Microsoft has begun moving Windows Insider Program devices on the Experimental channel to Windows 11 version 26H2. This is the second-half major update of the year, part of the annual cadence in which the company ships one large release each half.
The headline here is the version jump itself, not a particular feature. Microsoft listed no specific new features or fixes for these builds. The announcement focuses on how 26H2 is delivered and who it reaches.
The builds released today
Several builds went out on 19 June, spread across channels and versions:
- Beta (26H2): build 26220.8690
- Experimental (26H2): build 26300.8697
- Beta (26H1): build 28020.2308
- Experimental (26H1): build 28120.2315
- Experimental (Future Platforms / Canary): build 29613.1000
Having the 26220, 26300, 28020, 28120 and 29613 series running side by side shows the transition the program is going through. Multiple branches are active at once depending on your version and channel.
How 26H2 updates
26H2 arrives through an enablement package, what Microsoft calls an eKB. In practice your device moves to the new version with a single restart, without a long install or a full system download. It’s the same method used in earlier jumps, such as 24H2 to 25H2.
The Dev channel becomes Experimental
If you want these previews, registration in the Windows Insider Program now means picking the Dev channel while it transitions to Experimental. Once that process finishes, the channel will be renamed Experimental for good.
26H1 machines are left out
This is the part worth understanding before you switch channels. Devices already on Windows 11 version 26H1 cannot update to 26H2. The reason is technical: 26H1 is built on a different Windows core than versions 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2. Those devices will get a path to a future version instead.
26H1, for context, targets the new silicon arriving in 2026, such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2. So if your device sits on that branch, don’t expect the 26H2 jump for now.
Who this matters to
Insiders who test Windows ahead of everyone else, and anyone managing fleets who needs to plan rollouts. If you’re on the Experimental channel on 24H2 or 25H2, you’ll see 26H2. If you’re on 26H1, you won’t. For home users who stay away from the Insider Program, 26H2 will arrive later through the usual channels.
You can check the Windows page to place these versions within the system’s release calendar. For the month’s security context, see our June 2026 Patch Tuesday.
Source
Original article published by Microsoft on the Windows Insider blog: Announcing new builds for 19 June 2026, version 26H2 for Experimental.