Hate Windows 11? You're gonna hate Windows 12 even more

A viral rumor claiming Microsoft would release Windows 12 in 2026 has been officially debunked. The report, which originated from PCWorld's German counterpart and garnered 18,000 Reddit upvotes, was retracted by the publication for not meeting its standards. Microsoft's actual plan is to continue supporting Windows 11, which has 1 billion active users, with its normal feature update (26H2) later this year and a separate version (26H1) for new Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. Windows division head Pavan Davuluri has committed to focusing on addressing Windows 11 performance and reliability pain points in 2026.

However, tech commentator Ed Bott warns that the next-generation Windows, whenever it arrives, is likely to be controversial. He predicts Microsoft will revive the core concept of its historic failure, Windows RT, creating a more locked-down operating system. This model, attempted previously with Windows 10 S, would restrict app installations to a curated Microsoft Store, limiting user freedom and third-party software. Bott bases this on Microsoft's pattern of iterating on past failures, such as rebuilding the Edge browser on Chromium after its initial flop and evolving the defunct Cortana into the modern Copilot AI assistant.