Windows 11 version 26H2 is shaping up to be a major feature release arriving around late September to early October 2026. Rather than a full OS reinstall, it’s being shipped as an enablement package — meaning most of its features are already present in the OS and only need to be turned on collectively.
This update also extends support — typically ~24 months for consumer editions and ~36 months for enterprise editions, making it important for device management and enterprise planning.
🧠 AI & Copilot at the Core
🟦 “Ask Copilot” in the Taskbar
One of the headline features is a new natural-language search experience called Ask Copilot:
Replaces the classic search box with a Copilot-powered prompt.
Lets you type things like “show battery settings” or “open Downloads” naturally.
Uses intent understanding to link to apps, files, and settings.
Stays local unless files are explicitly shared.
🤖 AI-enhanced File Explorer
File Explorer is getting smarter with:
Reorganized, less cluttered context menus (grouped actions like copy path, compress, rotate are easier to find).
New AI-assisted interactions — when enabled, Copilot can help manage files in dialog style instead of just manually moving them.
📁 Productivity and UI Improvements
📐 Cleaner & Smarter Interface
Dark mode support in properties dialogs — making power users’ workflows more consistent.
Modernized WinUI design for the Run dialog — sleeker look with helpful prompts.
📅 Calendar & Notifications
Agenda view returns to the notification area — synced with Outlook and showing upcoming events neatly.
🎮 Quality-of-Life Enhancements
Even beyond AI:
Cross-device resume enhancements (from phones to PCs) continue to evolve in preview builds.
Expanded camera controls (pan/tilt) are added directly in Settings.
New Emoji 16.0 symbols join the emoji panel.
Sysinternals System Monitor (Sysmon) becomes built-in — giving better system event tracking without third-party tools.
Bug fixes like taskbar hiding glitches and desktop icon rearrangement issues are addressed.
🕹️ Gaming & Other Features
A new Xbox-style full-screen gaming mode is being tested, which prioritises performance and reduces background activity.
📆 When It Will Arrive
While Microsoft hasn’t announced an exact date, the general plan is:
🔹 Late September – Early October 2026 for wide availability
🔹 Windows Insiders (Dev or Beta channels) can see many features earlier in preview builds
📌 Why This Matters
Even though 26H2 isn’t a complete overhaul, it’s a strategic update that:
Turns on new experiences tested throughout 2025–26.
Shifts the Windows experience closer to AI-first interactions.
Improves daily workflows — from search to file handling to productivity and even gaming
