By Richard Speed
Publication Date: 2026-02-11 16:15:00
Microsoft has released Windows 11 26H1 but is warning the vast majority of users that it is not for them.
The update, which Microsoft’s Release Health Dashboard claims has no known issues, is exclusively for upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon X2-equipped hardware. It won’t arrive as an in-place update, won’t get a 26H2 successor later this year, and won’t support hotpatch updates.
Microsoft told cautious admins to steer clear, at least for now: “For IT admins planning refreshes, rollouts, or purchases, Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 remain the recommended releases for enterprise deployment at this time.”
While Microsoft vaguely cites “improved performance and battery life” for the new ARM silicon, the release notes reveal a more significant change: the venerable .NET Framework 3.5 is finally being put out to pasture.
“Starting with Windows 11 version 26H1, .NET Framework 3.5 is no longer a Windows Feature on…
