Windows 12 – Everything You Need to Know About Windows 12

Windows 12 is the next anticipated version of Microsoft’s Windows operating system. While Microsoft has not officially confirmed that Windows 12 is in development, given their usual release cycle of a new version of Windows approximately every 3 years, experts speculate Windows 12 will likely arrive in 2024.

As the successor to Windows 11, users can expect Windows 12 to build on the foundations of Windows 11 with new features and enhancements. Rumors indicate Windows 12 may focus heavily on AI integration, visual improvements, and productivity boosts. Read on for an in-depth look at all the new features expected in Windows 12 based on leaks so far.

Enhanced AI and Machine Learning Capabilities

One of the biggest upgrades anticipated in Windows 12 is expanded AI and machine learning integration. Microsoft made some strides in this direction with Windows 11, but reports indicate they are going even further with intelligent features in Windows 12.

Advanced Copilot

Windows 12 may come with an enhanced version of GitHub’s Copilot technology integrated natively into the operating system. For those unfamiliar, GitHub Copilot is an AI pair programmer which suggests line completions and entire function bodies as you type based on the broader context of your code.

By baking Copilot directly into Windows 12, developers could gain an AI assistant to help write, debug, and test code without needing to install any additional software. It would also allow Copilot to interface tightly with other included apps like Visual Studio, PowerShell, and more.

AI-Powered Timeline

Another rumored AI addition is something Microsoft is reportedly calling “Chronologue” – an intelligent timeline feature which tracks everything you work on. It aims to revolutionize productivity by providing quick access to recently used documents, websites, apps, messages, photos and more in one unified view.

Powered by machine learning, Chronologue would study your habits and adapt to display the content it predicts you need access to at any given time. You’d be able to quickly jump back into tasks across multiple apps and pick up right where you left off thanks to the intelligent recommendations.

Enhanced Search

Yet another way AI could expand in Windows 12 is through search. Windows 11 incorporated some basic AI into search, but Windows 12 may take things significantly further.

Rumors suggest Microsoft is working on predictive and contextual search features that not only show expected results, but also provide related suggestions and recommendations tailored specifically to you. For example, searching for a recent document could display contacts you frequently share it with or websites that reference the same topic.

Visual Upgrades on Windows 12

In addition to beefed up intelligence beneath the hood, Windows 12 is expected to bring some significant visual improvements too. From updated system elements to new capabilities for media and graphics, here are some of the rumored visual enhancements on the horizon.

Dynamic New System Elements

Early leaks of Windows 12 indicate Microsoft has refreshed the look and feel of Windows once again. Preview images show redesigned system elements like cleaner notification popups, subtly transparent windows, updated widgets, and more.

Most notably though, reports claim the iconic Windows Taskbar is getting its next big evolution. The Windows 12 Taskbar may include two areas – a familiar dock along the bottom for pinned apps alongside a customizable top bar for widgets you access frequently.

This should allow for better information density without sacrificing the quick navigation Taskbar users rely on. And combined with quality of life upgrades like window sets syncing across devices, the user experience feels fresh while still distinctly Windows.

Next-Gen Media and Streaming Playback

When playing back media, Windows 12 is rumored to introduce new upscaling capabilities powered by machine learning super sampling (MLSS). For both images and video, MLSS could help intelligently upscale lower resolution content on-the-fly while preventing common upscaling artifacts.

This should noticeably boost playback quality for media like 1080p or even 720p video. Early leaks showcase upscaled video looking sharp and crisp on 4K displays thanks to MLSS.

Similar tech may enhance gaming visuals as well. Windows 12 gaming leaks tease something called DirectML Super Resolution (DMSR) designed to intelligently boost game resolution and framerates with minimal overhead.

So Windows 12 could be a boon for gaming and media across lower-specced hardware by utilizing AI enhancements to boost graphics beyond typical native limits.

Next-Gen Creative and Design Apps

Creatives may get some Windows 12 love as well with updated touch-friendly versions of apps like Fresco, Designer, and Canva. These art-focused tools aim to better optimize the experience for drawing, sketching, image manipulation, graphic design, and more on pen and touch devices.

Expect interface overhauls tailored to touch and pen input allowing for more precision, faster workflows, and added customizability where useful. Combined with the aforementioned upscaling and graphics enhancements, Windows 12 seems to be positioning itself as a compelling creative platform.

Seamless Cross-Device Experience

Alongside innovations exclusive to Windows itself, Microsoft seems to be focusing on tight integration with complementary devices and services within their broader ecosystem. The goal is to enable truly seamless cross-device experiences as users flow between Windows PCs, mobile devices, and connected services.

Tighter Mobile Integration

With Windows 12, expect mobile device integration to get even tighter. The Phone Link app is rumored for additional functionality like making and receiving calls directly on your PC without reaching for your phone. Messaging may be unified across devices and SMS texts available directly within Windows as well.

Shared experiences are key too – such as the ability to quickly share documents, photos, and more between Windows and mobile simply by dragging and dropping. Frictionless file transfer ensures content moves seamlessly everywhere it’s needed regardless of what device it originated from.

And tailored integration would apply for other mobile peripherals too, like using your phone or tablet’s camera directly as a webcam for Windows video calls. Advanced connectivity tech like Wi-Fi 7 could enable tighter device collaboration and faster transfer speeds.

Seamless Cloud Connected Services

Microsoft’s extensive suite of cloud-connected services and subscriptions would also see expanded support. From Microsoft 365 apps to Xbox Cloud Gaming, Windows 12 aims for services that just work with minimal configuration required.

Subscription content and personalized settings would persist automatically across Windows devices signed in with your Microsoft account. So everything from multi-device cloud clipboard and timeline syncing to shared app layouts, preferences, and login credentials will follow you anywhere Windows 12 is signed in.

The emphasis here is on ecosystem integration that fades conveniently into the background. No matter your device or context, Microsoft services flow effortlessly around you the moment you sign in.

Security and Privacy

With artificial intelligence playing a more prominent role across Windows 12, Microsoft also seems to be putting safeguards in place to maintain user security and privacy. Windows 12 would likely introduce new controls and transparency options aimed to keep users informed about how their data is handled.

Enhanced AI Privacy Settings

As AI features permeate Windows 12, expect to see more robust privacy settings available to users. Options to limit data collection, disable certain features entirely, and control how your usage data trains machine learning models should be available from initial setup and throughout Windows 12’s interface.

Settings would likely break permissions down granularly app by app similar to mobile platforms. So you can cherry pick which AI capabilities you’re comfortable with on a per app or service basis while restricting those you find unnecessary or invasive. Data safety seems to be top of mind amidst the AI push.

Unified Timeline Control

Speaking of privacy, the new Chronologue timeline poses potential concerns for some users despite the obvious productivity benefits. That’s why Microsoft is said to be preemptively addressing worries with tools that make your unified timeline easy to manage.

Settings to delete elements of your timeline on demand should enable cleaning up sensitive entries should they somehow find their way into Chronologue’s records. Basic filtering by app or date range also offers a quick way to pare down you timeline to only what’s needed.

And like other personalized elements, expect options to wipe your unified Windows timeline completely should you ever unlink your Microsoft account from a device. Syncing personalized data across signed-in devices is convenient but also gives users comprehensive tools to erase it just as easily.

Improved Gaming Capabilities

Though still primarily a productivity workhorse for many users, with each version Windows also expands its gaming capabilities trying to meet users where they are. Windows 12 appears no different with upgrades focused on modern gaming standards and tighter Xbox ecosystem integration.

Enhanced GPU Access

For starters, apps and games in Windows 12 would get improved low-level access to your device’s GPU. This means those graphically intensive applications can tap directly into the powerful parallel processing capabilities of modern video cards for a smoother experience less hampered by OS-level bottlenecks.

Particularly for demanding games, this safer direct-to-metal GPU access structured through a standardized API could boost frame rates noticeably. And the gains wouldn’t be exclusive to gaming either – GPU-accelerated apps for video editing, 3D modeling, machine learning and more also stand to benefit.

Xbox Game Pass Integration

Speaking of Xbox, Windows 12 looks to expand Game Pass support allowing subscribers to easily access the Netflix-style games catalog directly within Windows. The Game Pass app would integrate tightly with the Xbox app for streamlined access to hundreds of downloadable and cloud-streamed games with a single subscription.

Even Xbox console exclusives like Forza Horizon 5, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and Age of Empires IV become available on Windows through Game Pass. And rumored developments like game save syncing across Xbox and Windows devices via the cloud aim to make Game Pass a truly platform-agnostic experience.

Controller and Peripheral Support

Support for Xbox controllers and gaming peripherals also appears upgraded in Windows 12. Reliable Bluetooth LE connectivity aims to address latency issues some users experience with Xbox controllers in Windows 11. And native drivers for Xbox accessories like adaptive controllers tailored for accessibility aims to make PC gaming more inclusive for all ability levels.

Of course standard gamepads from other brands would continue seeing enhanced Windows 12 support as well. Combined with GPU improvements and Xbox ecosystem integration, Windows 12 seems to be pushing PC gaming another notch towards parity with dedicated consoles.

Outlook and Release Expectations

With an anticipated release date sometime in 2024, Windows 12 rumors paint the picture of an impressive update three years in the making. Massive leaps in AI and machine learning integration look to spearhead meaningful improvements in how users work, create, and play.

Visually modern yet distinctly Windows refinements refresh the user experience across devices and form factors. Meanwhile expanded gaming capabilities and Xbox ecosystem integration cater to audiences seeking to consolidate gaming and productivity tasks alike on capable Windows hardware.

Overall Windows 12 appears ambitious yet achievable – a fitting followup to Windows 11 which moves the platform forward in key areas while respecting the legacy features millions still rely on daily. Exact details will remain unofficial until Microsoft’s own reveal expected in late 2023. But current indicators point to an exciting year ahead for Windows fans when Windows 12 finally materializes.

FAQs

Here are some commonly asked questions and answers about Windows 12: