Microsoft has released the first build of Windows 11 26H1 Preview Build 28000 to the Canary channel
By ForGeeks
The last major update to Windows 11 was released just last month. However, rumors of a new major update “26H1” have already surfaced, and now we have official confirmation. Microsoft has released the first preview build of Windows 11 26H1 Preview Build 28000 for the Insider Preview channel in Canary mode.
The first preview build of Windows 11 26H1 Preview Build 28000 has been released.
The build is currently undergoing testing and will be officially available to users early next year. This update is intended for a limited number of testers, which are rumored to include devices with ARM processors. In particular, there are unconfirmed reports of future systems based on Snapdragon X2 Elite and Nvidia’s N1X, which are expected to arrive in early 2026, in conjunction with the release of the chips in this series.
An unconfirmed rumor has been circulating about future Snapdragon X2 Elite and Nvidia N1X-based systems.
Microsoft isn’t revealing specific details, calling it a “platform update to support a particular chip.” Official statements emphasize that “no action is required of customers.” That odd wording has led to speculation that it’s about support for future Snapdragon and Nvidia N1X processors
Microsoft has previously released major Windows 11 updates about once a year, usually in the second half of the year (e.g., versions 22H2, 23H2, 24H2). This is the first time the company is planning a major update early in the year, making 26H1 a peculiar exception to the traditional schedule
Despite the lack of new features in version 26H1, it’s built on the new Bromine core, an update to the Germanium platform on which the current version of Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 run. This means that integrating this support into a future version of 26H2 will be a significant upgrade.
Build 28000 is considered the base RTM build for Windows 11 26H1. This means that Microsoft will lock it down and send it to OEMs (which could include Qualcomm and Nvidia) to begin preparing systems for deployment.
And that means that Microsoft will lock it down and send it to OEMs (which could include Qualcomm and Nvidia) to begin preparing systems for deployment.
