Microsoft Issues Windows 11 Version 26H2 to Release Preview

I noticed this week that the Tuesday of Week D in August came and went without Microsoft bringing new preview builds of Windows 11 to Windows Update, and I commented on this to Laurent and mentioned it at the top of Windows Weekly yesterday. I assumed that we would see what is essentially Windows 11 version 26H2 whenever the Week D build did arrive, and so I’ve been checking the Windows 11 update history site a few times a day since Tuesday.

It turns out I was right about this being Windows 11 version 26H2. But Microsoft is, for the first time, releasing a new version of Windows 11 to the Windows Insider Program ahead of its general availability later this year. This suggests that the schedule I also speculated on during Windows Weekly–a preview update in September followed by a stable non-preview update in October–is also correct. But we’ll see on that one.

“Today, we are making this year’s annual feature update, Windows 11 version 26H2 (Build 26300.9278), available in the Release Preview Channel for customers to preview ahead of general availability later this calendar year,” Microsoft’s Stephen Lines writes in the announcement post. “Windows 11 version 26H2 will be delivered as an enablement package (eKB). This means that Windows 11, versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2 use a shared servicing branch. It also means that they share the same new features and enhancements delivered through our continuous innovation efforts. As a result, many of the features and improvements available in Windows 11 version 26H2 might already be familiar, as they have been gradually introduced through monthly updates.”

If you’re an individual with a PC enrolled in the Release Preview channel, you can install Windows 11 version 26H2 now, though it won’t be installed automatically; we’re still using the term “seeker experience” for some reason.

If you manage PCs for a business, Windows 11 version 26H2 enables several features and experiences–Windows Backup, app actions from the Taskbar, and some File Explorer enhancements–that were introduced in previous releases but not enabled by default. Microsoft says you can now deploy and begin validating Windows 11 version 26H2 on PCs in your organization using Windows Update client policies and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), with Azure Marketplace becoming available later today.

Microsoft will update the ISOs on the Windows Insider Program download site to Windows 11 version 26H2 soon as well.