Windows 11 Version 26H2?

newmann · Oct 2, 2026

Have the message

Windows 11, version 26H2 is available. It shows I can download and install.

I'm using windows 11 pro. Dell XPS 15 9520 laptop.

When I see an update like this a while back, I would take a while before downloading it. I remembered I had downloaded a few updates that show similar to this. Thus, it isn't a requirement and you can always just shut down your laptop and turn it back on and this message appears.

I did recall a while back, I eventually had to download and install the update. Does anyone know if that is always the case? So if I just ignore this update... it does have the update showing on the bottom right corner near the wifi icon at the bottom of the taskbar, will I eventually have do download and install later on?

Should I just download and install it now?

Bree · Oct 2, 2026

newmann said:
Should I just download and install it now?

I would. In fact, I have. I said just that in reply to another similar question.

Bree said:
If it helps, I've just updated all of my 25H2 machines to 26H2, including a couple that are unsupported devices.
Nothing has blown up

newmann · Oct 2, 2026

When did this update show up? I think it was recently. I usually like to wait a while until I install the update.

Most people do that right?

What happens if you ignore it for a long time? Eventually you have to do the update right? I think this happened a while back with one of the updates and I had to update it. I couldn't just power off my laptop and turn it on like normal.

Helmut · Oct 2, 2026

Just do it, very quick & trivial.

HeavyHemi · Oct 2, 2026

newmann said:
Most people do that right?

The vast majority of Windows users are not on forums like this and do whatever the default Windows settings tells the system to do.

Bree · Oct 2, 2026

newmann said:
When did this update show up? I think it was recently. I usually like to wait a while until I install the update.

Most people do that right?

What happens if you ignore it for a long time? Eventually you have to do the update right? I think this happened a while back with one of the updates and I had to update it. I couldn't just power off my laptop and turn it on like normal.

26H2 was put on General Release on 29th September.

If/when it may be forced on you depends on what version of Windows you currently have. If it is 23H2 then that is out of support and you will likely have to update soon. 23H2 > 26H2 is a major update, replacing all the system files.

If it is 24H2 or 25H2, then then updating is a simple matter of installing a small enablement package that turn on the dormant 26H2 code that has already been delivered in the latest cumulative updates. It's quick and easy, and you will likely not notice much has changed. 24H2 reaches end of support on 16 October 2026, it's 13 October 2027 for 25H2. Expect to be forced to update after end of support for your current version.

Celery · Oct 4, 2026

Have you enabled the Windows Update setting "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available"?

The default setting is off. I haven't enabled it on either of my computers.

The screenshot below is not from my computer. The "Windows 11, version 26H2 is available" notification does not yet appear on either of my computers. And even if it did, I wouldn't want to install it manually just yet.

Windows 11, version 26H2 is available.webp

The rollout is phased and will expand over the next few months. Starting today, version 26H2 is available on eligible Windows 11, version 25H2 and version 24H2 devices for users who have turned on the setting Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available. If the update is ready for your device, it will download and install automatically, and a single restart will complete the process.

Known and Resolved issues for Windows 11 version 26H2

Windows message center: Windows 11 version 26H2 End of Servicing on October 10, 2028 https://www.elevenforum.com/t/windows-11-version-26h2-build-26300-9550-now-generally-available.49787/ https://www.elevenforum.com/t/how-to-get-the-windows-11-2026-version-26h2-update.49789/...

www.elevenforum.com

Megahertz · Oct 8, 2026

Bree said:
If it is 24H2 or 25H2, then then updating is a simple matter of installing a small enablement package that turn on the dormant 26H2 code that has already been delivered in the latest cumulative updates. It's quick and easy, and you will likely not notice much has changed. 24H2 reaches end of support on 16 October 2026, it's 13 October 2027 for 25H2. Expect to be forced to update after end of support for your current version.

I have a unsupported computer with win 11 25h2.
I know that I can do an in place upgrade but as all it needs is a small enablement package, where can i download the package?

Try3 · Oct 8, 2026

Megahertz said:
I know that I can do an in place upgrade but as all it needs is a small enablement package, where can i download the package?

How to get the Windows 11 2026 version 26H2 Update

Denis

Megahertz · Oct 9, 2026

Try3 said:
How to get the Windows 11 2026 version 26H2 Update

Denis

Thanks Denis

erpster4 · Sunday at 8:04 PM

Bree said:
If it is 24H2 or 25H2, then then updating is a simple matter of installing a small enablement package that turn on the dormant 26H2 code that has already been delivered in the latest cumulative updates. It's quick and easy, and you will likely not notice much has changed. 24H2 reaches end of support on 16 October 2026, it's 13 October 2027 for 25H2. Expect to be forced to update after end of support for your current version.

those EOL/EOS dates only apply to the Home & Pro editions. Education & Enterprise editions get an additional year of support
for 24H2 Home/Pro EOS is 10/13/2026 and for 24H2 Education/Enterprise EOS is 10/12/2027

Windows 11 - release information

Learn release information for Windows 11 releases

learn.microsoft.com

Bree · Sunday at 8:14 PM

erpster4 said:
Education & Enterprise editions get an additional year of support

Unfortunately none of those are available to the general public, only on volume licence to organisations.

unifex · Monday at 3:37 AM

Well, I did not react to it when I first saw it on Windows Update, I thought I did not have time at the moment. But now I looked again and it's gone, Windows Update does not offer it to me anymore. I know I can download the ISO and install it, I'm just saying, Windows Update may behave strangely at times.

unifex · Monday at 3:40 AM

Bree said:
Unfortunately none of those are available to the general public, only on volume licence to organisations.

Remember this commercial from way back: "you could pay more, but why?" This is the same with those "retail Windows licenses". They cost way more than LTSC licenses and offer less functionality. Why would anyone buy those? Even if you just buy a PC where it came preinstalled, why keep it? It's not like those LTSC licenses are hard to find or cost a lot. To me, it just makes no sense.

Marie SWE · Monday at 9:22 AM

unifex said:
Remember this commercial from way back: "you could pay more, but why?" This is the same with those "retail Windows licenses". They cost way more than LTSC licenses and offer less functionality. Why would anyone buy those? Even if you just buy a PC where it came preinstalled, why keep it? It's not like those LTSC licenses are hard to find or cost a lot. To me, it just makes no sense.

Some of us dont like bloated OS's and LTSC and even the IoT LTSC is perfect as you dont get a ton of preinstalled crap and you dont get a rolling release as you have with home/pro.. The computer stay the same over time and start menu dont change every other update, and stuff dont get reinstalled/re-enabled again etc.

Why have a ton of stuff installed and services running that you never will use?. That makes no sense
I have not played a game since 2002. so why have Xbox.
I use my computer for office related things and browsing the web and demand a reliable system.
A bloated win11 home/pro that is a rolling OS that will change over time and with experimental updates that reinstalls things you have removed is useless to me.

So that is why anyone would get the LTSC versions.

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