Windows 11 26H1 schon im April? Microsoft spendiert Copilot+-PCs 2026 ein eigenes Update

New details about the upcoming interim update 26H1 for Windows 11 have leaked at CES 2026 in Las Vegas.

For several weeks, it has been considered certain that Microsoft is working on releasing an interim version, codenamed 26H1 , before the next system update, 26H2, for Windows 11. At the Consumer Electronics Show 2026 (CES, Las Vegas, Nevada), new details about the release and its contents have now emerged.

Release alongside new Copilot+ PCs?

As reported by the online magazine WindowsLatest , the launch date for the system update is likely to be in April 2026. One reason for this is the release of the new Copilot+ PCs, which are based on the new Snapdragon X2 chipset. According to the magazine, a Qualcomm spokesperson has confirmed the launch date for the new AI PCs as the end of the first quarter of 2026. Furthermore, it is known from previous statements by Microsoft that the interim version will be developed for and because of these new computers and will be optimized for the new CPUs.

No information yet from Microsoft

Even though Microsoft is remaining silent, as usual, regarding a specific release date, it is highly likely that the release of 26H1 will take place very soon, if not simultaneously, with the new Copilot+ PCs. This relatively new product category is considered a flagship product within Microsoft's AI initiative – accordingly, the prioritization of the development and distribution of the system update is likely to be very high.

System optimization for new chips

Major changes to the operating system are unlikely with 26H1. These will probably arrive no earlier than the regular system update 26H2. 26H1, however, is intended to bring the OS for the Copilot+ PCs, which are based on ARM architecture, up to the same standard as the classic x86 computers. This apparently focuses primarily on power management, processor management, and the integration of the AI hardware NPU (Neural Processing Unit) into the system's operation.

For normal PCs, nothing will probably change.

For owners of a "dumb" computer, nothing will change for now. However, Microsoft could establish a new rhythm, necessitating two update releases per year due to the new AI computers and the release cycles of chipset manufacturers. The first Copilot+ PCs received an exclusive preview version of 24H2 in early 2024, which surprised some standard PC users but provided hardware manufacturers with planning certainty for that year. The new AI PCs then remained at this level until October 2025 and were updated to 25H2 , like all other Windows 11 PCs .

Will Microsoft pursue a two-pronged approach in the future?

Such a long wait for feature updates doesn't exactly bode well for major innovations. This is likely why Microsoft has now taken the step of releasing an interim update. In the long run, it's quite possible that the H1 release will no longer just ensure consistent development progress, but will also provide Copilot+ PCs with new features that aren't even available for PCs without an NPU. It remains to be seen whether this dual approach will actually materialize.

source : https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/News-Software-26H1-fuer-Copilot-PCs-Bald-duerfte-Microsoft-bei-Windows-11-zweigleisig-fahren-40652789.html