A concept designer's 'Windows 12.1' illustration demonstrates the minimalistic Start menu we've been begging Microsoft for on Windows 11 with less AI chaff

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What if Windows 12 was everything you could have wanted in Windows 11 from Microsoft? A next-gen concept.

Windows 12.1 concept design
Windows 12.1 concept design (Image credit: AR 4789 | YouTube)

What you need to know

  • While Microsoft remains mum about its next-gen operating system, a concept design echoed avid Windows users' dreams for the OS in a new illustration dubbed Windows 12.1.
  • The concept features a minimalistic Start menu featuring essential apps with an interactive layout and functions. 
  • The File Explorer features a sidebar with icons for easy navigation, and the taskbar adopted Apple's Dock-style for MacBooks. 

As you might already know, Microsoft will discontinue Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. This decision is despite numerous pleas from concerned users, including a petition from a public interest group asking it to reconsider its decision and extend its support for the operating system. 

The petition indicates that sending Windows 10 to the Microsoft Graveyard could lead to the "single biggest jump in junked computers ever," ultimately hurting its environmental and sustainability goals. Admittedly, Windows 10 continues to dominate the market share despite Microsoft's blatant attempt to lure users to upgrade to Windows 11 using full-screen multipage popup ads.

Microsoft's stringent system requirements for Windows 11 and flawed design elements are among some of the reasons preventing users from upgrading to the newer OS. The company has made it difficult for users to run the OS on unsupported devices, citing security reasons. It recently sealed the TPM 2.0 loophole, again preventing users from installing Windows 11 on unsupported devices.

Windows 12? What say you Microsoft

Windows 12.1 pro - 2024 - YouTube Windows 12.1 pro - 2024 - YouTube
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Microsoft has remained relatively mum about Windows 11's successor — presumably Windows 12. But perhaps it has bigger fish to fry with Windows Recall's security nightmare and the CrowdStrike fiasco that affected up to 8.5 million Windows devices.

I would assume that Windows 12's system requirements would be more critical and even require a dedicated NPU (neural processing unit) as the company continues to ship next-gen AI features to its Windows operating system. 

AR 4789 is a concept designer well known for skillfully illustrating a utopia where the Windows Phone still existed running Windows 12. While things remain relatively quiet on Microsoft's front, AR 4789 recently conceptualized what Windows 12 (actually Windows 12.1) would ideally look like (via Beta News). 

READ MORE

- Apple Intelligence is coming to Windows 11 via Parallels Desktop

- Microsoft launches Copilto Academy to help users leverage the tool as intended

-The next big Windows 11 feature update may have just had its release date revealed or not

Two minutes into the 8-minute YouTube video, the clean interface and Fluent Design across the apps sold me on the entire concept. You can play games or even browse the web while installing the operating system on your PC.

Windows 12.1 also features a minimalistic Start menu, often called "comically bad" by Windows 11 users. The menu slims the clutter and only focuses on important apps with an interactive layout and functions. I didn't spot any ads, either.

The File Explorer is seemingly leaner and cleaner. It is fully equipped with a sidebar for easy navigation and drag-and-drop support. The taskbar also adopts Apple's dock style on Macs, leaving more screen real estate for other functions and uses.

As expected, Microsoft's headliner in its AI campaign, Copilot, also appeared in the concept. However, based on the concept presentation, it didn't seem like an important part of the operating system since the designer didn't dwell much on it other than highlighting its key functionalities.

Interestingly, a poll on Windows Central's website revealed more than half of polled readers didn't use the AI tool completely. Microsoft announced its plans to pump the brakes on shipping new Copilot experiences earlier this year. Instead, it indicated that it would use the time to improve and enhance existing ones. However, the company unveiled its next wave of Copilot experiences earlier this week with Copilot Pages and Copilot agents.

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Kevin Okemwa
Kevin Okemwa
Contributor

Kevin Okemwa is a seasoned tech journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya with lots of experience covering the latest trends and developments in the industry at Windows Central. With a passion for innovation and a keen eye for detail, he has written for leading publications such as OnMSFT, MakeUseOf, and Windows Report, providing insightful analysis and breaking news on everything revolving around the Microsoft ecosystem. You'll also catch him occasionally contributing at iMore about Apple and AI. While AFK and not busy following the ever-emerging trends in tech, you can find him exploring the world or listening to music.

3 Comments Comment from the forums
  • GothardJ2
    I love this concept; it looks so clean and easy to use. The different layouts of the Start Menu have me sold. Microsoft, look at these concepts, this is what we want in our next OS. I think the combo calendar and notification flyout is really clean and I would love to see that launch. The only thing that I'd enjoy about that more is full integration with Outlook, where I can quickly glance at my appointments without having to open Outlook (Another reason New Outlook needs to bake a bit longer).
    Reply
  • DaveDansey
    The start menu looks just as bad as the current one to me. All I want in a start menu is shortcuts to applications I want, in a layout that I determine (NOT a small grid of same-sized icons). I never want recommendations for anything. I do want access to All Apps, very occasionally.

    I use the W10 collapsed start menu which simply shows my custom arrangement of pinned tiles. I can place them in groups with headers, I can resize them and lay them out in a way which makes sense for me. I don't want or need anything else.

    I think customisation and user choice are the key to a good experience. If you want recommendations, sure, turn them on. If you want widgets, just enable them. If you want a small panel of same-sized icons, fine... but if you want simple one-click access to lots of apps in a custom arrangements with group headers, allow that too.

    By dumbing things down and limiting choice as they have been doing, they're just annoying lots of people, who then have to seek alternatives and workarounds.
    Reply
  • FraJa
    Their might be a company developping software so that is Win NT4 had your favourite Start Menu, you can !
    And since then SOOOO many others. I envy you to, your dream happened and you are fulfilled ! :D

    I understand the customization, I once wrote a ticket on the feedback hub with the idea to let people customize it as they wanted, and since I use the start menu more like a launcher (win key + something) why not allowing it to be docked to the taskbar, as today, or when clicking the start menu button, or in the middle of the screen, ...
    Also having something powerfull like the vscode command/bar (or otherwise like raycast) where command can be typed, but also associated with a button for those who click click on the start menu...

    And of course some latitude regarding the cosmetic aspect of it!

    But this is not possible yet, there are too many parameters that needs to be taken into account... from perf to security, hardware support for screens, mouse, touch, etc.

    But it would fix the never-ending drama that is the start menu, it's not possible to please 1.5B users... And your idea of the start menu probably will not get much love... If the tiles are too big not dynamic and straight line and angles Not super appealing to me (well, that is what I did in Win10... but a time ago now.).
    Personally, I don't care... I don't see much of it, and it is a gris with icons, somme shortcuts to settings, download folder etc. and the 2 last apps installed...

    But if it got more than icons, but useful actions available (and well integrated of course, because, clicking an icon and then something happen, is .... expected :) ) But something more powerful and customizable, I think it would be popular... 🥳🎆🎇

    Now if the tech "news" could once explain what telemetry is, and that it is unrelated to people data collection as done by Google for advertisement, ... Not MS thing at all.… then most issue would be fixed ^^ but also they must explain that it is in a all OS, including Ubuntu or RH, so many apps, plugins, extensions, etc. also on adguard and proton services ; adguard blocks MS telemetry, but not its own 🤔🤔🤔 Just saying that because one or two articles before this one, was some "news report" with big big paranoid made up things... At some point, let's move to another victim, or why not a real guilty company: Apple ? and find something against it (less that 3 minutes, you have weeks of papers)... because it's becoming a real pain... everywhere, here at least 5 times a day.. on other sites all day long.. why ? Nobody knows... but it does feel like a sanatorium at times...
    Well one thing a t a time, I understand, opening the diagnostic viewer (which is originally the reliability monitors of Vista, and the the "Problem reports" screen, with the issue you faced and whether a fix or a solution is available... That may give a better idea of it is really... and those screens are still there... instead of fueling the paranoia that is crazy on some sites or people... well tech "news", one thing at a time it seems...
    Reply