Microsoft is preparing to roll out a new version of Windows 11. Except you won’t be able to download it like a normal OS update.
Windows 11 version 26H1 will only be available on upcoming PCs built with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Series processors. They use the Arm architecture, not x86 for AMD and Intel silicon. In addition, Microsoft is indicating that 26H1 will be preinstalled on eligible PCs, rather than made broadly available through a download.
On Tuesday, Redmond released two blog posts about 26H1, perhaps to try and clear up potential confusion, since Snapdragon X2 laptops are likely to arrive soon.
In one blog post, Microsoft says 26H1 “enables the next generation of silicon and hardware innovation” to bring even better performance and battery life to the OS. But the same post cautions: “It is not designed to be offered or installed on existing devices. Instead, Windows 11, version 26H1 will be available on select new devices that will come to market in the first quarter of 2026. It is not offered as an in-place update from Windows 11, versions 24H2 or 25H2 on existing devices.”
In some bad news, don’t expect the performance and battery gains in 26H1 to emerge in a mainstream Windows 11 release for other PCs. “Windows 11, version 26H1 is not a feature update for version 25H2,” the company added.
It’s easy to see how the new flavor of Windows might cause some confusion, especially when there’s already Copilot+ Windows 11 laptops meant to harness AI processing. But it sounds like 26H1 contains some significant changes on the software architecture level to optimize the Arm-based processing.
Microsoft notes 26H1 is “based on a different Windows core” than the current Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 found on existing PCs. As a result, “devices running version 26H1 will not be able to update to the next annual feature update in the second half of 2026.” Instead, Microsoft is hinting the 26H1 PCs will receive their updates in the first half of each year.
On why it’s resorting to the 26H1 release, Microsoft indicated in another blog post that the software is specifically designed to harness “new device innovations coming in 2026.” This comes as 26H1 has been rumored to be linked to Nvidia’s Arm-based N1 processor for PCs, in addition to the Qualcomm X2 chips.
