Microsoft is now rolling out the Windows 11 2026 Update, also known as Windows 11, version 26H2. The good news is that, for most eligible devices, this is not a full reinstall: the system delivers it as an enablement package, a small download that installs like a monthly patch and requires a single restart.
This guide explains which devices are eligible, how to turn on the update from Windows Update, and what to do when the prompt has not appeared on your device yet.
Prerequisites
- A device running Windows 11, version 25H2 or 24H2. The 26H2 update is offered as an enablement package only to eligible devices already on one of those two versions.
- An internet connection to download the package.
- A moment to restart the device: the process asks for a single restart.
The reason the download is small is that versions 26H2, 25H2 and 24H2 share the same servicing branch and the same codebase. This means many of the components that version 26H2 needs are already present on the device before the update activates, as Microsoft explains in its announcement.
Step 1: open Settings and go to Windows Update
Go to Settings > Windows Update from the system’s start menu. It is the same panel you use for regular monthly updates.
Step 2: turn on early updates
Inside Windows Update, turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available. Microsoft says this is the setting that lets you receive version 26H2 among the first.
Step 3: download and install Windows 11, version 26H2
Once your device is eligible, the option to download and install Windows 11, version 26H2 will appear. Accept it and let the process finish: because it is an enablement package, the download is small and the installation is quick. The device will only ask to restart once to move to the new version.
What to do if the update has not appeared yet
It is normal for the option not to be available right away. Microsoft uses a controlled, phased rollout, so availability expands over time. During that rollout, the company may place safeguard holds on devices where it detects a known compatibility issue that could affect the update experience.
If you do not see the update yet, wait for the rollout to reach your device and check the distribution status on the Windows release health hub (aka.ms/WindowsReleaseHealth), where Microsoft posts issues, holds and rollout progress.
For commercial and education devices
Windows 11, version 26H2 is already available through the tools organizations use to manage updates, such as Windows Autopatch and the Microsoft 365 admin center. IT teams can keep using their usual tools, update rings, policies and deployment practices.
Microsoft recommends that commercial and education customers start with targeted deployments to validate applications, devices and business-critical workflows before expanding the update across the whole organization. As a note, downloads in the Microsoft 365 admin center and similar channels may be delayed.
How to confirm the update installed
Microsoft’s announcement does not detail an additional verification method: what it does confirm is that, after finishing the process and the single restart, the device runs version 26H2. From there, installing this version resets the support lifecycle of the supported editions of Windows 11: 24 months for the Home and Pro editions, and 36 months for Enterprise and Education.
In addition, some features and improvements that shipped disabled by default in version 25H2 become enabled by default in 26H2. Microsoft publishes the details of those changes and its planning guidance for professionals on its IT Pro blog (aka.ms/26H2-for-IT-pros).
Warnings and limitations
- The update as an enablement package is meant for eligible devices already running 25H2 or 24H2; if your device is on an earlier version, this method does not apply.
- The rollout is gradual: the option not appearing does not mean your device is incompatible, only that distribution has not reached it yet or there is a temporary compatibility hold.
- Keeping the device up to date is the path Microsoft recommends to receive the latest quality, reliability and security improvements.
If you want to keep getting the most out of Windows 11, TechSpain24 has other guides, such as how to hide the name and profile picture from the Start menu.
