Windows 10: No Windows 12 this year: Microsoft promises speedy Windows 11, version 25H2 updates

Will Microsoft released the fabled next major version of Windows, which is called Windows 12 by many, at all? At least not this year, as the company has just announced plans to release Windows 11, version 25H2 later this year.

Windows Insiders, those who test pre-release builds of the Windows operating system, can start testing the new version of Windows 11 as of today.

Microsoft does have good news for users who dread feature updates for Windows 11. This one will install quicker and Microsoft promises that users won't have to endure hour-long installs or numerous restarts to get the upgrade installed on their machines.

The company explains that Windows 11, version 25H2 shares the servicing branch with the current version of Windows 11, version 24H2. This gives Microsoft the opportunity to ship the features that are included in the 2025 feature update as a regular update. These features are shipped in a disabled state and all it takes to unleash them on the system is to flip a switch, so to speak. That is going to happen with an enablement package, which Microsoft plans to release this year.

As has been the case in the past, you will be able to enable the update before Microsoft announces its availability officially.

While that is good news for devices running Windows 11, version 24H2, it is not so great for older devices. These do not benefit from the speedier installation of the feature update. In other words, administrators should free up some time to install the upgrade, as it will take significantly longer. Or, and that may be an option in some scenarios, upgrade to Windows 11, version 24H2 instead.

Windows 11, version 25H2 is supported for either 24 months or 36 months from release date.

Here is the overview:

• Windows 11 Home -- 24 months
• Windows 11 Pro -- 24 months
• Windows 11 Pro Education -- 24 months
• Windows 11 Pro for Workstations -- 24 months
• Windows 11 Enterprise -- 36 months
• Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session -- 36 months
• Windows 11 Education -- 36 months
• Windows 11 IoT Enterprise -- 36 months

Windows 11, version 25H2 may come out when Windows 10 is put to rest


Microsoft did not say when it plans to release Windows 11. Previous upgrades released around September and October, and is is likely that Microsoft set its sight on that period for the 2025 release as well.

The new update will likely be released around the same time that some editions of Windows 10 are running out of support. Home users may extend support by up to a year, and some Windows 10 users may even get it for free.

Upgrades to Windows 11 are only offered on devices that meet the Windows 11 system requirements though.

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Microsoft considers free versions of Windows Phone and Windows RT to battle Android

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http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/11/...siders-free-versions-windows-phone-windows-rt

 

When will windows 12 be released?

In February, Microsoft announced that the next version of Windows will be Windows 11 24H2. There's nothing official about what will come after that.



You realize, I hope, that commencing with Windows 10, the number after the name 'Windows' (11, 12, 13, 14, ...) is only for marketing.



There is now a new version of Windows every year. Each new version of Windows is supported for two years. The current version of Windows is Windows 11 23H2, which was released on October 31, 2023 and its two years is up on November 11, 2025. The next version of Windows will be Windows 11 24H2 and it will continue to be supported until the latter part of 2026.



The next version of Windows after that might be Windows 11 25H2. Or it might be called Windows 12 25H2, if Microsoft wants to generate some buzz in the marketplace (and some FOMO.) But you understand, it's just a name.

 

Microsoft Windows Updates

Microsoft has released several updates for Windows Vista, as well as an update for Windows Media Player 11 in both XP and Vista. Download them bellow or through Windows Update.

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