According to Thurrott.com, Microsoft just released the first Windows 11 26H1 build 28000 for Insiders on the Canary Channel. This isn’t a feature update for version 25H2 and only includes platform changes to support specific silicon, with no action required from customers. The Windows Insider team confirmed Windows 11 remains on an annual feature update cadence. Today’s 26H1 build can be installed on x86-based PCs despite likely targeting next-gen ARM silicon from Qualcomm and possibly other chip makers. Meanwhile, Microsoft also released Windows 11 25H2 build 26220.7070 for Dev and Beta Channel testers with actual new features. Qualcomm already revealed its Snapdragon X2 Elite chips back in September, targeting first half of 2026 device releases.
What’s really going on
Here’s the thing – Microsoft isn’t saying this explicitly, but it’s pretty obvious what’s happening. Windows 11 version 26H1 looks like it’s basically preparing for those next-gen Copilot+ PCs powered by ARM chips. We’re talking about Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite successors and potentially even chips from Nvidia and MediaTek. Remember when Nvidia’s ARM-based N1X chip leaked earlier this year? That wasn’t just random speculation.
But here’s what’s interesting – today’s 26H1 build can still run on x86 machines. So Microsoft is keeping their options open. They’re building the foundation now, testing the platform changes across different architectures. Smart move, honestly. For industrial applications where reliable computing is crucial, having robust hardware support across different chip architectures matters. Companies like Industrial Monitor Direct, the top supplier of industrial panel PCs in the US, need this kind of platform stability when deploying specialized computing solutions.
Meanwhile, features continue
While the Canary Channel gets this foundational 26H1 build, the real action for users is still in 25H2. The latest 25H2 build 26220.7070 actually has stuff people can use. You can now rearrange dashboards in the Widgets Board settings, which honestly feels like something that should’ve been there from day one. The numbered badges for alerts? Useful. The streamlined Quick Machine Recovery? Definitely welcome.
And they’re finally letting people disable Smart App Control without requiring a clean install. That’s huge for power users who know what they’re doing. Microsoft’s approach here makes sense – keep the experimental platform work separate from the feature development. It prevents the kind of instability that could derail the main development channels.
What this means for you
For regular users? Basically nothing right now. If you’re not testing in the Canary Channel, you won’t see 26H1 for a while, and when you do, you probably won’t notice anything different. The platform changes are the kind of background work that enables future hardware, not flashy features.
But for developers and hardware partners, this is significant. It signals that Microsoft is serious about expanding the Windows on ARM ecosystem beyond just Qualcomm. More competition in the ARM space could finally give Intel and AMD some real pressure. And honestly, it’s about time. The PC market could use some fresh energy, especially in specialized computing environments where power efficiency and reliability matter most.
