Uh oh! Not all Arm-based PCs will probably be getting Home windows 11 26H1
Abstract created by Good Solutions AI
In abstract:
- PCWorld studies that Microsoft’s Home windows 11 26H1 replace will solely assist newer Snapdragon X2 Plus, X2 Elite, and X2 Elite Excessive processors, excluding Intel and AMD techniques.
- First-generation Arm-based Copilot+ PCs with older Snapdragon CPUs is not going to obtain this hardware-optimized replace, creating compatibility limitations.
- The 26H1 launch focuses on under-the-hood enhancements slightly than new options, with assist extending till March 2028 for appropriate gadgets.
Microsoft shocked the Home windows group with its somewhat-recently introduced Home windows 11 26H1 replace, which gained’t be out there on all Home windows PCs. Now, the corporate is revealing essential particulars about this Home windows replace, particularly which PCs will probably be getting it.
What we’ve recognized up so far is that solely sure Arm computer systems will obtain Home windows 11 26H1. Nearly all of Home windows 11 customers, who’re operating on Intel or AMD processors, will subsequently not obtain this Home windows replace. As Microsoft mentioned beforehand: “Home windows 11, model 26H1 just isn’t meant as a characteristic replace for current gadgets and won’t be provided by means of Home windows Replace.”
In contrast to most massive updates for the working system, Home windows 11 26H1 doesn’t deliver any new options however solely makes modifications underneath the hood. Nevertheless, in accordance with Microsoft, “Home windows 11, model 26H1 is a hardware-optimized launch […] with capabilities tailor-made particularly for these platforms.” It’s unclear what meaning but.
That mentioned, Microsoft has been rolling out Home windows 11 26H1 to appropriate Arm PCs since February tenth, 2026 and plans to assist this model till March 4th, 2028 on Home windows 11 Residence and Professional (whereas Enterprise and Training editions will probably be supported till March thirteenth, 2029).
The brand new bit of knowledge we now have is that solely the next PCs with these three processors will obtain Home windows 11 26H1:
- Snapdragon X2 Plus (“X2P”)
- Snapdragon X2 Elite (“X2E”)
- Snapdragon X2 Elite Excessive (“X2E”)
This info was quietly put forth on this assist web page. This implies the primary era of Arm-based Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon CPUs gained’t be capable of reap the benefits of Home windows 11 26H1.
Additional studying: Microsoft simply forked Home windows 11
This text initially appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German.
