Log in
If you thought you had a decent understanding of Windows releases or versions, Microsoft just made a surprise announcement to make everything more confusing. Microsoft reached out to Windows Latest to confirm Windows 11 26H1 is real and rolling out, but it will not download or install on existing PCs. Instead, it is for new PCs with Snapdragon X2 chips.
On Patch Tuesday (February 10, 2026), Microsoft started rolling out updates for all supported versions of Windows, including Windows 11 25H2 or 24H2, and Windows 10 in ESU.
We also noticed a special Windows 11 26H1 update called “KB5077179,” but it will not install on existing Intel or AMD PCs. That is because Windows 11 26H1 is not supported on PCs with Ultra 7 155H or even newer devices with Panther Lake. It is only for ARM-based silicon, specifically those with Snapdragon X2.
In a support document, Microsoft says Windows 11 26H1 is rolling out on PCs with new silicon and includes “silicon advances for better performance and longer battery life.”
“Windows 11, version 26H1 is available only on new devices with select new silicon as they come to market starting early 2026,” Microsoft noted in an updated document.
“PCs running earlier versions of Windows 11 will not be offered an update to version 26H1 through Windows Update and cannot be installed as an in-place update on existing devices,” the company explained.
Windows 11 26H1 is likely also for Nvidia N1X
While Microsoft lists Snapdragon X2 as an example of the new silicon, it is possible that this update is also optimized for the long-rumored ARM-based Nvidia N1X chips.
Nvidia N1X has been in development for years and was supposed to debut last year, but Nvidia pushed the release date back. Supply chain reports suggested that Nvidia N1X could debut in Q1 2026, but that looks increasingly unlikely as we approach March 2026, with a new report claiming it is due to “software issues.”
According to Moore’s Law Is Dead, Microsoft is not rushing optimization for Nvidia N1X-based chips, as internal reports suggest these chips have software issues. However, Windows 11 26H1 is specifically tailored for upcoming silicon, and it could include Nvidia N1X support.
Microsoft confirms it developed Windows 11 26H1 closely with partners such as Qualcomm, but it does not come with new features. The update has a “scoped” set of improvements, likely focused on performance and battery life for Snapdragon X2-based PCs.
Moreover, it appears the company does not plan to roll out new features specifically for version 26H1, which means you are not losing out if you continue using your existing PC with version 25H2.
Windows 11 26H2 is coming later this year
More importantly, Microsoft also confirmed that it is sticking to the “one feature update a year” approach for Windows 11. This means there is a fall update planned for existing hardware.
“Windows 11, version 26H1, is based on a different Windows core than Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2, and the upcoming feature update. These devices will have a path to update in a future Windows release,” Microsoft noted.
Windows Latest can confirm that the next update for all existing PCs is called Windows 11 26H2. This is because we previously found references to Windows 11 26H2 in a preview build. It also aligns with today’s announcement, which says a separate update is planned for existing hardware.
Windows 11 26H2 will begin rolling out on all existing PCs in October 2026, but newer PCs with Snapdragon X2 (and Nvidia N1X) won’t get it, as they’ll be running on version 26H1.
The post Microsoft releases Windows 11 26H1, but it’s not for existing PCs. Windows 11 26H2 is coming for all PCs appeared first on Windows Latest
