When Microsoft released Windows 11 four years ago, it adjusted the frequency of major feature updates from twice a year to once a year. Since then, users have received Windows 11 22H2, 23H2, 24H2 and the latest 25H2 versions. It's worth noting that the 24H2 update was initially rolled out only to Copilot+ computers before being made available to all users. And this strategy seems about to be repeated again.
According to Phantomofearth, a well-known information source in the Windows field, Microsoft is preparing to launch Windows 11 26H1 version simultaneously with the launch of the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 processor. This update will be limited to new Windows on Arm devices equipped with Snapdragon X2 chips, and some of its new features are expected to be gradually pushed to existing devices in the form of version 26H2 in the second half of this year.
The news pointed out that 26H1 mainly provides platform support for the new Snapdragon X2 hardware and is not a complete major version upgrade. New features that have not been retroactively integrated since 24H2 will be announced for the first time with 26H1, but this version will only be available for new X2-related devices. These new features, both AI and non-AI, will eventually be included in the 26H2 version for all existing PCs, and users will not need a Snapdragon processor to experience it.
At present, Microsoft has not officially announced the detailed plan for the 2026 Windows 11 update, so the above news still needs to be further confirmed. At the same time, Microsoft is preparing new feature packs for the 24H2 and 25H2 versions, including the upcoming new start menu, as well as a series of new user features that have been released recently.