Microsoft has officially confirmed that Windows 11 will receive an unusual interim version in 2026. This is called Windows 11 version 26H1 and is listed as build 28000 in the Canary version of the Windows Insider Program. This is the first time in years that Microsoft has introduced an “H1” designation, albeit with a clear restriction: the update is not intended for all devices, but only for selected systems with certain hardware.
The company emphasizes that this is not a return to semi-annual feature updates as with Windows 10. The previous pattern of a major annual update will remain, and version 25H2 will remain the main branch for new features. According to Microsoft, the upcoming 26H1 release is rather a targeted platform update designed to support “specific silicon generations”.
This most likely refers to upcoming processors from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon series, which Microsoft is considering as the basis for the next generation of Windows on ARM devices. In the past, Windows on ARM was considered problematic because many x86 programs only ran via emulation, resulting in performance disadvantages. The new version could be an attempt to rectify these weaknesses and create a more stable, hardware-optimized basis for ARM devices.
The build number 28000 and the focus on a narrow hardware segment indicate that Microsoft may be preparing a clearly defined variant here, similar to how Apple works with macOS for its own chips. However, it remains to be seen whether this is the start of real standardization between x86 and ARM systems. Although such platform optimizations can theoretically also be imported via a regular update, the effort and scope seem to be greater here, which could justify a separate release.
It is currently unclear whether 26H1 will remain a one-off interim update or will be released regularly in future. Although Microsoft emphasizes that there will no longer be a second major annual version, the new release shows that the update strategy remains flexible as soon as new hardware generations are due.
Conclusion
Windows 11 26H1 is not an ordinary feature update, but a targeted system customization for specific processors. For most users, 25H2 remains the definitive update, while 26H1 is primarily seen as an intermediate technical step in preparation for new ARM platforms. Whether Microsoft is aiming for true parity between ARM and x86 systems in the long term will only become clear in 2026.
Source: howtogeek.com
