Window 12 Setup Installer (2024)
When will Windows 12 be released?
We're expecting Windows 12 to be released at some point in 2024, which will be the third anniversary of Windows 11. That would be similar to the release strategy Microsoft had prior to Windows 10, so it makes sense from that perspective, too. That's all we really have right now, and it might be a while before we have any more information. If past releases are any indication, Windows 12 should arrive in the fall, or at least the second half of the year, but that's not set in stone. Microsoft has denied the reports that it's working on Windows 12, but considering we're still some time away from its launch, the company could simply be holding its cards close to its chest.
If you're in the Windows Insider Program, you might see Windows 12 features show up early, especially in the Canary channel, though that hasn't really happened yet. Most features that have shown up so far have made their way to Windows 11, but it's worth noting that Windows 11 was also a total surprise until just a few months prior to its official launch. We could be looking at a few more months of waiting before we get an official look.
Will Windows 12 be a free upgrade?
One of the big questions you're likely to have is whether you'll have to pay to upgrade to Windows 12 when (and if) it releases, but thankfully, that's unlikely. Microsoft has been set on offering major Windows updates for free to existing Windows users for a few years now, and it only makes sense for that to continue. Of course, Windows 12 itself likely won't be free, so if you don't have a Windows license at all, you're still going to have to buy it.
It's been suggested by some reports that Microsoft might introduce a subscription service for Windows 12, but that's not going to happen. You won't have to pay a recurring fee to use Windows 12. Of course, you'll still need to buy a license if you're building a custom PC and don't have a valid Windows 10 or 11 license right now, just as with previous releases.
What might get you to spend money is whether your PC is compatible with it, but that's a different matter worthy of its own section.