The Windows 11 26H1 update is on its way, but will not be released on existing PCs.
Microsoft has announced Windows 11 26H1, but as expected, the update is not intended for existing PCs. The new version will only appear on new devices with upcoming ARM chips, starting with systems based on Snapdragon X2 processors.
Limited to new hardware
Microsoft confirms in a blog post that Windows 11 26H1 is not a normal feature update for existing installations of 24H2 or 25H2. It is a platform release that is necessary to support the new ARM hardware. For the time being, only PCs with Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Series processors will come with Windows 11 26H1 as standard. The update is not available via Windows Update for current systems.
According to Microsoft, Windows 11 will continue to follow the annual update rhythm. This means that Windows 11 26H2 is still scheduled for existing x86 and ARM PCs later this year. Version 26H1 is not an interim upgrade, but a separate basis to support new silicon platforms.
No Windows 26H2
Devices running Windows 11 26H1 will not be able to update to the next annual feature update in the second half of 2026, Microsoft writes in the blog. This is because Windows 11 26H1 is based on a different Windows kernel than Windows 11 25H2. These devices will follow a separate update path.
In the past, Microsoft already drew a hard line between x86 and ARM with Windows RT. This version existed alongside Windows 8 until Microsoft pulled the plug in 2012. Windows RT failed to gain traction due to the limited range of ARM laptops at the time that could serve as a full alternative to Intel and AMD, and because developers had to design their applications twice. Emulation removes that barrier, although compatibility or performance issues remain possible today with ARM laptops, which have otherwise improved spectacularly in all other areas.
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What Does this Mean for Businesses?
Companies do not need to adjust their purchase or rollout plans. Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 remain the recommended releases for enterprise environments. Version 26H1 is mainly relevant for new ARM PCs. Users can mainly expect improvements in performance and battery life, and no exclusive functions.
This article originally appeared on February 11 and was updated with the latest information.