Microsoft announced the release of Windows 11, version 26H2 yesterday. The feature update of the year brings only little changes, which is one reason why you should not feel any hurry to install it on your devices, if you run Windows 11.
The good news is that version 26H2 is another light release. It is activated via an enablement package, just like version 25H2 was last year. This means that it installs in a matter of minutes and does not require extended reboots to complete the installation process.
Bad news is that it does not really introduce much of its own that is new and exciting, as Microsoft switched to pushing out most features when they are ready.
So, you can install Windows 11, version 26H2 on devices running Windows 11, version 24H2 or higher by going to Settings > Windows Update, enabling “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available”, and hitting the “check for updates” button, if the update is not displayed right away.
This installs the enablement package and upgrades the version to 26H2. Home users get two years of support with this one, as usual, while Enterprise and Education customers get another year on top of that for that version.
You can also download the enablement packages directly from Microsoft servers to install the update manually. Should work as fine and may be an option for devices where Windows Update refuses to display the update.
Now to the question as to whether it is a good idea to install the update right now. I would say no, it is not in most cases. It does not bring anything revolutionary to the table that can’t wait another month or two.
While Microsoft does not mention any known issues yet, past updates have shown that issues may come to light days or weeks after release. To avoid any issues and prolonged troubleshooting sessions, postpone the installation on most devices, other than for testing.
If you are hellbent on installing it, create a system backup first before you do. This gives you a Microsoft-independent option to restore the system should things go wrong with the installation or during use.