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Windows 11 version numbers are easy to confuse because Microsoft uses several identifiers at once: a version such as 24H2, a base build such as 26100, a revision such as .8875, and a KB number for the individual update. They answer different questions.
This guide covers the Windows 11 versions currently relevant, their release dates and support deadlines, how to identify the version installed on a PC, what the latest build means, and what to do when Windows Update fails or does not offer a feature update.
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Information below was checked on August 8, 2026. The latest published regular update at that time was the July 14, 2026 B release.
Current Windows 11 versions and build numbers
Microsoft’s current release information lists six Windows 11 version families. The base OS build is the most useful part of a build number when you need to identify the version family.
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| Version | Base build | General availability | Latest published build August 8, 2026 |
Home/Pro updates end | Enterprise/Education updates end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26H1 | 28000 | February 10, 2026 | 28000.2525 KB5101649 |
March 14, 2028 | March 13, 2029 |
| 25H2 | 26200 | September 30, 2025 | 26200.8875 KB5101650 |
October 12, 2027 | October 10, 2028 |
| 24H2 | 26100 | October 1, 2024 | 26100.8875 KB5101650 |
October 13, 2026 | October 12, 2027 |
| 23H2 | 22631 | October 31, 2023 | 22631.7376 KB5099414 |
Ended November 11, 2025 | November 10, 2026 |
The listed builds are the latest published builds as of July 14, 2026. Monthly cumulative updates can change the revision number without changing the Windows version itself. For Microsoft’s full release records, see the Windows 11 release information page.
Windows 11 26H1 is not a normal upgrade for existing PCs
Windows 11 26H1 is an important exception to the usual annual-upgrade assumption. Microsoft designed it for new devices using select 2026 silicon. It is not offered through Windows Update as an in-place upgrade for existing Windows 11 PCs running 24H2 or 25H2.
In practical terms, a computer that shipped with 26H1 can receive its normal monthly cumulative updates. However, a 24H2 or 25H2 computer cannot simply use Windows Update to move to 26H1, and 26H1 cannot be installed as an in-place upgrade on those devices. Do not treat 26H1 as the next feature update that every current Windows 11 PC should be waiting for.
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Windows 11 25H2 uses an enablement package for devices upgrading from a fully updated 24H2 installation. Much of the 25H2 functionality is already present in the current 24H2 codebase; the small package activates the new version rather than replacing the entire operating system in the traditional feature-update manner.
This is why a 24H2-to-25H2 upgrade may be considerably quicker than an older, full feature-update transition. It still changes the version shown in Windows and starts a new servicing period, so check the version after the restart.
Windows 11 version history
| Version | Base build | Release date | Home/Pro support ended |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21H2 | 22000 | October 4, 2021 | October 10, 2023 |
| 22H2 | 22621 | September 20, 2022 | October 8, 2024 |
| 23H2 | 22631 | October 31, 2023 | November 11, 2025 |
| 24H2 | 26100 | October 1, 2024 | October 13, 2026 |
| 25H2 | 26200 | September 30, 2025 | October 12, 2027 |
| 26H1 | 28000 | February 10, 2026 | March 14, 2028 |
Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations editions receive 24 months of support for a feature version. Enterprise and Education editions generally receive 36 months. That difference explains why Windows 11 23H2 is out of support for Home and Pro but remains supported on Enterprise and Education until November 10, 2026.
How to check your Windows 11 version and build
Use Settings
- Open Start.
- Select Settings.
- Choose System.
- Select About.
- Scroll to Windows specifications.
Look for these entries:
- Edition — for example, Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro.
- Version — such as 24H2 or 25H2.
- Installed on — the date Windows was installed or upgraded.
- OS build — for example, 26100.8875.
Use the winver command
The quicker method is the built-in winver command:
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type
winver. - Press Enter.
The About Windows dialog displays the Windows version and OS build. You can also type winver into the taskbar Search box and open the result.
How to read a Windows 11 build number
Consider the build number 26100.8875:
- 26100 is the base OS build. It identifies Windows 11 version 24H2.
- 8875 is the servicing revision created by later cumulative updates.
| Base build | Windows 11 version |
|---|---|
| 22000 | 21H2 |
| 22621 | 22H2 |
| 22631 | 23H2 |
| 26100 | 24H2 |
| 26200 | 25H2 |
| 28000 | 26H1 |
The revision is not a standalone version identifier. For example, both 26100.8875 and 26200.8875 end in .8875, but the first is 24H2 and the second is 25H2. The edition also affects support status, so a build number alone cannot tell you whether a PC is still supported.
What the different Windows Update labels mean
Feature updates
A feature update changes the Windows version, such as moving from 23H2 to 24H2 or from 24H2 to 25H2. These releases contain new Windows functionality and begin a new support period. Windows 11 normally follows an annual feature-update cadence, although 26H1 has a special new-device-only role.
Quality updates
Quality updates are the more frequent cumulative updates. They primarily contain security fixes, reliability improvements, and bug fixes for a particular Windows version. Because they are cumulative, installing the latest applicable quality update normally includes earlier fixes for that same version; you do not need to install every previous KB separately.
B, D, and OOB releases
- B release: the regular security update released on the second Tuesday of the month.
- D release: a generally non-security preview update, usually released during the fourth week.
- OOB: an out-of-band release issued outside the normal schedule to address an urgent issue.
These letters describe the release classification. They are not additional parts of the Windows build number.
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- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates.
Windows normally downloads and installs updates automatically, but the button starts a manual check. Feature updates are released in stages, so Microsoft may not offer a new version to every compatible PC on the same day.
A missing feature-update offer can have several explanations:
- A known hardware or software compatibility issue has triggered a safeguard hold.
- Pending updates for the current Windows version must be installed first.
- The PC is controlled by an organization’s update policy.
- The device does not meet the target release’s eligibility requirements.
- The target release is not intended for existing devices, as with 26H1.
Install all pending updates for the current version, restart the PC, and check Windows Update again. Do not bypass a compatibility hold casually; it exists to reduce the chance of an upgrade causing a driver, application, or hardware problem.
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How to view installed updates
To see what Windows has installed, go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Update history.
The page groups installed items such as quality updates, definition updates, driver updates, and feature updates. Select an entry to open its available details, including the associated KB number when provided.
How to uninstall a Windows 11 update
From a working desktop, open Start > Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates. Select the update and choose Uninstall.
Not every update can be removed. Also, uninstalling a security update reduces the PC’s protection, so use this as a troubleshooting step rather than a routine way to avoid updates.
If Windows will not start normally, enter the Windows Recovery Environment and select:
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Recovery provides options for uninstalling the latest quality update or the latest feature update.
Common Windows 11 update problems
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| Update stays at 0% or 100% | Check the internet connection and available storage, restart the PC, and run the Windows Update troubleshooter. |
| Installation appears stuck between 51% and 99% | Allow extra time because the duration depends on the connection, update size, and system configuration. If it remains unchanged, restart and run the troubleshooter. |
| A restart is required | Use Start > Power > Update and restart, or choose Update and shut down when available. |
| Error 0x80070020 | Another process may be blocking Windows Update. Restart, then check whether security software or firewall software is interfering. |
| A feature update is missing | Install current-version updates, restart, check for a safeguard hold or management policy, and select Check for updates again. |
| Windows will not boot after updating | Use Windows Recovery Environment and select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall Updates. |
| Windows Update remains broken | Run the automated Windows Update troubleshooter in the Get Help app. System File Checker is a further advanced troubleshooting step. |
Storage can also stop an upgrade. Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance lists at least 20 GB free for a 64-bit upgrade and 16 GB for a 32-bit upgrade, although the actual requirement can vary by update and device.
Commonly repeated Windows 11 update claims that are wrong
- “26H1 is the next upgrade for every Windows 11 PC.”
- It is not. 26H1 is intended for new devices with select 2026 silicon and is not offered as an in-place upgrade from 24H2 or 25H2 on existing PCs.
- “Windows 11 23H2 is completely unsupported.”
- That is incomplete. Home and Pro support ended on November 11, 2025, but Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise, and Enterprise multi-session editions remain supported until November 10, 2026.
- “The higher revision number is the newer Windows version.”
- Not necessarily. The base build identifies the version family. For example, 26100.8875 is 24H2, while 26200.8875 is 25H2.
- “Every compatible PC gets every feature update immediately.”
- Microsoft uses staged rollouts and compatibility safeguards. Two apparently compatible PCs can receive an update at different times.
- “Windows Update Assistant works on every Windows 11 PC.”
- Microsoft’s Update Assistant supports x86 and x64 devices but does not run on ARM-based PCs. It is for manually installing a feature update, not for replacing normal monthly quality updates.
- “Every installed update can be uninstalled.”
- Some updates cannot be removed, according to Microsoft.
FAQ
What is the latest Windows 11 version?
As of August 8, 2026, the latest published Windows 11 version is 26H1, but it is intended for new devices using select 2026 silicon. For existing PCs, 25H2 is the normal current feature-update path where it is offered.
How do I find my Windows 11 build number?
Open Start > Settings > System > About and look under Windows specifications for OS build. Alternatively, press Windows key + R, type winver, and press Enter.
What is the difference between 24H2 and 25H2?
24H2 uses base build 26100 and 25H2 uses base build 26200. A device upgrading from a fully updated 24H2 installation generally uses an enablement package to activate 25H2.
Why has Windows Update not offered a new feature update?
The update may be staged, blocked by a compatibility safeguard, delayed until current-version updates are installed, restricted by an organization’s policy, or unavailable for that device. This is also why existing 24H2 and 25H2 PCs are not offered 26H1.
The Bottom Line
Use Settings > System > About or winver to identify the installed Windows 11 version and build. The first part of the build—such as 26100 or 26200—identifies the version family; the digits after the period identify later servicing. As of August 8, 2026, 24H2 and 25H2 are the relevant upgrade families for existing PCs, while 26H1 is mainly for new hardware. Keep the edition in mind when checking support dates because Enterprise and Education editions have longer servicing periods than Home and Pro.
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