I would not be surprised if the next Windows version has similar requirements as Windows 11. Microsoft normally does not drastic changes to the minimum requirements over the years. Before Windows 11 came out, the last time there was a large increase was for Vista. Answer from Froggypwns on reddit.com
Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › windows-hardware › design › minimum › windows-processor-requirements
Windows Processor Requirements | Microsoft Learn
October 30, 2025 - For Windows support life cycles please see Windows 11 Home and Pro - Microsoft Lifecycle. This specification details the processors that Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) can use to manufacture new PCs that include Windows Products (including Custom Images).
Reddit
reddit.com › r/windows › what intel cpu generation is likely to be the minimum required for windows 12?
r/windows on Reddit: What Intel CPU generation is likely to be the minimum required for windows 12?
January 4, 2024 -
I have a 10th gen cpu, and I was wondering if it would work for me
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I would not be surprised if the next Windows version has similar requirements as Windows 11. Microsoft normally does not drastic changes to the minimum requirements over the years. Before Windows 11 came out, the last time there was a large increase was for Vista.
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With how much they're focusing on AI and copilot, they probably want you to use a CPU with NPU. So basically the newest stuff. It would also make hardware manufacturers happy.
Question - HammerBot Question: Will Windows 12 obsolete CPU's? | AnandTech Forums: Technology, Hardware, Software, and Deals
HammerBot:Based on the information provided, it is possible that Windows 12 may render some CPUs obsolete. Windows 12 is expected to have certain requirements, such as a 64-bit processor and TPM version 2.0, which may not be supported by older CPUs. Additionally, Windows 12 may also require a... More on forums.anandtech.com
Components to prepare for Windows 12? (And beyond?)
I am configuring a new HP Z2 Tower G9 Workstation. I want the stability of a workstation (I am coming from an HP Z800). I know no one can predict the future, but I want to try to get a system that would be able to run whatever is the current Windows for 5-7 years. I have speced an Intel® Core™... More on forums.tomshardware.com
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March 3, 20252/26/24 - Windows 12 to significantly up hardware requirements!
Keep in mind that some Win10 PCs ... older processor, TPM 1.2), so even Microsoft can't force them to update to 11. I have such a 12-year old system, which originally came with Win7 that I (freely) upgraded to Win10. ... I know that. My Inspiron lappy runs Win 10 but can't run Win 11. My XPS desktop can run Win 11 but I don't want it. MS has no right to force Win 11 on us, if we don't want it, even after they stop supporting Win ... More on dell.com
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February 21, 2024what will be the windows 12 requirements.
I want to purchase a new pc that I will be able to upgrade to windows 12 when it is launched, but unfortunately there is no information on this. More on answers.microsoft.com
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January 9, 2025Videos
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Windows 11 24H2 CPU Support List Changed, Kind Of - YouTube
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Thanks for your prompt reply. My pc is about 10 years old, with win 10 os, I'm unable to upgrade to win11 due to an unsupported cpu (i5 6500). I was hoping to take advantage of the sale offers available this week, but didn't want to buy one that may not be upgradable in 5 years time, windows 11 end date.
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So your setup is pretty much like mine. Last time I went from WIN XP to WIN 10, after buying a new computer, never running WIN 7 or 8.
I found an article that might interest you, though the article is almost 6 months old, https://techbullion.com/future-proofing-your-gaming-pc-how-to-build-a-system-that-lasts/
I also recommend waiting a couple of months, I'm sure another sale will eventually come. Google "future proof desktop pc", and browse the market and options. I'm sure your current computer can do for a while.
Eleven Forum
elevenforum.com › windows support forums › general support
Windows 12's Minimum Requirements: 16 GB RAM? | Windows 11 Forum
January 20, 2024 - 4GB, 8GB, 12GB none of that will matter. Windows 12 will require TPM3.0 and an AI enabled processor. So you will need to buy ANOTHER system to replace your aging 2023 system that can't be upgraded from Windows 11 or 10 anyway. Microsoft is a marketing firm now and not a software development house.
PCMAG
pcmag.com › home › news › windows 11
I Dug Through Every Windows 12 Leak—These Are the New Features I'm Betting On | PCMag
3 weeks ago - Better ARM support is a focus for recent Windows updates, and the Copilot+ ARM-based PCs include a new Prism emulator to allow non-ARM-optimized applications to run with good performance. I run all manner of optimized and non-optimized apps on an Arm-based Surface Laptop and can report no compatibility or performance issues. Qualcomm stated that the Snapdragon X Elite PC processor ...
AnandTech
forums.anandtech.com › home › hardware and technology › cpus and overclocking
Question - HammerBot Question: Will Windows 12 obsolete CPU's? | AnandTech Forums: Technology, Hardware, Software, and Deals
February 4, 2024 - Windows 12 is expected to have certain requirements, such as a 64-bit processor and TPM version 2.0, which may not be supported by older CPUs. Additionally, Windows 12 may also require a DirectX 12-compatible GPU, which could exclude older integrated graphics processors.
Tom's Hardware Forum
forums.tomshardware.com › home › systems
Question - Components to prepare for Windows 12? (And beyond?) | Tom's Hardware Forum
March 3, 2025 - Lunar Lake is essentially the low-power-consumption sibling of Arrow Lake, so its NPU can use far less power than using a GPU to do AI. FWIW the suggested RTX 3060 is estimated to have 102 TOPS (plus the Ultra 7 265k itself has 13 TOPS) so handily exceeds all the current guesstimates of Windows 12 minimum requirements at least for that, unlike those HPs.
Simple IT
prosteit.pl › home page › software › windows 12 – everything you need to know before the premiere
Windows 12 – everything you need to know before the premiere • Simple IT
May 7, 2025 - The introduction of AI-based features ... minimum configuration needed to run the system includes: • 64-bit processor with at least 2 cores and a clock speed of 1 GHz,...
Quora
quora.com › What-are-the-minimum-hardware-requirements-for-Windows-12-and-will-it-support-older-devices-running-Windows-10-and-11
What are the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 12, and will it support older devices running Windows 10 and 11? - Quora
Answer (1 of 4): Anything that meets Windows 11’s requirements should also meet Windows 12’s. Windows 10 requirements are too low for Windows 11 or 12 devices, due to the fact that these newer versions of Windows require a hardware-based TPM module to work anymore.
TechSherGole
techshergole.com › home › windows › upcoming windows 12 requirements: boost speed & security
Upcoming Windows 12 Requirements: Boost Speed & Security
February 27, 2025 - It is expected that Windows 12 will require Additional hardware due to trends in the industry and the upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Here are the as expected minimum requirements: ... A CPU with a minimum 1 GHz, 64-bit, possesses two ...
Digital Trends
digitaltrends.com › home › computing › news
Possible Windows 12 hardware system requirements revealed - Digital Trends
March 28, 2023 - However, there have been few details ... that Windows 12 might support the Pluton coprocessor, which was first introduced on the Ryzen 6000 mobile CPUs in January 2022....
Microsoft Community
techcommunity.microsoft.com › microsoft community hub › communities › products › windows › windows insider program
Windows 12 as far as i know?
January 15, 2024 - Actually, Windows 12 require special hardware named NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for all features in Windows 12 is working properly, but since the NPU is still very expensive to acquire (or basically you need an Intel Core Ultra 5 125U at least), so these requirements should be optional.
Dell
dell.com › dell community › software › virus & spyware
2/26/24 - Windows 12 to significantly up hardware requirements! | DELL Technologies
February 21, 2024 - Given plans for advanced computing, including AI-applications (e.g., integrating Microsoft's AI-assistant Copilot into the user experience): 1) the base RAM-memory requirement is set to soar to 16G...
LinkedIn
linkedin.com › pulse › windows-12-requirements-explained-what-you-need-know-lineesh-kumar-cgl1c
Windows 12 Requirements Explained Clearly
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Beebom
beebom.com › windows-12
Windows 12: Speculated Release Date, Expected Features, & Leaks | Beebom
October 15, 2025 - Qualcomm’s new ARM processor for Windows is truly a powerful chip and competes against Apple’s best M-series processors. So the Windows on ARM (WoA) platform is finally getting huge upgrades with better driver compatibility and software makers are working to make ARM-compatible apps. Windows 12 will become the best OS to experience Windows on ARM.
Quora
quora.com › Will-the-11th-Gen-Intel-processors-be-compatible-with-the-upcoming-Windows-12
Will the 11th Gen Intel processors be compatible with the upcoming Windows 12? - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): Yes, of course they are. Be a really bad move on Intels part to not make their latest cpu's incompatible with the latest OS that is used by millions.
PC Guide
pcguide.com › cpu › will-intel-14th-gen-run-windows-12
Will Intel 14th Gen run Windows 12? It's possible - PC Guide
October 30, 2023 - The potential compatibility between Windows 12 and Intel’s 14th-generation Metero Lake processors holds significant implications for both consumers and the tech industry as a whole. Intel launched the Raptor Lake Refresh line of processors a few weeks ago, but has designed them to be future-proof and compatible with both next-gen and last-gen systems.
PCMAG
pcmag.com › home › news › windows 11
What to Expect in Windows 12: Leaks, Rumors, and More
June 13, 2025 - That includes ARM-based PCs like those with a Snapdragon X Elite processor as well as Intel- and AMD-based devices with NPUs to power the new AI features. Those are significant developments in Windows, which, for now, remains Windows 11.
Top answer 1 of 2
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Thanks for your prompt reply. My pc is about 10 years old, with win 10 os, I'm unable to upgrade to win11 due to an unsupported cpu (i5 6500). I was hoping to take advantage of the sale offers available this week, but didn't want to buy one that may not be upgradable in 5 years time, windows 11 end date.
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So your setup is pretty much like mine. Last time I went from WIN XP to WIN 10, after buying a new computer, never running WIN 7 or 8.
I found an article that might interest you, though the article is almost 6 months old, https://techbullion.com/future-proofing-your-gaming-pc-how-to-build-a-system-that-lasts/
I also recommend waiting a couple of months, I'm sure another sale will eventually come. Google "future proof desktop pc", and browse the market and options. I'm sure your current computer can do for a while.
Neowin
neowin.net › news › some alleged system requirements for microsoft's next valley (windows 12) are here
Some alleged system requirements for Microsoft's Next Valley (Windows 12) are here - Neowin
March 26, 2023 - The ones for Windows 11 are often considered pretty stringent as Microsoft deemed CPUs, only a few years old, as incompatible. Recent rumors suggested that Intel's 14th Gen Meteor Lake-S desktop processors would debut with support for Windows ...