- Windows 11 26H1 is expected to launch around April 2026 as a platform update, not a feature update.
- Microsoft confirms version 26H1 is not an upgrade path for Windows 11 25H2 or earlier versions.
- The release is exclusive to new ARM64 devices powered by Snapdragon X2 Plus, Elite, and Extreme processors.
Windows 11 26H1 is expected to launch around April 2026, and you can download the ISO file early to start testing the upcoming release. In this guide, I’ll outline the steps to complete this task.
It is important to clarify that Windows 11 26H1 is not a feature update for current devices. Microsoft has shared details saying that version 26H1 is not an upgrade path for Windows 11 25H2 or earlier releases.
The update will only be availble on new ARM64 PCs, starting with devices powered by the Snapdragon X2 Plus, Elite, and Extreme processors. If you own a computer running on Intel or AMD hardware, Windows 11 26H1 will never be offered to your system.
However, if you must download and install version 26H1, you can use UUP Dump, which is a tool that lets you create a custom Windows 11 ISO from any public preview. It is a script that downloads the latest builds from Microsoft servers and creates an unofficial ISO file you can use to install the operating system.
Although the company makes the Windows 11 ISO available for previews, allowing users to test the clean installation and in-place upgrade processes on virtual machines and spare computers, this isn’t always the case.
In this guide, I will walk you through using the UUP Dump tool to download the ISO file for any publicly available Windows 11 preview.
Download Windows 11 26H1 ISO file using UUP Dump
To download the Windows 11 26H1 ISO file early, follow these steps:
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Select the “Windows 11 Insider Preview” to download the latest (x64) ISO file – for example, build 28020.1371 in the Canary Channel.
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Use the “Language” drop-down menu to select the language for the installation.
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Click the Next button.
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Select the editions to include in the Windows 11 ISO file.
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Click the Next button.
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Select the “Download and convert to ISO” option.
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Check the “Include updates” option under the “Conversion options” section.
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Click the “Create download package” button to save the tool on your device.
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Open the zip folder with File Explorer.
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Click the Extract all button.
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Select the location to extract the files.
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Click the Extract button.
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Right-click the uup_download_windows.cmd batch file and select the Run as administrator option.
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Click the More info option.
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Click the “Run anyway” button to begin the lengthy process.
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Press the “R” key to run the script once, and then press Enter.
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Press the 0 key when prompted to close the screen.
Once you complete the steps, the Windows 11 26H1 ISO file will be created inside the folder where you extracted the UUP Dump tool. You can now use the ISO file to upgrade a test virtual machine to the latest Windows 11 preview. Alternatively, you can use third-party tools like Rufus to create a USB media to install the operating system on a spare computer.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of Pureinfotech in 2010. With over 22 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist, Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS.
Certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), and CompTIA A+ and Network+.
Mauro is a recognized Microsoft MVP and has also been a long-time contributor to Windows Central.
You can follow him on YouTube, Threads, BlueSky, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].