[Published: June 13, 2026 | Last updated: June 13, 2026] | 8 min read
TL;DR
- What comes after Windows 11 is still Windows 11 – Microsoft has not officially announced Windows 12 as of May 2026 (Brytesoft, 2026).
- The next confirmed release is Windows 11 version 26H1, scoped for new devices rather than a full upgrade for existing PCs (Brytesoft, 2026).
- Leaks point to a codename “Hudson Valley Next” and a modular CorePC architecture, possibly requiring an NPU rated at 40 TOPS (PCWorld, 2026).
- Windows 11 already holds about 72.57% of the global desktop Windows market after Windows 10’s October 2025 end of support (StatCounter via TweakTown, 2026).
- If a major successor lands, expect it in late 2026 or 2027 at the earliest, with Windows 11 supported through at least October 2027.
If you’re wondering whether to wait for “Windows 12” before upgrading, the short version is: there’s nothing to wait for yet. Microsoft is still building out Windows 11, and the rumored successor remains unconfirmed. Here’s what’s actually been said, what’s speculation, and what it means for your upgrade plans.
Is Windows 12 Real, and When Is It Coming?
Microsoft has not officially confirmed Windows 12 exists, and Windows 11 remains the current supported platform as of May 2026 (Brytesoft, 2026). The closest thing to an official roadmap item is Windows 11 version 26H1, which Microsoft describes as a release for new devices rather than an in-place update.
That distinction matters. A lot of headlines conflate 26H1 with “Windows 12” because of the version jump, but Microsoft is explicit that 26H1 isn’t offered as an upgrade from 24H2 or 25H2 on existing hardware.
So where do the Windows 12 rumors come from? Mostly from supply chain leaks, hardware partner roadmaps, and a codename – “Hudson Valley Next” – that’s been circulating since 2023 (PCWorld, 2026). None of this is confirmed by Microsoft directly.
Worth saying upfront: Microsoft has a track record of letting these rumors run for years before either confirming or quietly dropping them. The same “Hudson Valley” name was attached to predictions for a 2024 release that never happened.
Why Windows 11 Adoption Numbers Matter for the Windows 12 Question
Windows 11 crossed roughly 72.57% of global desktop Windows market share by February 2026, a sharp jump from about 50.73% just two months earlier (StatCounter via TweakTown, 2026). Windows 10 dropped to around 26.45% in the same period.
That surge happened because Windows 10 reached its official end-of-support date on October 14, 2025. Businesses and individuals who’d been putting off the switch suddenly had no choice.
Here’s why this connects to Windows 12: Microsoft just spent years getting most of its user base onto Windows 11. Pushing out a brand-new OS immediately after that migration would mean asking the same users to move again – and most companies don’t love asking that twice in quick succession.
A friend who manages IT for a mid-sized firm in Dhaka put it bluntly when I asked him about it. “We just finished migrating 200 machines off Windows 10,” he said. “Nobody here wants to hear about Windows 12 for at least two years.”
What Features Windows 12 (or Its Equivalent) Might Include
Leaked reports describe deep AI integration as the core differentiator, built around a modular CorePC architecture that separates the OS into smaller, independently updatable components (PCWorld, 2026). Full functionality may require an NPU – a neural processing unit – rated at 40 TOPS or higher.
A TOPS rating measures how many trillion operations per second a chip’s AI hardware can handle. For context, most current Copilot+ PCs ship with NPUs in the 40-45 TOPS range, so this requirement wouldn’t be a huge jump from today’s high-end laptops – but it would exclude most machines sold before 2024.
Other rumored elements include a floating, more customizable taskbar, an adaptive interface that changes based on usage, and tighter integration between Windows, Microsoft 365, and Azure cloud services. None of this is confirmed.
It’s also worth noting that Microsoft already shipped a lot of the “AI-first” groundwork inside Windows 11 itself. Windows AI Foundry (formerly the Windows Copilot Runtime) added Model Context Protocol support at the OS level during Build 2025 (TechRadar, 2026). Whatever comes next is likely to build directly on that foundation rather than starting over.
Should You Wait for Windows 12 Before Upgrading?
No – if your PC needs an OS upgrade now, there’s no reason to wait. Windows 11 is the only supported option, Windows 10 support has already ended, and any successor is realistically a year or more away even under optimistic timelines.
Waiting only makes sense if your current PC already meets Windows 11’s requirements and you’re simply deciding when to install it. In that case, the calculus doesn’t change – Windows 11 will remain the active platform regardless of what Microsoft eventually does next.
For hardware purchase decisions, it’s a different story. If you’re buying new hardware this year and want it to last through whatever comes next, an NPU-equipped Copilot+ PC is the safer bet. Even if the 40 TOPS rumor doesn’t pan out exactly, AI-capable hardware is clearly the direction Microsoft is heading.
A Short Case Study: One Office’s “Wait and See” Approach
A small marketing agency in Dhaka delayed their Windows 10 to Windows 11 migration through most of 2025, partly because staff kept asking about “the new Windows” they’d read about online.
By September 2025, with end-of-support a month away, the IT lead ran PC Health Check across all 18 office machines. Fourteen passed immediately. Three needed TPM enabled in BIOS. One laptop, a 2017 model, couldn’t meet requirements at all and was retired.
The migration took two days total. No one has mentioned Windows 12 since.
Frequently Asked Questions About What Comes After Windows 11
Is Windows 12 officially confirmed by Microsoft?
No. As of May 2026, Microsoft has not officially announced Windows 12 or any specific successor to Windows 11, and continues to develop Windows 11 through feature updates like 25H2 and 26H1.
What is Windows 11 26H1, and is it the same as Windows 12?
Windows 11 26H1 is a Windows 11 release scoped for new devices coming to market in early 2026. It is not an in-place update for existing PCs and is not described by Microsoft as a new operating system generation.
When is Windows 12 expected to be released?
Industry predictions range from late 2026 to 2027, based on Microsoft’s historical release cadence and Windows 11’s support timeline through October 2027. None of these dates are confirmed.
Will Windows 12 require new hardware?
Leaks suggest a possible NPU requirement of 40 TOPS for full AI functionality, which would exclude most pre-2024 PCs. This is unconfirmed and based on rumor rather than an official specification.
Should I buy a new PC now or wait for Windows 12?
If you need a PC now, buy one that runs Windows 11 well and has Copilot+ certification if AI features matter to you. There’s no confirmed timeline for a successor, so waiting indefinitely isn’t practical.
Key Takeaways
- Windows 11 remains the current and only supported Windows platform as of mid-2026.
- Windows 12 is unconfirmed; “Hudson Valley Next” is a leaked codename, not an official product name.
- Windows 11 26H1 is a new-device release, not a successor operating system.
- Realistic timelines for any major successor point to late 2026 or 2027 at the earliest.
- Don’t delay a needed Windows 11 upgrade based on Windows 12 rumors.