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List of Microsoft Windows versions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

List of Microsoft Windows versions
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Microsoft Windows is a computer operating system developed by Microsoft. It was first launched in 1985 as a graphical operating system built on MS-DOS. The initial version was followed by several subsequent releases, and by the early 1990s, the Windows line had split into two separate lines of releases: Windows 9x for consumers and Windows NT for businesses and enterprises. In the following years, several further variants of Windows would be released: Windows CE in 1996 for embedded systems; Pocket PC in 2000 (renamed to Windows Mobile in 2003 and Windows Phone in 2010) for personal digital assistants and, later, smartphones; Windows Holographic in 2016 for AR/VR headsets; and several other editions.

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Original Windows logo from 1985
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Current Windows logo (introduced in 2021)
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Timeline showing releases of Windows for personal computers and servers
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Personal computer versions

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A "personal computer" version of Windows is considered to be a version that end-users or OEMs can install on personal computers, including desktop computers, laptops, and workstations.

The first five versions of WindowsWindows 1.0, Windows 2.0, Windows 2.1, Windows 3.0, and Windows 3.1were all based on MS-DOS, and were aimed at both consumers and businesses. However, Windows 3.1 had two separate successors, splitting the Windows line in two: the consumer-focused "Windows 9x" line, consisting of Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me; and the professional Windows NT line, comprising Windows NT 3.1, Windows NT 3.5, Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows 2000. These two lines were reunited into a single line with the NT-based Windows XP; this Windows release succeeded both Windows Me and Windows 2000 and had separate editions for consumer and professional use. Since Windows XP, multiple further versions of Windows have been released, the most recent of which is Windows 11. Since Windows 10, Microsoft has effectively turned to the "Windows as a service" servicing model, most likely to ensure it competes with mobile operating systems.

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Mobile versions

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Mobile versions refer to versions of Windows that can run on smartphones or personal digital assistants.

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Pocket PC 2000 logo
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Logo used for Windows Phone 7.5 and Windows Phone 7.8
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Logo used for Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 8.1
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Logo used for Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile
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Server versions

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High-performance computing (HPC) servers

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Windows Essential Business Server

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Windows Home Server

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Windows MultiPoint Server

Windows MultiPoint Server was an operating system based on Windows Server. It was succeeded by the MultiPoint Services role in Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server version 1709. It was no longer being developed in Windows Server version 1803 and later versions.

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Windows Small Business Server

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Device versions

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ARM-based tablets

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Windows RT logo
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The Surface RT (shown with keyboard cover attached) was the flagship Windows RT device upon its release.

In 2012 and 2013, Microsoft released versions of Windows specially designed to run on ARM-based tablets; these versions of Windows, named "Windows RT" and "Windows RT 8.1," were based on Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, respectively. Upon the release of Windows 10 in 2015, the ARM-specific version for large tablets was discontinued; large tablets (such as the Surface Pro 4) were only released with x86 processors and could run the full version of Windows 10. Windows 10 Mobile had the ability to be installed on smaller tablets (up to nine inches);[16] however, very few such tablets were released, and Windows 10 Mobile primarily ended up only running on smartphones until its discontinuation. In 2017, the full version of Windows 10 gained the ability to run on ARM, thus rendering a specific version of Windows for ARM-based tablets unnecessary.

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Mixed reality and virtual reality headsets

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Surface Hub

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Surface Hub

Microsoft originally announced the Surface Hub, an interactive whiteboard, in January 2015. The Surface Hub family of devices runs a custom variant of Windows 10 known as Windows 10 Team.

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Windows XP-based tablets

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Tablet computer running a "Tablet PC Edition" of Windows XP

Two versions of Windows XP were released that were optimized for tablets. Beginning with Windows Vista, all tablet-specific components were included in the main version of the operating system.

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Embedded versions

Windows Embedded Compact

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Windows Embedded Standard

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Other embedded versions

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Cancelled versions

Cancelled personal computer versions

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Cancelled mobile versions

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Cancelled server versions

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See also

Notes

  1. Originally codenamed Winball
  2. Has also been called ChiCairo and London.[2]
  3. Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 originally had the build number 6000 when they were first released; the build number was increased by one with each of the two subsequent Service Packs.
  4. Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 originally had the build number 7600 when they were first released; the build number was increased to 7601 with the release of Service Pack 1.
  5. Announcement date
  6. Retroactively referred to as Threshold 1
  7. The core of Windows 11 version 21H2 is codenamed Cobalt;[7] the "Sun Valley" codename refers to the UI layer of Windows 11 version 21H2 and is commonly used to address Windows 11 version 21H2 as a whole.
  8. The end-of-support date listed in the table refers to Home and Pro editions. Specific versions and editions of Windows 11 have different end of support dates; see template:Windows 11 versions for a breakdown of dates by version and edition.
  9. The core of Windows 11 version 22h2 is codenamed Nickel; the "Sun Valley 2" codename refers to the UI layer of Windows 11 version 22H2.
  10. Originally named "Windows Phone 7 Series"
  11. Between versions 1709 and 20H2 of Windows Server, the "Windows Server Essentials" edition of Windows Server was only included in Windows Server 2019.
  12. Nashville was originally codenamed Cleveland.
  13. July 2007 is when it was reported that the Vista's successor was codenamed "7", rather than "Vienna", indicating that Vienna's discontinuation had occurred by then. However, Vienna may have been cancelled prior to then.
  14. While Santorini was the general codename for Windows 10X, Centaurus was the specific codename for Windows 10X on foldable PCs and Pegasus was the codename for Windows 10X on "traditional" PCs (such as laptops or 2-in-1 computers).[24]
  15. Date refers to when the cancellation of the operating system was announced. The decision for the operating system to be cancelled may have occurred prior to then.
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References

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