Windows 10 lived far longer than other Windows versions, and it was supposed to be the last version of Windows. When that operating system came out in 2015, complete with a free upgrade program for Windows 7 and 8.1, it was meant to bring all Windows users under one roof, making it easier to support and maintain the operating system for all active users. The company is afraid of fragmentation the userbase, which was a major problem for the company prior to Windows 10. Without Panay, the new Windows direction now feels that a whole new version of Windows would be more of a problem than a benefit. However, in late 2023, Panos Panay, who was leading Windows and Surface development, left Microsoft due to a significant strategic shift for the company. In fact, at one point, Microsoft was planning to release Windows 12 in 2024, which would have been this update. You might have noticed that the features mentioned here were previously expected to come to Windows 12. Mopria-certified printers don't need drivers to work, and they're the future of printing on Windows. Speaking of drivers, this update also includes a 'Windows protected print mode', which removes support for printers that aren't Mopria certified. One of them is the ability to install drivers during setup, such as Wi-Fi, for users setting up a custom-built PC with a completely fresh install. In addition to some of the bigger changes above, Windows 11 version 24H2 also includes some smaller refinements and new capabilities. There are also improvements for the VPN quick action interface, and the Wi-Fi list shown in this panel now includes a refresh button. Currently in testing with Insiders, the list of quick actions can now be scrolled, so if you add more than six, you won't see the panel get bigger, and the additional actions will be stored in additional pages. Windows 11 version 24H2 could also introduce some improvements for the Quick Settings panel. It's not completely clear what these improvements are, but improved performance and efficiency on these kinds of devices would certainly be welcome. This release will also include notable improvements for Arm devices, which is a big reason why new devices with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite are launching in the summer. While it's not a new feature, it's been confirmed that the next version of Windows will not support 32-bit Arm apps, following in the footsteps of other Arm-centric platforms like Android and iOS. No more support for 32-bit Arm apps and better Arm optimization This will rely on a new mobile device linking feature that's independent from the Phone Link app. While it's not available for testing, one feature that's been spotted by some keen-eyes fans is the ability to use certain phones as a webcam for your laptop. On the topic of power, this new update will also bring power settings related to the lid and power button directly into the Settings app, removing the need for the Control Panel page that houses these capabilities. In fact, it seems like Windows Insiders are already testing the RTM build of this update, with build 26100 having been recently released. Currently, the expectation is that the WindUpdate will hit RTM (release to manufacturing) in April, so that PC makers can load it onto their Arm-based PCs launching in June with Qualcomm's new chipset. This new platform will be required for manufacturers shipping devices with Windows 11 version 24H2, which includes all the Windows on Arm devices with the Snapdragon X Elite. However, this release will be a bit different from the usual procedure, because this version is based on a new platform release, codenamed Germanium.

It's also expected that the next version of Windows will continue the annual update cycle, similar to what we've been seeing for the past couple of years, despite originally being reported to be switching to a three-year development cycle. That aligns with previous major updates for Windows 11.

General availability is expected around the September timeframe. Windows 11 version 24H2 is expected to launch at some point in the second half of 2024 as the name indicates.

Windows 11 upgrade cost