Windows Zinc 
(codenamed Galileo) is an operating system developed by the Microsoft Corporation in late 2027. It was created as a sort of stop-gap between the NT kernel, which was now 34 years old and still contained a DOS compatibility layer, to the new and upcoming Quantum kernel, meant to be a universal kernel for all computer systems, including phones, tablets, desktop PCs, laptops, consoles, wearables, servers, and much more. As a result, it was designed for developers to get ready for the launch of Windows 13, and for consumers to get a glimpse into the future of Windows. It was also a transitional release of Microsoft Windows, to give time for users and developers to adapt and maintain their apps to support the new Quantum kernel with its new technologies that help make the user experience more seamless for all kinds of users from casual home users, gamers, and business users.
It received a very positive reception, with critics praising it for how polished the operating system was, revamping Fluent design and great new features, including the new kernel and the Acrylic theme. Criticism of Windows Zinc arose after leaks showed that Windows Zinc was going to be short lived, due to the release of Windows 13 that was coming in a few years. To address some of these complaints, Microsoft positioned the OS alongside of Windows 13 and later, Windows 14. It was only until Windows 15 that Microsoft would start encouraging Windows Zinc users to upgrade their operating systems. Although that Windows Zinc was designed to be a niche operating system, considering it's intended nature as a stop-gap, it quickly became the best selling operating system that Microsoft made, selling over 591 million consumer units, 421 million business units, and around 500 million units licensed to OEMs, and also became Microsoft's first OS to sell 1 billion units. This was due to the fact that people were looking for a simple operating system with new technology and a lack of clutter, and it also had the advantage of releasing near the holiday season. In the end, Microsoft said that Windows Zinc was proof that Quantum would be a successful kernel for years to come, and development for Uranium would continue with a larger team and more tools for greater chances of success.
Startup Sound
Shutdown Sound
New features and changes[]
Zinc included many features to prepare users for the launch of the Quantum Kernel and Windows 13, it also introduced other great features that would shape Windows for the next decade and beyond. Many features of Windows Zinc would come to be the basis of many of the new features of future Windows operating systems, including Windows 13, Windows 14, Windows 15, Windows 16, and beyond.
Apps compatibility[]
- 32-bit apps no longer ran in Windows Zinc upon launch and were no longer supported, and as such, most of SysWOW64 was been moved to System32 and some parts of the 32-bit app folder were removed until they reintroduced 32-bit apps, while Program Files x86 was been removed until support was re-added. This caused lots of controversy and anger, especially from enterprise customers still using old 32-bit frameworks, and caused support to be added back as a "Features on demand" feature until 2036 when it was finally discontinued.
DirectX 13 Ultimate[]
- The most stable and powerful version of DirectX ever.
- Uses cloud servers to artificially increase frame rates by up to 90%, using technology similar to NVIDIA's DLSS and Sony's PSSR.
- Powered by a cluster of data centers and servers all around the world in ARM and x86-64 architecture to support all systems that ran Windows Zinc.
- DirectX 13 works offline, although without cloud features
Visual Studio 2 and Lima[]
- This version of Visual Studio was designed for new apps and existing apps to adapt to the Quantum Kernel.
- Lima was the transition platform for apps to rewrite their code for Quantum, as the new kernel was not compatible with Windows NT applications and legacy 32-bit applications, although Windows Zinc did support these with the temporary addition of NTTL.
- As Windows was moving to Quantum, Visual Studio 2 was designed to help app developers migrate their NT or 32-bit apps to the Quantum kernel.
- At launch, Visual Studio 2 had over 5,000 plugins, all checked and curated by Microsoft to ensure the highest quality and stability.
- Lima had experimental code converters for C, C++, Rust, C#, Java, Lua, and more. It also had converters for 16 and 32-bit applications to 64-bit floats.
EdgeQ (Beta)[]
- This was a very early version of the EdgeQ browser introduced with Windows 13.
- It included all of the features of Edge, along with new features such as Double View and System Browser.
- Double View allowed you to view 2 tabs at once in the same window.
- System browser allows the entire OS to run on EdgeQ, including apps like Terminal and Notepad. This was only possible due to the amount of features Edge and EdgeQ got in the timeframe between Windows 12 and Windows Zinc, and the code for Edge being rewritten.
- Edge and EdgeQ are now able to be uninstalled completely due to the EU's DMA (Digital Markets Act) and DSA (Digital Services Act) enacted in 2024. Although this change was implemented in Windows 12, it was reverted in Windows IT. This was a re-addition to Windows to comply with the EU's regulations.
OOBE[]
- The OOBE experience was completely reworked, resulting in a more fluid and lively setup experience.
- When choosing the "Recommended Settings" option, high privacy settings will be turned on. This is due to a privacy class-action lawsuit Microsoft faced while developing Windows Zinc around 2026 (Sanders and Co. Vs Microsoft Corporation) that was heard by the Supreme Court of the United States.
- There is new music that plays in the OOBE that makes the installer calmer and more lively.
- The first and second phases of Windows installation are now integrated. While Windows installs, you can play Solitaire, Minesweeper or Edge Surf, and download apps from the Microsoft Store so your system is ready when installation is finished.
Redesigned Start Menu[]
- The start menu is now divided into the all new "Start Hub" and "All apps"
- The Widgets, Control Center and Today view have now been integrated into the Start menu, resulting in a single menu that has all your information.
- The "All Apps" tab now lets you sort and pin apps to the top of the list.
Hybrid Code (NTTL)[]
- This was the code that translated NT app code and legacy functions to Quantum code. It is very important to the purpose of this operating system, as almost no apps supported the Quantum kernel yet.
- The NT version has been updated to 12.2 and 12.3 for 30H2 and Windows Server 2028.
- The Quantum version was 1.2, and was later renamed to V1 with Windows 13.
Game Hub[]
- This was essentially a hub for all of your games, achievements, and XBOX Game Pass add-ons.
- It had a streaming feature where you could stream XBOX and certain non-XBOX games that are not on Game Pass in full 4K quality with little to no lag, which was very innovative for its time. It was basically an upgraded version of XBOX Cloud Gaming.
Merged Settings App[]
- All remaining Control Panel settings were moved to Settings, which received a full redesign, and Control Panel was then deprecated. (it would be reinstated in Windows 14) Attempting to run
CONTROL.EXEwill redirect the user to Settings. - You can now change settings previously limited to the UEFI screen in the Windows Recovery Environment.
- You can now edit most registry values in Settings, although
REGEDIT.EXEcan still be used with NTTL.
Copilot 2[]
- Windows Zinc brought many improvements to Copilot, including accuracy and grammar improvements.
- Copilot 2 implemented the Dynamic Search feature, previously introduced in Windows Azusa.
About Windows (winver)[]
- The About Windows window has received a UWP redesign. It now shows information like your CPU model and information, disk space, date of Windows Zinc installation and a new "Devices" window that will let you see all of your connected peripherals.
- Pressing Ctrl+Win while focused on a Winver window would open a secret mini game akin to the Chrome Dinosaur Game, where you control a Windows Zinc logo and collect @ signs while jumping over stacks of hashtags and ducking under asterisks.
Files[]
- File Explorer was redesigned from the ground up and is now referred to as simply "Files".
- It introduced the Binder, which is a temporary folder to hold files that you need to find a location for. The Binder is cleared when the system shuts down, but not when it hibernates.
- Libraries have been re-introduced as Collections. You can configure them to show specific files and folders anywhere on your system, or a specific file type or naming pattern.
- You can configure Search to index your entire drive, making searches over 70% faster than in Windows 12.
- It introduced an early version of the HFD (High-Efficacy Drive) introduced in Windows 13. To accommodate this, the developers had to code an all-new system to accommodate both NTFS and HFD file storage. There is an option to format your drive as "NTFS/HFD Hybrid", which is HFD but with NTFS features such as live compression.
Zincs new BSOD. Notice how the sad face emoticon has been removed.
Blue Screen of Death[]
- There is no longer a ":(" emoticon on the BSOD.
- The QR code and stop code now contain the exact information about what happened, although the Stop Code used in the example given is the default "CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED" stop code when Windows cannot identify exact details of the problem.
- You can revert back to the pre-Windows Zinc BSOD at any time through the Settings app.
Acrylic[]
- Acrylic is a new toggleable theme for Windows Zinc (alongside the default Fluent theme) designed to be a fun theme to realign Windows with the youth.
- It was very colorful, exceptional, and had a plethora of customization options, and could be considered a predecessor of the Prism theme found in Windows 18.
- According to head of the Windows 18 team Nicholas Mullins, "the Prism theme was actually designed using the same ideas as Acrylic", and it was "a major inspiration for Windows 18's visual identity".
New Windows Installer[]
- The installer has been redesigned, allowing you to surf the web and play any of the included games while the OS is set up.
- You can also configure the OS and install programs while it is being set up.
Games[]
- There are many classic Windows games and wallpapers that returned in Windows Zinc.
- In terms of games, versions of Minesweeper and Solitaire that are UWP and work offline, Purble Place from Windows Vista, as well as 3D Space Cadet Pinball from Windows 98.
- In terms of wallpapers, a remastered version of Bliss from Windows XP, a remastered wallpaper with clouds inspired by the Windows 95 and 98 startup screen and marketing material, and a version of Harmony (the default wallpaper of Windows 7) with the Windows Zinc logo. These wallpapers are all 7680 × 4320, or 8K, and scale to smaller resolutions automatically.
Streamlining[]
- Windows Zinc revisited and redesigned many features and options not touched since older versions, all the way back to Windows 3.1.
- This was mostly due to community feedback about how Windows 11 and Windows 12 were reskins of older versions of Windows, such as Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, and even Windows 95 and 3.1
Easter Eggs[]
- For the first time since Windows XP, Windows Zinc included many easter eggs referencing staff, memes, internet culture, and more
- One Easter egg was in the integrated registry, in the new branch "HKEY_QNT_GUI", you could find "CanHasSuperbar" (from certain Windows 7 builds). After setting the value to 1, when closing the registry Window or start menu, a dialog box will appear saying "Someone stole the Superbar"
- Typing "do a barrel roll" into the search bar on the taskbar will spin the taskbar.
- If you type
whyisntthisworkinginto Powershell, it will outputBecause you didn’t read the documentation, Dave.- If your username is Dave, it says
No offense, Dave. But seriously.
- If your username is Dave, it says
- If you triple-right click the Optimize button in Optimize Drives, you can play a version of Tetris (specifically, Tetris 99) using the disk map.
- If you type
remembertheskyandblissfulharmonyinto Powershell, a window will open up allowing you to reexperience the installers and first use of Windows 98, XP, and 7.
Android Apps (Native)[]
- Windows Zinc now has native Android apps.
- In a partnership with Google, you can download the Google Play Store and it's apps.
- Android apps run using the Windows Subsystem for Android, which has been re-written for the Quantum kernel.
These features were praised for their usability and how they made Windows Zinc a beautiful and functional OS, however, they had some bugs which were fixed in later builds and releases. Some of the code used in Windows Zinc would continue to be used in future Windows versions all the way until Windows 19. In a way, it is the Windows NT of the Quantum kernel, and it's code continued to be used all the way until Windows 19.
Development[]
The development of Windows Zinc began in 2024, with the release of Windows 12. Microsoft had announced Windows 12 and its versions would be the last Windows version with the NT kernel. Zinc was being developed around the same time as Windows IT. As a result, it shared much of the same NT code as Zinc.
In early 2024, Microsoft Corporation laid out the plan for the next few releases of Windows until 2035. In it, there were 5 Windows operating systems, as well as one variant. These were called by their codenames, Warpia for Windows IT, Palisade for Windows 13 (and Fairlanes for 13X, a mobile oriented version of Windows 13), and Gamma for Windows 14. In the place of now-known Windows Zinc were 3 releases, Life Valley, Da Vinci, and Juneau. intended to be completely new releases of Windows for the different markets of gaming, home usage, and professional uses similar to the Windows Neptune/Odyssey plan preceding the development of Windows XP. However, soon after, Microsoft merged the first 2 projects to create Galileo, which would be later known as Windows Zinc, and Juneau was canceled.
At that time, while the idea of a new kernel for the Microsoft Windows operating system had been conceptualized and was in early stage of development, it wasn't clear which operating system would introduce the new kernel, which was not named at the time. There was serious debate about which operating system would start the transition, actually include traces of the kernel, and which operating system would finalize the transition. After back-and-forth and many uncomfortable meetings between marketers, software developers, engineers, as well as the C-Suite and the board of directors at Microsoft, it was decided that Windows 12.1 would start the transition with some components of Windows Quantum, Windows Zinc would actually include the Quantum kernel, as well as the full transition to Quantum for Windows 12.1 in a later update, and the final operating system to end the transition was to be Windows 13, fully adopting the Quantum Kernel and removing all traces of Windows NT, while keeping support for 16 and 32-bit applications (although Microsoft switched some components of 16 and 32-bit applications to 64-bit floats to combat the Y2K38 problem).
Another reason for the merging of the 2 projects was a wide-range restructuring of Microsoft Corporation, with a shift in ideologies to a "more privacy focused" approach, Satya Nadella still remained as CEO, but the entire rest of the board was different, and as such, the 2 projects were merged to create Galileo, the codename for Windows Zinc.
After the release of Windows 13, leaked documents showed that the new kernel wasn't the final decision for the major change in Windows 13, instead, it showed that around 2028, there were 2 projects about the kernel, Project Uranium and Project QNT. The reason for using the new kernel in Windows Zinc then trying to decide between the new kernel and QNT was a new board member who joined after Windows Zinc was released, George Kurtz, the CEO of cybersecurity company Crowdstrike. who had the highest sole-stock share amount in Microsoft. Having different ideas than the rest of the board, he decided to put up the idea of reviving Windows NT, citing knowledge of corporations and users that will be lost during the transition, which would've slowed down the transition if it would've happened. However, after much deliberation, the new kernel was chosen due to progress being so slow on the QNT side.
Windows Zinc was first discovered via dataming, when a user found "galileo_canary" in branches of the "WIN_HKY_KSN" internal development database shared to developers for development compatibility purposes for normal x86 systems and Windows on ARM systems, following Microsoft's push for ARM hardware compatibility.
Build 24100.1000 (28 April 2024)[]
This was the first confirmed build. The version's ISO was leaked a few days after Ignite 2024, with it quickly being taken down and the leaker being sued for leaking confidential data. It seemed to include new features (which all crashed at startup for security but were bypassed using a plugin) that hinted at a new kernel. This is also the first version to have Quantum_Win, which was the kernel identifier for all Quantum versions. This build identified itself as an Windows 11 Professional SKU build.
Build 24105.1000 (13 May 2024)[]
This was the first beta to include Visual Studio Quantum (Beta) and XBOX Game Hub (later renamed to Game Hub). These features were also protected by ZincLock, Microsoft's proprietary security system, but were bypassed by a more advanced type of the plugin used to unlock Build 2410.009973's features. This build had a chartreuse " shh... let's not leak our hard work" wallpaper. This was a multi-SKU build.
Build 24110.1000 (27 June 2024)[]
This beta was open for installation at the Insider program. It included all the previous features (but with references to Quantum removed) Visual Studio Quantum was officialy renamed Visual Studio 2. As well as the kernel identifier renamed to NT_Hybrid.
Build 24115.1000 (2 July 2024)[]
This build was leaked around August of 2024. It contains no shell, meaning that after the boot sequence you'll be stuck on a black screen. This build only has few necessary files required to run Windows. By looking at its registry, we can tell that 24115.1000 is the build number and the tag is rs_prerelease_ctest. Unlike the previous build, this build was not available for Insiders.
Build 24120.001150 (15 July 2024)[]
This beta build was supposed to be a bug-fixing release, with major bugs in Visual Studio 2, XBOX Game Hub, the new Settings app, and the Start Menu removed. It also introduced the new Command Center, which was an advanced version of Terminal. ZincLock was reinstated for this build, and was bypassed shortly after (5 weeks). The kernel identifier is back to Quantum_Win.
Build 24125.001160 (29 August 2024)[]
This build included a replacement for the Windows 95/98-era icons, being replaced by Fluent icons, while maintaining functionality. It also included a beta version of the already-existing Microsoft Store, which was updated to support Quantum Apps. This build also removed support for Control Panel from pre-installed apps. The ISO for this build was leaked using a variation of ZincLock. As a result, Microsoft committed to not using it for future versions, starting with removing ZincLock functionality in some apps.
Build 24130.001170 (16 September 2024)[]
This build of Zinc introduced DirectX Q Ultimate, which was a version of DirectX specifically made for games to transition smoothly into the Quantum era. It did not function completely yet, as there were no DirectX Q Ultimate servers yet. It also introduced ZincPill, a more secure version of ZincLock, which was extremely secure, and took 2 years after Zinc's RTM release date to decrypt and disable. It also fixed bugs with EdgeQ Beta.
Build 24135.001180 (24 October 2024)[]
This build of Zinc was mostly a bug-fixing build. It also introduced refinements to Game Hub, Visual Studio 2, and Terminal. Media Player was now fully 64-bit and was now defended from the Y2K38 bug, marking the final pre-installed program to move to a 64-bit framework.
Build 24140.001190 (16 November 2024)[]
This build introduced a beta version of Copilot 2, which was powered by OpenAI's newly released GPT-5, o5, and DALL-E 4 models. It also added additional capabilities to EdgeQ and new commands to Command Center. It also fixed bugs with the underlying code, which caused frequent crashes. It also introduced an early version of the Acrylic theme.
Build 25010.002200 (25H1, 1 January, 2025)[]
This build was the first build in the year of 2025. And as a celebration, this build completely reworked Fluent Design, and its usable color palette, which lead to over 256,560,000 possible combinations of customizations. It also renamed Command Center to just Terminal, and added a large amount of features and commands. It also fixed major bugs in EdgeQ, Game Hub, and Copilot 2. This was the first build to have an 2_H_ codename.
Build 25015.008200 (25H1 Test Release 2, 16 February, 2025)[]
This build introduced a revamped version of Winver, which included a feature list for every update, software status and licenses, a logo for every release, and a settings panel for beta releases. Other than that, it included bug fixes and security upgrades. This build finalized Acrylic. This build was known mainly because it cleared your home folder between reboots by default, which was patched by a hotfix 30 minutes after release.
Build 25020.002200 (25H2, 28 February 2025)[]
This build finally removed all remaining references to Windows 11, which was an error in Build 2411.001190. It still identified itself as an Windows 12 feature update, partly from keeping suspicion for a new Windows release. It finally added the new setup, as well as fixing over 4,000 bugs that caused all kinds of issues, from frequent crashes, bootlooping, and reverting back to NT compatibility mode on boot, to driver issues and errors that can result in loss of data.
This build was developed around the end of December, so it took an unusually long time to develop. 25H2 was thought to be an Windows 12 feature update, as the job listings confirmed. But rumors sparked that it was an beta for a new version of Windows. Microsoft denied the allegations. But as 2025 came and went, 25H2 never released, that meant that either it was a new Windows release, or 25H2 was simply canceled. These , lead to Microsoft not releasing any new builds for 6 months, and focusing more on the other transitional versions and Uranium/Project QNT.
Build 30597.002200 (25H4, 2 October 2025)[]
This build included bug fixes, as well as security updates to patch the Xpsy virus. The build number jumped from 25020 to 30597.
Xpsy and History[]
On the 21st of September, a new virus (xpsy) appeared which exploited a vulnerability the National Security Administration code for a new antivirus system that was supposed to be more secure and accurate at finding all new threats. These threats were exposed by hacker group "rumorxp", and Apple immediately released a Rapid Safety Response update on all their OSes. Unfortunately, Microsoft wasn't as fast to respond to this threat. As such, on the 25th of September, xpsy broke out, spreading to millions of Microsoft Windows devices and resulting in loss of an estimated $6,880,000 worth of data, because people didn't update to the latest version of the respective Windows they were running (Microsoft released updates on the 24th for multiple out-of-date Windows versions, dating as far back as Windows Server 2008) As such, this build patched xpsy out.
This build also patched another vulnerability within the NSA's systems, preventing the LXpsy variant of the virus, which broke out on the 16th of October, from affecting Windows Zinc. It is very similar to what happened in 2017 with the Wanna Cry ransomware/cryptoworm attack.
Build 30597.008200 (25H4 Test Release 2, 24 October, 2025)[]
This build contained performance improvements and bug fixes. It also finally updated the format menu, which never changed ever since its addition in Windows 95.
Build 30620.012200 (25H4 Test Release 3, 1 November, 2025)[]
This build included bug fixes and refinements. It also included the first font revision.
Build 30625.018200 (25H4 Test Release 4, 26 November 2025)[]
This build applied Dark mode system-wide, as well as some bug fixes.
Build 30790.002200 (Insider Candidate 1, 5 January 2026)[]
This build was the first Insider Candidate. It now identifies as Windows Insider Candidate 1, and presents refinements across the board for all features.
Build 30800.002200 (Insider Candidate 2, 3 March 2026)[]
Bug-fixing build. It also included end-of-support notices to the Galileo/Zinc development project, indicating a release date of 2027. And started to include clear references to the Windows Zinc/Galileo name/codename (the codename is used when coding and in Terminal). With this build, Zinc was basically done, so they started preparations for the demo announcement, which would happen in March 15. Other than that, it included the 2nd font revision.
Insider Beta 30900.1000 (Windows Developer Preview 1, 15 March 2026)[]
This was the first build after the demo announcement and tech spec announcement, Microsoft Inside 2026 (which revealed some features and technical changes but not the name and kernel changes), and it was available for the general public through the Insider and Canary programs. It introduced all the features that were being developed for Zinc. It also allowed people in the Insider program to submit possible features for Zinc, which soon became the origin of one of Zinc's most important features, the revamped Files program. This build identified itself as "Windows Developer Preview 2026"
Insider Beta 30930.2000 (DP2, 19 March 2026)[]
This build added 28 new themes and more customization options, resulting in 784 new combinations. It also laid the framework for the new Files program, added the 3rd font revision, and some bug fixes.
Insider Beta 30950 (12 November 2026)[]
This beta introduced Files, the most advanced file system explorer ever, other than that, it fixed the rare "Kill Screen" issue, in which computers would have their BIOS chip damaged when trying to shut down the system on specific hardware configurations. The Kill Screen happened to approximately 5% of Insiders. Other than that, it fixed a whopping 6,087 bugs. It also added the 4th font revision.
Insider Beta 31000.1 (6 February 2027)[]
This build refined Files and Visual Studio 2 and provided routine bug fixes.
Insider Beta 31000.126 (9 March 2027)[]
Bug fixes. Added new customization options to Acrylic. Added the 5th font revision.
Insider Beta 31000.252 (15 March 2027)[]
This build refined Lima and Visual Studio 2 and provided routine bug fixes.
Insider Beta 31000.257 (24 July 2027)[]
Bug fixes.
Release Candidate (19 September 2027)[]
Added the 6th and final final font revision and bug fixes.
RTM (25 November 2027)[]
This build was the RTM release for OEMs for Windows Zinc. It included the new Windows Zinc PE, to verify that their computers can run the full version of Windows Zinc Home, Pro, and Education. It was pushed out to OEMs through all-new RTM Delivery technology, which was fast, stable, and allowed for the RTM to be released just one day before the official release. The public release of Windows Zinc would be launched the day after, thus marking the end of Windows Zinc development.
System requirements[]
- Processor: 64-bit with at least two cores. Eight or more cores recommended.
- RAM: 8 GB minimum. 24 GB or more recommended and required to use advanced features.
- Storage: 128 GB free space minimum. 256 GB or larger drive recommended.
- GPU: WDDM 2.0 driver and DirectX 13 compatible GPU. No dedicated GPU is needed to run Windows Zinc.
- TPM: TPM 2.0 module.
- Display: 720p minimum, 1080p recommended.
- Additional: UEFI required. Secure Boot must be on for Windows Zinc to start.
Post-release updates[]
27H2/Moment 1 (Strontium, Sr_release)[]
This update introduced many stability updates and bug fixes. It also added credits for community feedback in the insider phase of Windows Zinc development.
27H2/Moment 2 (Strontium, Sr_release branch)[]
Revised Visual Studio 2 and EdgeQ. Other than that, it added a new dark theme.
28H2/Moment 3 (Zirconium, Zr_release)[]
Revised font settings. It also updated the NT version to 15.1 and the Quantum version to 1.2.1, as such, this brought major stability improvements and bug fixes.
28H2/Moment 3 Version 2 (Zirconium, Zr_release branch)[]
Bug fixes and stability improvements. You can now customize the location of the taskbar. Added glossy effect option to Acrylic.
29H1/Moment 4 (Zirconium, Zr_release branch)[]
Added new features such as Sensitive Notifications, which would not allow apps to read the notification, as opposed to normal notifications which apps can read to activate a function. and you can now customize the boot screen directly without having to use complicated features. It also updated the NT version to 15.1.1 and the Quantum version to 1.2.2.
29H2 (Molybdenum, Mo_release branch)[]
Feature update that added the full taskbar option. Added new customization options to Acrylic and Fluent design.
Microsoft would continue releasing feature, stability, and security updates, the most notable of which, was 30H2, which rewrote certain parts of the code, and 35H2, which changed the design format for Acrylic. Microsoft announced that 43H2 would be the final major update to Windows Zinc, and that support would end in 2045 for the main versions, and 2051 for Windows Server 2028 and Windows IoT Zinc, along with custom embedded versions.
Marketing[]
Windows Zinc had a complicated marketing phase, as like any other new Windows version. It started with Microsoft Inside 2026, an event mostly about technical details of hardware and software. Here, they unveiled some of the planned features for Windows Zinc and Windows IT, as well as a roadmap which hinted at a new kernel. This sparked up rumors of a new Windows version, as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said "The frameworks we have built will be the base for future Windows versions which will come soon." This pretty much confirmed that a new version of Windows was coming.
Microsoft Hello 2027[]
Microsoft Hello is an annual event where Microsoft showcases fully finished builds and confirmed features for many products from Office and Microsoft 365, to XBOX and windows. Starting in 2026, and running yearly ever since, Microsoft Hello has always grabbed the attention of developers. In the 2027 edition, 2 hours and 36 minutes into the event, which was both streamed online on microsoft.com and YouTube, and in-person, Microsoft unveiled Windows Zinc. The presentation was round of applause after round of applause as Microsoft confirmed a new kernel was coming, and as they proceeded to show new features that were coming. In the end, Microsoft announced the RTM and the release date of Windows Zinc around the end of November.
Marketing[]
Microsoft started marketing campaigns for Windows Zinc in 2 phases, the pre-release campaign and the post-release campaign. The pre-release campaigns were mainly focused on awareness, as well as moving people from Linux or macOS, while the post release campaign was about moving people from older versions of Windows.
Windows Zinc Mobile, Windows Zinc Fold[]
Windows Zinc Mobile (codenamed Galileo Pocket) was the release version of Windows Zinc for mobile devices. it included the new Start Menu, adapted from the original to fit smaller screens, new app design, better app compatibility, and an UAP (Unified App Program) for x86 applications to run on mobile devices. The release also coincided with the first generation of Surface Mobile, which was a reboot of the Windows Phone, in new branding. Windows Zinc Fold was also released alongside Mobile for the new Surface Fold. Microsoft later made Zinc Mobile available for all Android phones through installation.
Windows Zinc Nobile recieved a positive reception, with critics praising Microsoft for re-entering the mobile market and poising as a competitor to Apple, Samsung, Google, and others, which had lately gone complacent, although some users worried that Microsoft would also end up in the same spot.
Development[]
Approximately 1 month after the release of the original Windows Zinc, market research done by 3 firms contracted by Microsoft showed a gap in the mobile market, consisting of people who were disgruntled by the complacency of Apple and Samsung but didn't want to or were unable to switch to other Asian brands, with the firms advising Microsoft to create an OS and phones to fill this gap, and Microsoft started development 2 months after the fact.
Version 0.00001DB1 (Development Branch 1, February 29, 2028)[]
First version of Zinc Mobile, only running on x86 prototypes. It is an empty shell and a command line with a variation of the Quantum kernel, which contained some changes to screen resolution, app compatibility, and process hierarchy. It was leaked 2 years later.
One interesting bug in this release relates to using the OS with the date set to February 29, 2040, as the version was not coded to recognize leap year days past 2036, resulting in a rollover error due to the Quantum kernel's new bit-storing technology.
Version 0.00000201DB1 (March 16, 2028)[]
This build is the very first version of Windows Zinc Mobile to have a usable GUI, although barebones.
Gallery[]
