Microsoft releases Windows 11 26H1 — the first test version for new chips
Microsoft has announced the release of Windows 11 version 26H1, now available to participants in the Insider Preview Program (Canary Channel). This is the first update in the OS’s history to carry the H1 index, and it is not a standard feature update. The main purpose of 26H1 is to prepare the Windows platform to support a new chip, which is believed to be connected to Snapdragon X2 processors for next-generation Copilot+ PCs.
Unlike traditional major updates, version 26H1 includes only platform-level changes. Microsoft has not disclosed the name of the chip, but experts suggest that the update is focused on optimizing the OS for upcoming hardware.
• Update schedule: The company confirmed that Windows 11 will continue following an annual major feature update schedule.
• New features: The primary source of new features before public release remains Windows 11 version 25H2.
The current build 28000, which introduces 26H1, includes only a small set of general improvements and fixes for insiders. Among the resolved issues:
• A bug that caused live subtitles to crash has been fixed.
• The issue preventing users from accessing the credentials window when trying to sign into Outlook has been resolved.
Meanwhile, the large-scale rollout of the previous major update — Windows 11 version 25H2 — is still ongoing. The main objective of this update is to extend system support, which is now prolonged until 2028.
Users of the Home and Pro editions will receive 24 months of support, while enterprise users will benefit from 36 months of support.
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