diff --git a/winbuild/build_prepare.py b/winbuild/build_prepare.py
index afb074eaa1e..9f9bdf1983e 100644
--- a/winbuild/build_prepare.py
+++ b/winbuild/build_prepare.py
@@ -186,9 +186,9 @@ def cmd_msbuild(
         "libs": [r"libpng16.lib"],
     },
     "freetype": {
-        "url": "https://download.savannah.gnu.org/releases/freetype/freetype-2.11.1.tar.gz",  # noqa: E501
-        "filename": "freetype-2.11.1.tar.gz",
-        "dir": "freetype-2.11.1",
+        "url": "https://download.savannah.gnu.org/releases/freetype/freetype-2.12.0.tar.gz",  # noqa: E501
+        "filename": "freetype-2.12.0.tar.gz",
+        "dir": "freetype-2.12.0",
         "patch": {
             r"builds\windows\vc2010\freetype.vcxproj": {
                 # freetype setting is /MD for .dll and /MT for .lib, we need /MD