Microsoft has started rolling out Windows 11 version 26H2, this year’s annual feature update. If you’ve been dreading a long, disruptive upgrade, there’s good news: for most people this one is quick and painless.
When was it released?
Windows 11 26H2 became available on 29 September 2026. As with previous releases, Microsoft is rolling it out gradually, so not every PC will be offered it on day one. If you’re keen to get it straight away, you can check for it manually in Settings > Windows Update.
A small, fast update
Unlike some of the big Windows upgrades of the past, 26H2 isn’t a full reinstall of the operating system. It’s delivered as an “enablement package”. Most of the new code has already been downloaded to your PC through the regular monthly updates, and 26H2 simply switches it on. For PCs already running Windows 11 version 24H2 or 25H2, that means a short download and a single restart rather than an hour-long upgrade.
There are no new hardware requirements either. If your PC runs 24H2 or 25H2 today, it can run 26H2.
What’s new?
Because 26H2 shares its foundations with 24H2 and 25H2, many features have already been arriving on up-to-date PCs over the past year. 26H2 brings them together and turns a few more on by default. Highlights include:
- Stronger Windows Hello sign-in security, including Enhanced Sign-in Security support for third-party fingerprint readers
- Administrator Protection, which separates admin privileges from your everyday account so malware has a harder time making system-wide changes
- Point-in-time restore, a new recovery option for rolling a PC back if something goes wrong
- Windows settings backup switched on by default, making it easier to move to a new PC
- Improvements to Windows Search, taskbar customisation, AI actions in File Explorer and multi-app camera support
- Management and deployment improvements for businesses
Why it matters: support dates
Each Windows 11 version is supported for a fixed period. 26H2 will receive updates for 24 months on Home and Pro editions, and 36 months on Enterprise and Education.
More urgently, Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro reach end of updates on 13 October 2026. After that date, those PCs will stop receiving security updates until they move to a newer version. If you’re still on 24H2, now is a good time to update.
What about businesses?
For our managed business customers, there’s nothing you need to do. We’ll be testing 26H2 and rolling it out in a controlled way through our usual update management, so your team isn’t caught out by unexpected restarts or compatibility issues.
If you’re not on a managed plan and you’d like help checking which version your PCs are running, or getting them updated, just get in touch.
New computers from Scanstation
Any new computers we set up are clean installed with Windows 11 26H2.
