Microsoft recently caused considerable confusion with a brief, vague announcement regarding Windows 11 26H1.
Clarifying the Windows 11 26H1 Release
A notification sent to subscribers stated that Windows 11 26H1 would only be available for “select new devices” and would not be offered as an “in-place update.” This statement immediately raised concerns among system administrators, who are already navigating Microsoft’s accelerated end-of-life schedule for various Windows 11 versions.
Fortunately, the alarm was primarily due to poor communication rather than a new widespread obsolescence event, unlike the previous requirement for TPM 2.0 hardware. It was later clarified that Windows 11 26H1 is specifically intended for the next generation of systems powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Series processors and other upcoming ARM-based platforms. This release is entirely separate from the x86-64 processors that most users currently utilize.
Microsoft took some time to provide these essential details. Bleeping Computer and other tech sites played a role in confirming the true nature of Microsoft’s announcement. This particular Windows 11 version can likely be disregarded by users not dealing with new ARM hardware.
According to Microsoft, Windows 11 26H1 is based on a new platform release to support the upcoming ARM chips.
