Windows 11 26H1 release date expected by April 2026

• Windows 11 26H1 is expected to arrive around April 2026.
• The release aligns with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 PCs launch timeline.
• Version 26H1 is exclusive to new ARM64 devices and will not be available for upgrade on existing PCs.
• No major new features are expected. It is a platform and silicon support release.
• Windows 11 26H2, scheduled for late 2026, remains the primary feature update for all users.

Windows 11 26H1 is expected to launch around April 2026, based on new signals from Qualcomm and Microsoft’s ongoing platform testing for next-generation ARM64 processors.

While the software giant has not officially announced a release date for Windows 11 26H1, a recent confirmation from Qualcomm strongly suggests that the update will arrive alongside the new Snapdragon X2-powered computers, which are scheduled to begin shipping by the end of the first quarter of 2026.

Qualcomm timeline points to April 2026 for version 26H1

A Qualcomm spokesperson recently confirmed that manufacturers will start shipping devices with the new Snapdragon X2 lineup by late Q1 2026, which effectively places availability in early April 2026. Microsoft has acknowledged that Windows 11 26H1 is designed to support new silicon and is currently being tested internally and through the Windows Insider Program.

Although the company has not set a date for version 26H1, Qualcomm’s hardware schedule provides a clear launch target. Typically, new processors require a compatible version of the operating system before they come to market, which makes an April release of Windows 11 26H1 more likely.

Windows 11 26H1 is not for existing PCs

It is important to clarify that Windows 11 26H1 is not a feature update for current devices. Microsoft has explicitly stated that version 26H1 is not an upgrade path for Windows 11 25H2 or earlier releases.

The update will ship exclusively 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.

Insiders have been testing 26H1 since November 2025

The company began testing Windows 11 26H1 in November 2025 as part of a new platform release codenamed “Bromine.” At the time, the software giant made it clear that the release existed solely to support the upcoming processors.

In a release support article published in November 2025, Microsoft noted that version “26H1 is not a feature update for version 25H2 and only includes platform changes to support specific silicon. There is no action required from customers.”

Changes coming on Windows 11 26H1

Windows 11 26H1 does not introduce major visible changes. The most obvious difference is the jump in build number to the 28000 series.

Microsoft may be adding some under-the-hood refinements in addition to the support for new silicon, but nothing suggests that version 26H1 will deliver headline consumer features.

Windows 11 26H2 remains the real feature update

The company has previously said that Windows 11 will continue to follow an annual feature update cadence, with releases landing in the second half of the year, typically between September and October.

This means Windows 11 26H2 (expected in October 2026) will be the update that brings new features to everyone, including for computers with Intel, AMD, and ARM processors. However, Microsoft could follow the same approach used with version 25H2, rolling out new features gradually through cumulative updates during 2026 and making 26H2 a small enablement package that refreshes the Windows 11 lifecycle.