Windows 12 Release Features 2025 – 11 Upgrades That Matter
Microsoft has confirmed a 2025 launch window for Windows 12, its most AI-driven OS yet. Below we break down the 11 windows 12 release features that actually matter—plus upgrade paths and hardware requirements.
1 · On-Device Copilot Pro
Unlike Windows 11’s cloud Copilot, Windows 12 runs a lightweight LLM locally on any Ryzen AI or Intel Core Ultra chip—answering queries with zero lag.
2 · Dynamic Live Wallpapers
Think macOS ventura’s wallpaper, but reactive: sunrise animation matches your location and battery percent.
3 · Unified Control Center
No more split Settings/Control Panel. Everything from Bluetooth to GPU overclock lives in a single sidebar.
4 · Battery Saver 2.0
Laptop users get adaptive 120 Hz → 60 Hz panel switching and per-app CPU caps. Microsoft claims +2 h on Surface Laptop 6.
5 · Widget-on-Desktop
Widgets are free-floating; pin weather, stock, or our Gemini extension list for at-a-glance intel.
6 · Secure Boot “Smart Core”
TPM is now mandatory, and Smart Core isolates bank logins in a hardware sandbox—great for thwarting AI phishing.
7 · Quick Snap Layouts
Drag a window to screen edge → preview grid pops up; choose 3-column, 2-row, or golden-ratio split.
8 · File Explorer tab groups
Save a set of tabs (e.g., project folders) and reopen with one click.
9 · Cloud-Restore
Reinstalling Windows pulls your apps and settings from Azure in 15 min—no USB stick required.
10 · Android 15 Subsystem
Run Play-Store apps natively; now supports notifications and copy-paste between Windows and Android apps.
11 · Game Mode X
Threads gaming tasks to performance cores only, drops background AI usage, nets +12 % FPS in early benchmarks.
Table – Windows 11 vs Windows 12 Upgrades
| Feature | Windows 11 | Windows 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Copilot | Cloud only | On-device + Cloud |
| Battery saver | Generic | Adaptive |
| Widgets | Panel only | Free-floating |
| Android apps | Android 13 | Android 15 |
Upgrade Path & Requirements
CPU: 8th-gen Intel or Ryzen 3000 minimum (Zen 2).
RAM: 8 GB (16 GB for local Copilot).
TPM: 2.0 mandatory.
Free upgrade from Windows 11 until December 2026.
FAQ – Windows 12 Release
Q1 · Release date? Microsoft insiders peg September 2025 for OEM PCs; ISO mid-October.
Q2 · Price? Home US$139, Pro US$199; free for Windows 11 users.
Final Thoughts
With on-device AI and genuine QoL tweaks, these windows 12 release features make the upgrade feel less incremental than Windows 11 did. Check your TPM, back up, and get ready for the public preview later this year.
