surpass the efforts of DeX and Microsoft Your Phone, though. When connected to a monitor, your Windows 12 desktop will be complete, displaying everything from your main computer. And when you click on any icon, it downloads content from the cloud and renders it in original resolution.
It will be an innovative extension of the cloud, where you can access your files wherever you are. Here, you’ll carry your desktop with you and all you have to do is connect your smartphone to a monitor, using either the touchscreen features or your keyboard and mouse.
As with the streaming feature above, this will once again cement Nadella’s plans to see Windows as a Service. Having your own computer in an app is an attractive idea, and it can help in those situations when you have a short opportunity to do some work with a spare monitor, keyboard, and mouse somewhere.
