Windows 11 26H2 is available for eligible PCs. If you’re still on Windows 10, check compatibility before you download anything. Windows Update is the simplest way to install it, but a safeguard hold can delay the offer on some PCs.
Who gets Windows 11 26H2 now
Microsoft released 26H2 on 29 September 2026. Its release health page says the update is available to all eligible devices, although a known compatibility problem can still hold it back on a particular PC.
That covers two groups:
- PCs already on Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2. Microsoft describes 26H2 as a servicing update for these versions, so the installation path can be smaller and quicker than a full upgrade.
- Windows 10 PCs that meet the Windows 11 requirements. These make a larger move from Windows 10 to Windows 11, so the download and installation can take longer. Windows Update may still wait until the device is ready.
The timing matters for Windows 10 users. Microsoft’s release information page shows Windows 10 22H2 stopped receiving regular updates on 14 October 2025. The Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme keeps security patches coming until 12 October 2027, but that is a stopgap rather than a long-term plan.
Check whether your Windows 10 PC can run Windows 11
Microsoft’s minimum requirements for Windows 11 are:
- Processor: 1GHz or faster, with 2 or more cores, on a compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB or more
- Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
- TPM: Trusted Platform Module version 2.0
- Graphics: DirectX 12 or later with a WDDM 2.0 driver
- Display: 720p HD, larger than 9 inches diagonally
- Setup: Windows 11 Home and Pro need an internet connection and a Microsoft account to complete setup
Your PC must also be on Windows 10 version 2004 or later to upgrade. The quickest way to check is Microsoft’s PC Health Check app. Search for PC Health Check from the taskbar (or get it from aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp if it’s missing), then select Check now. It tells you whether the PC is eligible and, if not, why. Microsoft notes the app doesn’t check the graphics card or display, since most compatible PCs meet those requirements anyway.
TPM 2.0 and a supported processor are the most common reasons older PCs fail. If the app says your PC isn’t eligible, skip to the last section.
How to install Windows 11 26H2 on a Windows 10 PC
Back up anything important to OneDrive or an external drive first. Then:
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates.
- If the Windows 11 26H2 upgrade is offered, select Download and install and follow the prompts. A full upgrade takes a while and restarts the PC, so keep a laptop plugged in.
If you’re already on Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2, go to Settings > Windows Update, turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available, select Check for updates, then Download & install when 26H2 appears.
If the upgrade doesn’t appear on an eligible PC, it may be under a safeguard hold. Microsoft holds the update back when it has found a compatibility issue, so waiting is usually safer than forcing the installation. Microsoft’s software download page also offers the Windows 11 Installation Assistant and Media Creation Tool. Use those only after checking compatibility and backing up important files.
If you download an ISO, Microsoft publishes SHA256 hashes on the same page. Run Get-FileHash in PowerShell to compare:
Get-FileHash C:\path\to\your-windows-11.isoSwap in the path to your downloaded ISO and check the output against Microsoft’s list for your language.
What’s new in Windows 11 26H2
Moving from Windows 10 also brings the changes Windows 11 has gained since 2021. Microsoft groups the following features with 26H2, though some arrived earlier through monthly updates and may already be on newer Windows 11 PCs:
- Start menu: a redesigned Start with a scrollable All section, category and grid views, and size options.
- Taskbar: you can move it to the top, left or right as well as the bottom, and pick a smaller taskbar. There’s also a way to monitor AI agents from the taskbar.
- File Explorer: AI actions, support for more archive formats, and voice typing when you rename files.
- Search: result previews and better handling of typos.
- Recovery: point-in-time restore and quick machine recovery to get a broken PC working again.
- Security and sign-in: you can turn Smart App Control on or off without reinstalling Windows. Supported passkey managers can work with Windows, compatible external fingerprint readers can use Enhanced Sign-in Security, and Sysmon is built in. Some of these features need setup or compatible hardware.
- Hardware: Bluetooth LE Audio and USB4 dock improvements, plus fewer restarts for updates.
- Accessibility: Magnifier and Narrator updates, including a Braille Viewer, and Voice Access in more languages.
- Task Manager: NPU columns, handy on newer laptops with AI chips.
One change matters if you run older scripts: WMIC is no longer included in Windows 11 24H2 and later, including 26H2. Check those scripts before upgrading and move them to PowerShell where needed.
Installing 26H2 also resets your support window. Microsoft says Home and Pro editions get 24 months of updates (to 10 October 2028, according to the release information page) and Enterprise and Education editions get 36 months. That matters because 24H2 Home and Pro stopped getting updates on 13 October 2026, so anyone still on 24H2 should move up.
Known issues to check before you upgrade
Microsoft’s 26H2 status page lists these issues at the time of writing:
- USB audio devices showing Code 10: some USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, such as older USB DACs and headsets, may not work and show a Code 10 error in Device Manager. Microsoft lists it as mitigated, not fixed, and says it affects Windows 10 22H2 as well.
- Remote Desktop error 0xC000000D: fixed by the 28 October update KB5127936.
- AC-3 audio app crashes and black screens on Azure Virtual Desktop: both fixed by KB5127648, released on 13 October.
If you use an older USB audio interface for music or calls, check the status page before you upgrade. You can read our guide to an earlier patch, the KB5129195 update, for how these monthly fixes usually play out.
If your PC can’t run Windows 11
You have three realistic options:
- Enrol in Windows 10 ESU. Consumer ESU delivers critical and important security updates until 12 October 2027. Microsoft offers three ways in: free if you sync your PC settings, 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or a one-time purchase of $30 (or the local currency equivalent plus tax). You need Windows 10 22H2 (Home, Pro, Pro Education or Pro for Workstations) with the latest updates installed. ESU doesn’t add features or include tech support, and Microsoft says enrolling won’t stop you upgrading later if you get eligible hardware.
- Check your firmware settings. Some PCs fail only because TPM or Secure Boot is turned off in the firmware. Microsoft’s specs page notes that some PCs can meet the requirements by changing settings, so check your PC maker’s support page before giving up on it.
- Replace it. If the processor is the problem, a new machine is the real fix. Our list of the best laptops under Rs 60,000 is a good starting point, and memory prices have been moving, so read our buy-or-wait take on RAM prices before you configure a desktop.
Microsoft’s download page warns against forcing Windows 11 onto unsupported hardware. It says such PCs aren’t entitled to receive updates, and damage caused by the lack of compatibility isn’t covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
FAQ
Is the Windows 11 26H2 upgrade free for Windows 10 users?
Yes. Microsoft offers it free through Windows Update to Windows 10 PCs that meet the Windows 11 requirements.
Will I lose my files?
A standard upgrade through Windows Update keeps your files and apps, but back up first anyway. A full OS upgrade is not the time to trust luck.
I’m enrolled in ESU. Can I still upgrade?
Yes. Microsoft says ESU enrolment doesn’t stop an upgrade to Windows 11 on eligible hardware.
Why don’t I see the 26H2 offer yet?
Your PC may be under a safeguard hold for a known compatibility issue, or it may not meet the requirements. Run PC Health Check, then check Windows Update again later.
- SourceWindows Experience Blog
- SourcePC Health Check
- SourceDownload Windows 11
