PERSONAL TECH

Same core as 24H2 and 25H2 means an enablement package, while Search gets a little more forgiving

Microsoft has issued a stark warning for Windows users everywhere: "Get ready for Windows 11, version 26H2."

Unless, of course, you're running Windows 11 26H1, in which case 26H2 will not be offered and you'll have to wait for a later upgrade path. 26H2, due for general availability in the coming months, uses the same Windows core as Windows 11 25H2 and Windows 24H2. As such, it will be delivered via an enablement package that switches on the new features and updates the versioning. 26H1 is an altogether different beast, aimed at devices based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Series processors and other new hardware platforms.

Other than the version number change, users will be hard-pressed to notice much difference between 25H2 and 26H2, which, frankly, is no bad thing. A bit of stability wouldn't be a problem for Windows users, even if the monthly updates, where most new features are delivered these days, can be somewhat hit-and-miss in terms of quality and reliability.

Windows Insiders can take a look at the new release now – the brave souls in the Experimental channel will see their versioning updated to 26H2, and there are also paths from the Dev and Beta channels.

Also lurking in the previews is an update to Windows Search that will bring a sigh of relief to many users. In an Experimental Insider release just over a week ago, Microsoft wrote: "Finding apps is more forgiving. Search is better at handling typos, dropped letters, extra letters, and partial words for apps. Queries like 'utlook' can still find Outlook.

"Settings results are improving. We've made ranking improvements to help more relevant settings appear higher in results."

All well and good. Search has been infamously awful in Windows for years. However, March Rogers, partner director of product design for Windows at Microsoft, later clarified: "Local files are prioritized in the new search updates. Also, if you want, you can turn off web suggestions entirely."

Tweaking Search to ditch web suggestions has been possible for a while, if a user knows where to look, but bringing the setting front and center (according to Rogers, it can be turned off in Settings > Privacy & Security > Search) is a welcome move.

Otherwise, 26H2 should be a straightforward release, with little in it to alarm users and administrators – Microsoft saves those for monthly updates. Support for Windows 11 24H2 will end on October 13, 2026, for Home and Pro users (Enterprise and Education users get another year – until October 13, 2027). Microsoft's support lifecycle means 26H2 will get 24 months of support from its release for Home and Pro, and 36 months for Enterprise and Education. ®