Windows 11 26H2: New Features and How to Install It

Windows 11’s next annual update is here. Version 26H2, also called the 2026 Update, reached general availability on September 29, 2026. Unlike a full reinstall, it arrives as a quick, one-restart update. Here is everything new in it and how to get it on your PC.

Quick Answer

• Windows 11, version 26H2 reached general availability on September 29, 2026
• It installs as a lightweight enablement package, meaning a small download and just one restart, not a full reinstall
• Big additions: an AI Agent in Settings, AI and NPU monitoring in Task Manager, a resizable Start menu, Voice Isolation for noisy calls, and post-quantum cryptography support
• Three known issues remain, all already fixable with existing workarounds
• Rollout is phased, expanding over the next few months

Why This Update Installs So Fast

Here is the part that confuses people. 26H2 is technically Windows 11’s next major annual version, the kind that used to mean a lengthy reinstall. This time it does not, because Microsoft has kept 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2 on the exact same underlying code since 24H2. Most of what 26H2 introduces has already been sitting on your PC for months, arriving quietly through regular monthly updates, just switched off.

26H2 simply turns those features on. That is why it installs like an ordinary update instead of a full operating system upgrade, and why only one restart is needed.

What’s New for Everyday Use

Agent in Settings
You can now search for a specific setting using plain language instead of hunting through menus, similar to describing what you want rather than knowing its exact name.

AI and NPU monitoring in Task Manager
If your PC has a neural processing unit, Task Manager can now show you what it is actually doing.

Resizable Start menu
You can resize the Start menu, hide your account name from it, and toggle individual sections on or off.

Voice Isolation
Voice access now handles background noise better, useful if you regularly use voice commands or dictation in a noisy room.

Smaller improvements
Windows Search has a cleaner layout, File Explorer shows file sizes more clearly, you can share audio across multiple Bluetooth devices at once, several apps can use your camera at the same time, and you can resume tasks between an Android phone and your PC.

Not every feature is available on every device or in every country, so what you see may vary slightly.

What’s New for Businesses and IT Teams

This update leans heavily toward enterprise and security features:

• Administrator protection now grants just-in-time admin rights instead of standing full privileges
• Built-in Sysmon for event capture, off by default but available to enable
• Smart App Control can now be turned on without a clean install
• Post-quantum cryptography support for the NIST-standardized ML-KEM and ML-DSA algorithms, preparing systems for future quantum-computing threats
• Point-in-time restore, letting a PC roll back to a recent automatic restore point
• Windows Autopilot gains device association support
• RSAT now runs on Arm64
• Policy-based app removal for preinstalled apps on Enterprise and Education machines

Known Issues in 26H2

Microsoft has flagged three issues, all already mitigated with workarounds:

1. Some USB Audio Class 1.0 devices stop producing sound or show a Code 10 error. A full fix is still in progress.
2. Domain-joined devices can lose their trust relationship with the domain, tied to a feature called Machine Identity Isolation that currently only works against Windows Server 2025 domain controllers.
3. Azure Virtual Desktop hosts using FSLogix may show a black screen after sign-in.

These are the same three issues affecting recent monthly updates. We cover the fixes for each in detail in our full list of Windows 11 update issues.

How to Install Windows 11 26H2

1. Go to Settings
2. Click Windows Update
3. Turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available
4. Click Check for updates
5. If offered, click Download and install, then restart when prompted

If you don’t see it yet, that’s expected. Microsoft is rolling this out in phases over the coming months, and some devices may be temporarily held back if a compatibility issue is detected for that specific machine.

For businesses: deploy through Windows Autopatch or the Microsoft 365 admin center, and validate your critical applications before widening the rollout.

Does This Change Your Support Timeline

Yes. Installing 26H2 resets your support clock. Home and Pro editions get 24 months of updates from the point you install it, while Enterprise and Education editions get 36 months. The first monthly security update specifically for 26H2 is expected October 13, 2026.

If you are still deciding whether to move from Windows 10, or want the full picture of how Windows 11’s editions and versions fit together, see our Windows 11 versions explained guide. For a running list of every recent update, check our latest Windows 11 updates page.

Should You Install It Right Away

For most home users, yes, there is little reason to wait. The install is quick, and most of what it turns on has already been tested on your system for months through prior updates. If you manage business PCs, the usual advice applies: test your critical software first, especially if you rely on Remote Desktop, domain sign-in, or Azure Virtual Desktop, given the known issues above.

Frequently Asked Questions