Microsoft is working on something new, but it’s probably not Windows 12

Microsoft is in the process of testing new content for a major update, but it is unlikely to be Windows 12. The company has confirmed that changes are being tested through the Insider program in the Dev Channel, which could result in a patch being released later this year. However, it is more likely that we will see the successor to the current 24H2 build, Windows 11 25H2, rather than a completely new operating system.

According to Windows Central, Microsoft is backporting platform changes to better support Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon X2 chip. This will enable devices with this chip to run on the Germanium-based Windows 11. It appears that the upcoming 25H2 build may also be based on Germanium, although details are not yet clear.

The switch to Germanium was made with Arm-based chips in mind, as well as to improve performance and security of Windows 11. Given the challenge of getting more users to switch to Windows 11, Microsoft may be hesitant to make major changes at this time.

Sticking with Germanium could be good news for users, as many major bugs have been addressed with this platform. Switching to a new platform could cause disruption.

For end users, there may not be much impact right now. It will be some time before the new patch is rolled out, but the fact that Microsoft is working on setting the stage for build 25H2 suggests that development is progressing smoothly.