Microsoft Preps Windows 11 26H2 Installation Media Ahead of Public Rollout

Microsoft has started testing Windows 11 26H2 installation media ahead of its public rollout, which is expected to happen in the last week of September or early October. The update will be available for those who manually check for updates and hit Download & install under Windows 11 26H2.

The latest build has entered the Release Preview Channel, a phase that usually happens a few weeks before release. However, Microsoft doesn't expect users to move to Windows 11 27H2 in October 2027, which is why a minor release like Windows 11 26H2 is necessary for the Windows lifecycle.

Windows 11 26H2 is not a big update and will be supported until 2028. It will change the build number to 26300 and enable features that have been gradually rolling out over months, including File Explorer improvements and the new Start menu. However, it's essential to note that Windows 11 26H2 is essentially the same as Windows 11 25H2, with the only difference being a reset of the Windows lifecycle.