What and why:
Windows 11, version 26H2, also referred to as the Windows 11 2026 Update, is now generally available. This annual feature update for Windows 11 includes features and enhancements delivered to version 25H2 over the past year in the areas of security, management, accessibility, and user experience.
Rollout schedule:
Windows 11, version 26H2 is available now for eligible devices running Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2. For commercial and education customers, it is available through existing Windows update management tools, including Windows Autopatch and the Microsoft 365 admin center. (Downloads in the Microsoft 365 admin center and similar channels might be delayed.)
Availability will expand in the coming weeks. Microsoft might apply
safeguard holds to devices where a known compatibility issue could affect the update experience. Rollout status, known issues, and safeguard information will be published through
Windows release health.
Impact on your organization:
Installing Windows 11, version 26H2 resets the support lifecycle for supported editions. Enterprise and Education editions receive 36 months of support, while Home and Pro editions receive 24 months of support.
If your organization has eligible devices running Windows 11, version 25H2 or 24H2, you can use your existing tools, update rings, policies, and deployment practices to validate and deploy version 26H2.
Because Windows 11, versions 26H2, 25H2, and 24H2 share the same servicing branch and underlying code base, version 26H2 can be delivered via
enablement package to eligible devices running Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2. A full OS swap is not needed.
Some features that were behind temporary commercial control in Windows 11, version 25H2 are enabled by default in version 26H2. These include Windows settings backup, app-specific taskbar actions, and File Explorer improvements. Existing administrator-configured policies for Windows settings backup continue to be honored. Some features have additional eligibility requirements.
Action required/recommendations:
No immediate action is required. When you are ready to begin deployment, we recommend that you:
- Validate Windows 11, version 26H2 with a targeted set of devices before broad deployment.
- Test business-critical applications, representative hardware, and workflows.
- Review features that are enabled by default in version 26H2 and determine whether any existing policies or configurations should be adjusted.
- Expand deployment using your existing update rings and deployment processes after validation.
- Monitor deployment health, known issues, and safeguard holds through Windows release health.
- Review your organization's security and compliance requirements and prepare support personnel for changes introduced with Windows 11, version 26H2.
Compliance considerations:
Before broad deployment, review your organization's security and compliance requirements and validate Windows 11, version 26H2 against your existing policies, business-critical applications, representative hardware, and workflows.