Windows 11 Version 26H2 – What We Know So Far (and What We Don’t)
Saturday, November 08, 2025Windows 11 Version 26H2 – What We Know So Far (and What We Don’t)
Microsoft has officially confirmed that the next consumer-facing Windows 11 feature update will be version 26H2, landing in the second half of 2026. While the company is still keeping the changelog under wraps, enough pieces have fallen into place to give us a high-level preview of what’s coming—and what’s not.
Release Timeline – Mark Your Calendar
- Target RTM: June 2026 (Insider Beta branch)
- General Availability: September–October 2026 (GA Channel)
- Support lifecycle: 24 months for Home / Pro, 36 months for Enterprise / Education
Who Receives 26H2?
| Audience | Gets 26H2? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Existing Windows 11 PCs (Intel/AMD/Arm64) | ✅ Yes | Standard phased rollout |
| Windows 10 hold-outs | ✅ Yes | If hardware meets 24H2+ requirements |
| Snapdragon X2 / NVIDIA N1X laptops (early 2026) | ✅ Yes | Will ship with 26H1, then update to 26H2 |
| LTSC / Server SKUs | ❌ No | Next LTSC is Windows 11 2027, based on 27H2 |
Confirmed & Rumoured Feature List
Microsoft has not published an official changelog, but reliable leaks and Canary code forks point to these additions:
- Copilot Vision+ – real-time screen understanding for accessibility and automation (requires NPU 50 TOPS+)
- Game Porting Kit 2.0 – auto-converts DirectX 12 games to ARM64EC for Snapdragon/NVIDIA handhelds
- AI Explorer – timeline search that uses on-device semantic indexing (opt-in, encrypted)
- Quick Machine Recovery – cloud-based boot repair first seen in 25H2, now enabled by default on Home editions [^72^]
- Privacy Dashboard 3.0 – granular per-app telemetry switches and admin-protection policies [^72^]
- Hotpatch for consumers – monthly security updates without reboots on Copilot+ PCs (previously Enterprise-only)
System Requirements – No Surprises
26H2 keeps the same floor as 24H2/25H2:
- 64-bit dual-core CPU @ 1 GHz
- SSE4.2 and POPCNT instructions
- 4 GB RAM / 64 GB storage
- TPM 2.0 + Secure Boot (TPM 1.2 still works but is unsupported)
- DirectX 12 compatible GPU with WDDM 3.0 driver
Arm devices must support ARMv8.1 or later; the new ARMv9.2 features are optional and only light up on Snapdragon X2 / N1X silicon [^71^].
Upgrade Path & Insider Previews
26H2 will enter the Beta Channel around March 2026 and the Release Preview ring in July 2026. If you’re on 25H2 today, the jump will be delivered as a cumulative enablement package—no full re-install required. Windows 10 machines that meet hardware requirements can still upgrade directly to 26H2 via Windows Update or ISO.
Bottom Line
Windows 11 26H2 is shaping up to be the first AI-first feature update for the masses. While the headline numbers (50 TOPS NPU, Copilot Vision+, Hotpatch for consumers) sound enticing, Microsoft is sticking to its tried-and-true H2 schedule. If you’re already on Windows 11, simply stay patched and wait for the public beta next spring—no action required today.
All dates and features are based on Microsoft statements and Insider leaks as of November 2025 and are subject to change.