Windows 11, the most recent version of tech giant Microsoft’s iconic operating system, was first unveiled in October 2021. Since then, the company has tried relentlessly to get users of previous versions of Windows to upgrade to the newest option.
Some have met Microsoft’s attempts with skepticism. Others have opted for flat-out refusal to upgrade. As of 2025, Windows 11 only holds a market share of 36.65% of the world’s Windows PCs. In contrast, Windows 10 still holds 60.33% of the market, and Windows 7, which is over a decade old now, holds just under 2.5%.
Although the newest contender in the Windows lineup offers boosted functionality that makes tackling work tasks, managing creative projects, and accessing a selection of the most popular games online easier, the lack of uptake with users has been a thorn in Microsoft’s side since its release. Despite this, the tech industry is rife with speculation surrounding the pending release of Windows 12.
Windows 12
Although discussed on various platforms online, there is no official confirmation from Microsoft that Windows 12 will be coming any time soon or that it is even in the works. Instead, the rumor that a new iteration of the software is in the works is based on the company’s history regarding new releases and several other factors.
Historical Patterns
The most significant reason to believe that Windows 12 is on the horizon is Microsoft’s history of consistently releasing a new and overhauled version of Windows every few years, starting with Windows 1.0.
Windows 10
Another major contributor to the rumor is the pending deadline signaling the end of life for prolific Windows 10. Despite still being used by such a substantial number of Windows users, the operating system is scheduled to be put out to pasture in October 2025, with official support ending unless users are willing to pay $30 for extended support.
AI Boom
The final major factor behind the rumor of a new version of Windows is the current AI (artificial intelligence) boom occurring in almost every section of the information technology industry. Many believe that as Microsoft seeks to push its AI assistant, Copilot, on more users, it will launch a new operating system that is built with heavy AI integration and reliance.
Windows 11
With rumors of Windows 12 growing steadily each day as the expected release date (late 2025 or early 2026) approaches, it is highly unlikely Microsoft will release the fabled version any time soon. This is because doing so will likely not inspire any users to upgrade to the new option when so many haven’t even adopted Windows 11.
Instead of developing a new version, Microsoft would be better off fixing the existing issues with Windows 11 that have made so many users cling to Windows 10 instead. The most notable of these issues include:
Upgrade Issues and Requirements
Windows 11 was rife with controversy at its launch due to its requirement for TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 2.0. This, only present in newer CPUs, is instrumental to Windows 11 because the operating system utilizes virtualization to provide boosted security.
However, millions of users lack the necessary hardware specifications to enable TPM 2.0, so many have been unable to upgrade to Windows 11. And those who did have encountered multiple problems.
These issues include errors in completing the upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11, data loss during the transition, and slow performance once the upgrade has concluded. Additionally, the requirement to sign into a Microsoft account when booting Windows 11 for the first time has caused significant uproar among privacy advocates.
Performance and Drivers
For those who have easily managed the transition to Windows 11 or have purchased a new device with the system present, things have also not been smooth sailing. There are countless complaints online regarding the operating system’s sluggish performance, which often results in freezes or app crashes that require a system reboot.
These complaints have almost paled in comparison to the number of complaints surrounding incompatible drivers. Primarily related to GPUs (graphics processing units), incompatible drivers have been known to force users to upgrade to newer technologies or suffer through issues like flickering screens, system instability, or inability to utilize certain external devices (like printers).
Glitches and Bugs
Even for users who experience seamless installation of Windows 11 and find that all their drivers work as expected, the system has been known to glitch sporadically and encounter numerous bugs.
Bluetooth usability, VPN connections, notifications, and navigating the Windows File Explorer, in particular, have all been reported to present significant bugs. These can negatively affect performance when trying to accomplish work tasks and can be downright annoying when trying to access entertainment.
It should be noted that Microsoft is aware of many of the concerns surrounding upgrading to Windows 11 mentioned above. The company has also taken a proactive stance in addressing these issues, with various updates released to make the system more stable and usable.
However, these updates are often a hit-and-miss scenario—fixing one thing while breaking another. As such, many users have deferred upgrades for fear that the next one may make their PC even more unusable.
Do We Need Another Version of Windows?
In light of the ever-present issues presented by Windows 11 and the seemingly massive pool of users who are still more confident in using the soon-to-be-deceased Windows 10, the simple answer is no. Microsoft would likely be wasting its time trying to push yet another updated version of its operating system on the world.
Instead, the company should double down on its efforts to perfect Windows 11 and correct all the failures still present in it. While this may differ from the company’s history of releasing new versions of the system, the computing world has also changed, with users preferring more reliable systems than new iterations.
As such, while Microsoft has not confirmed Windows 12 yet, it would be wise for the company to avoid doing so until the majority of users have installed Windows 11 and trust it as a stable platform for both business and pleasure.