Windows 11 Version 26H1 is Official—But Only for New ARM Chips like Snapdragon X2

Windows 11 version 26H1 has been officially confirmed, but it will be available exclusively for devices powered by specific ARM chipsets, namely Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 and NVIDIA N1X. The new build, numbered 28000, is being distributed through the Windows Insider Canary Preview Channel, with Dev and Beta Channels already higher in build numbers.

As described, this release is not an upgrade to 25H2; it is a specialised build designed exclusively for devices running the ARM edition of Windows 11, meaning the 26H1 variant will only appear in its ARM form. According to Microsoft, 26H1 is not a feature update for 25H2 and includes platform changes to support specific silicon, with 25H2 remaining the primary place for new features and Windows Insider experiences landing first in the Dev and Beta Channels. The article notes that Microsoft maintains an annual feature update cadence, with releases in the second half of the calendar year.