Microsoft officially confirmed that Windows 11 version 26H1 will provide consumer support until March 2028, and has begun pushing updates to eligible PCs, but currently supported processors are limited to the Snapdragon X2 series. Although there may be other chips such as NVIDIA N1X that will be included in the support list, no relevant information has been officially released yet.
Microsoft officially released Windows 11 26H1 on February 10, 2026, and pushed the first cumulative update patch on the same day. However, the number of users who can actually get this version is extremely limited. Microsoft clearly lists three supported processor models in its latest support document, namely Snapdragon X2 Plus (X2P), Snapdragon X2 Elite (X2E) and Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme (X2E). This means that if users own a first-generation Snapdragon Copilot+ computer, they will not be able to upgrade to Windows 11 version 26H1.
Microsoft calls 26H1 a "hardware-optimized version," which is a rather novel term. The company has never used a similar expression before. The official explanation is that this Windows update is "designed to support the next generation of silicon chips developed in conjunction with device manufacturers and chip partners" and has "features tailored specifically for these platforms." Although Microsoft has not clearly stated what these "customized features" specifically refer to, industry analysts believe that they may be related to performance optimization, power consumption control or battery life.
In terms of support cycle, the Windows 11 26H1 support period for Enterprise and Education editions (including Education Edition, Enterprise Edition and Enterprise Multi-session Edition) will be extended to March 13, 2029, starting from February 10, 2026, for a total of approximately 37 months, or 3 years and 1 month. The support period for the Home Edition and Professional Edition (including Professional Education Edition and Workstation Professional Edition) ends on March 14, 2028, and also starts on February 10, 2026, with a support period of 25 months. It is worth noting that Microsoft has made it clear that Windows 11 SE is not included in the support range of the 26H1 version, because 24H2 is already the last supported version of the SE version.
Although 26H1 is an exclusive release, it will not offer any significant improvements or features over the existing 25H2 version or the upcoming 26H2 version that will be available to all users. Microsoft promises that existing PCs running Windows 11 25H2 will continue to receive "monthly security and quality updates and new features and remain supported." All Windows versions will continue to receive the same fixes and features every month.
For those who can't get the 26H1 version, you won't actually miss anything important. Test results from long-term use of this version show that 26H1 does not bring any substantive changes, so users who choose to continue using non-Snapdragon X2 hardware need not regret it. Microsoft plans to launch a new version of Windows 11 26H2 for everyone, including first-generation PC users based on Arm architecture. Unlike 26H1, which was customized for the hardware, 26H2 will be available to all users and become the recommended version for large-scale deployment by organizations.
Windows 11 26H2 appears to be based on the 25H2/24H2 versions, so users should not expect major upgrades in the kernel, scheduler, or performance. On the other hand, Windows 11 26H1 is a brand new platform version, which is why it is not possible to directly upgrade from 25H1 to 26H1. All upgrade paths are currently closed, and it is understood that Microsoft plans to upgrade Windows 11 26H1 and 26H2 to version 27H2 in the second half of 2027.