The 2026 release of Windows 12 “AI Edition” has introduced a new era of computing—and a new set of hardware-locked frustrations. With mandatory Neural Processing Unit (NPU) requirements and the controversial “Always-On” Recall feature, many professionals are looking for a way to cage the OS inside a virtual machine. Running Windows 12 on Proxmox 9 allows you to leverage the new AI Shell while maintaining 100% data sovereignty and bypassing hardware restrictions.
1. Bypassing the NPU Requirement via GPU Passthrough
Windows 12 expects a dedicated NPU for its core AI features. However, for those running high-end server hardware or the 2026 RTX 5090, you can bypass this requirement. By using vGPU or full PCIe passthrough, Proxmox 9 can trick the Windows 12 installer into utilizing the Tensor cores of your GPU to handle the NPU-specific tasks. This is the only way to get “AI Shell” features running on enterprise-grade server CPUs that lack local NPUs.
2. Performance Optimization: VirtIO-AI Drivers
A standard VM configuration will lead to significant lag in the Windows 12 interface. To achieve “Near-Native” performance in 2026, you must utilize the updated VirtIO-AI driver suite.
- Memory Ballooning: Disable it. Windows 12 AI models require static memory allocation to prevent “swapping” latency. Set a fixed 32GB or 64GB pool.
- Processor Type: Set to ‘Host.’ This passes through the AVX-512 and AMX instructions of your modern Intel or AMD chips, which are critical for local inference speeds.
3. The “Recall” Sandbox: Securing the AI Shell
Windows 12’s “Recall” feature is a privacy nightmare for anyone handling sensitive financial or government data. By virtualizing the OS, you can implement a Network-Level Killswitch. By using an LXC-based firewall (like PfSense) on the same Proxmox node, you can allow the AI Shell to function locally while blocking all telemetry pings to Microsoft’s servers. This creates an “Air-Gapped” AI environment for your professional modeling.
Windows 12 Virtualization Benchmarks (2026)
| Setup Type | AI Shell Latency | Hardware Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Laptop (NPU) | 12ms | Locked |
| Proxmox 9 + RTX 5090 | 8ms | Unlimited |
| Generic VM (No Passthrough) | 150ms+ | Fails Check |
People Also Ask (PAA)
Can I run Windows 12 without an NPU? Officially, no. However, by using Proxmox 9 with GPU passthrough, the OS can be tricked into utilizing the tensor cores of a modern graphics card to satisfy the NPU hardware check during installation.
Does Proxmox support Windows 12 Recall? Recall works within a VM, but the real benefit of Proxmox is the ability to snapshot the OS before it indexes your data, or to block the data from ever being uploaded to the cloud via virtual networking rules.
How much RAM does a Windows 12 VM need? Due to the resident AI models and the new “Shell” architecture, 32GB of RAM is the minimum for a smooth experience in 2026. For heavy multi-tasking, 64GB is recommended.