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Windows 11 24H2 isn't even here yet, but Microsoft is already working on its follow-up that could pave the way for Windows 12

Windows 11 24H2 isn't even here yet, but Microsoft is already working on its follow-up that could pave the way for Windows 12

Microsoft is already working on what could be the first Moment update that will follow the big Windows 11 24H2 update.

Currently, work is underway to finalize the 24H2 update that will arrive later this year (most likely rolling out starting in September), but Microsoft is already looking beyond that update for the first Moment update it will deliver for that version, probably early 2025. (Assuming the Moment name sticks, and we'll get back to that.)

The first “Moment” of Windows 11 version 24H2 is already underway, I stumbled upon this internal flight previously Build 26120.383, it's actually just an EKB on top of 26100 pic.twitter.com/zRVseaW2c4April 15, 2024

This is according to a respected Microsoft leaker, Albacore on first moment for 24H2. (Add your own seasoning here, naturally.)

As you probably haven't missed if you're a Windows 11 user, Microsoft has just released the fifth Moment update for Windows 11 23H2, which comes with some useful new features.

Analysis: The bigger picture of the upgrade and the potential path to Windows 12

As a quick refresher, Moment updates are sizable feature drops, although not as big as the annual updates for Windows 11 (23H2, 24H2, etc.). Essentially, Moments offers a way for Microsoft to continue adding features between the major annual 'H2' releases of Windows 11.

Given that Moment's first update for 24H2 is apparently already in development, this seems like a strong indication that Microsoft will continue this scheme for Windows 11 updates in the future.

As Albacore comments in the previous post's thread about Updates: These should remain in place for Windows 11 as we move forward with the operating system.

Before long, however, that path will lead to Windows 12, or whatever the next-generation Windows ends up being called, and it's quite possible that it will appear in 2025, when Windows 10 exits stage left, and after that, the philosophy of Update delivery could change again.

There is also perhaps a greater chance of this happening, considering that Windows is under a new boss: Pavan Davuluri has taken the reins of the operating system, while Mikhail Parakhin (who previously headed Windows) is doing other things at Microsoft as of last month .

Traditionally, Microsoft has operated under this type of scheme of smaller drip updates outside of major feature drops, although not always. Before Windows 11 arrived, you may remember that Microsoft used a twice-a-year update scheme with Windows 10, so no new features were introduced between those updates. That left some pretty sizable gaps of about six months in which nothing happened to the desktop OS feature-wise (except minor tweaks here and there).

We never liked that idea, but we don't think Microsoft will go back to that way of working; We're taking this as a positive sign that Moments, or its equivalent, will be around for quite some time, and hopefully with Windows 12 in the future when it finally comes to town.

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