This article is about the desktop-oriented operating system for computers. For other Windows-branded products and brands, see Microsoft Windows (disambiguation).
Jeff Boettcher[1] Jonathan D. Cowles[2] Julie Wong[2]
Typography:
Times New Roman (modified)
Launched:
November 17, 1991 (first use) April 6, 1992 (official)
Microsoft introduced the well-known Windows flag after Windows 3.1's release.
On Twitter, Microsoft cites Jeff Boettcher as the designer of the original Windows flag.[1] Jonathan D. Cowles, art director at Microsoft from 1991 to 1994, cites himself as designer of the original Windows flag, under the supervision of Boettcher and Julie Wong.[2] The logo was commissioned by Brad Silverberg, a Senior VP at Microsoft. According to Silverberg, the right part of the logo is a window, while the left part of the logo conveys motion. He explained that despite the goal to depict "a window with cool motion effects", the final design ended up resembling a flag; of all the candidates, it was the one he liked the most.[3]
1995–2001[]
Designer:
Unknown
Typography:
ITC Franklin Gothic Book / Heavy
Launched:
July 14, 1995
After Windows 95 was launched, the symbols colors were lightened, the logo was tilted and the wordmark was changed.
July 24, 2005 (reveal) November 8, 2006 (official)
This design officially debuted on July 24, 2005[7]. Despite being replaced by the 2009 logo as the main logo of Microsoft Windows, it was still used as the base for the primary logo of Windows Server 2008 R2 from 2009 and it was used vertically in the language picking phase of setup until Windows 8 build 8220.
2008–2012[]
Designer:
Paula Scher for Pentagram
Typography:
Segoe UI Regular
Launched:
September 1, 2008
With the compilation of Windows 7 build 6926, this logo was used in the base branding of Windows 7. It officially became the primary logo with the release of Windows 7 and would continue on this route until the Windows 8 Consumer Preview and later, the release of Windows 8.
Microsoft overhauled their logo again to fit in with the new Metro design language on Windows 8, which drastically changed the logo to resembled an actual paned window, removed the colors to become solid blue and introduced a slightly modified Segoe font. This logo was unveiled on Windows 8 Consumer Preview, released on February 29, 2012. This logo was designed by Pentagram.
2015–2021[]
Designer:
Pentagram (symbol)
Typography:
Segoe UI Regular
Launched:
July 15, 2015
This logo was still present in Windows 11 in the classic Control Panel's System applet in version 21H2. It would later be removed in Windows 11 version 22H2 along with the classic System applet which now redirects to the Settings app.
2021–present[]
Designer:
Unknown
Typography:
Segoe UI Semibold (modified)
Launched:
June 24, 2021
This logo, changed to resemble Microsoft's 2012 logo, albeit in Windows blue, was first leaked on June 15, 2021, and became official when Microsoft announced Windows 11 just 9 days later.
Notes: 1 Became independent from 2007–2022, later becoming a Sony Interactive Entertainment subsidiary in 2022 2 Were moved to work on other Microsoft Software departments 3 consolidated 4 Sold to Take-Two Interactive, later being defunct
Notes: 1 Became independent from 2007–2022, later becoming a Sony Interactive Entertainment subsidiary in 2022 2 Were moved to work on other Microsoft Software departments 3 consolidated 4 Sold to Take-Two Interactive, later being defunct
Notes: 1Nokia phone brand licensing was sold to Human Mobile Devices in 2016. The original Nokia company continues to exist. 2Developer Kit hardware was discontinued in 2023. Azure Kinect technologies continued to be licensed to its partners.
