{"id":920593,"date":"2026-10-04T18:44:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T18:44:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/920593\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T18:44:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T18:44:20","slug":"microsoft-says-windows-11-version-26h2-is-a-predictable-and-low-disruption-update-now-it-needs-to-prove-windows-still-has-a-future-worth-getting-excited-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/920593\/","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft says Windows 11 version 26H2 is a &#8220;predictable and low-disruption update&#8221; \u2014 now it needs to prove Windows still has a future worth getting excited about"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:100.00%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/x54XmnMtsZjh7NQwTHHvVk.png\" alt=\"Windows Central &quot;Windows Wrap&quot; logo\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/x54XmnMtsZjh7NQwTHHvVk.png\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/x54XmnMtsZjh7NQwTHHvVk.png\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] pull-rightinline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-650d96ac-be7a-11f1-81f2-bdc1c8981a1d\">It looks like Microsoft is wrapping up its Windows and Surface efforts for 2026 to be able to focus on the future. Last week the company announced refreshes to the Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch. This week, Microsoft rolled out Windows 11 version 26H2.<\/p>\n<p>With a bunch of Surface announcements in the rearview mirror and another update to Windows 11 rolling out, Microsoft can point its followers to the future. The description of the Windows and Surface event next week says, &#8220;Join us live&#8230; for a look at what&#8217;s next from Windows, Surface, and NVIDIA.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-650d96ac-be7a-11f1-81f2-bdc1c8981a1d-2\">I hope Microsoft has some exciting news in store for its event. Windows and Surface have been far from exciting lately. It is possible to market boring products, of course, but they have to be reliable.<\/p>\n<p>Latest Videos FromWindows Central<\/p>\n<p>This week Microsoft announced Windows 11 version 26H2 and called it a &#8220;predictable and low-disruption update.&#8221; If Microsoft wants to win back consumers, it needs to either be cutting edge or actually deliver predictable and low-disruption updates. It feels like for the last few years we&#8217;ve gotten neither.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-biggest-news-of-the-week\"\/>Biggest News of the Week<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/fKbbqRFQ4BnYrkUMYE2u8c-2560-80.jpg\" alt=\"Windows 11 Start button\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fKbbqRFQ4BnYrkUMYE2u8c.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fKbbqRFQ4BnYrkUMYE2u8c.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] absolute top-0 left-0 h-full object-center object-cover w-full\" data-component-name=\"Image\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\nMicrosoft releases Windows 11 version 26H2, calls it a &#8220;predictable and low-disruption update&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-2 mr-0 ml-0 text-base! leading-5! md:text-lg md:leading-6\">The next version of Windows 11 is now generally available. Here&#8217;s what&#8217;s now and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/microsoft-releases-windows-11-version-26h2-calls-it-a-predictable-and-low-disruption-update-with-no-compatibility-concerns\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/microsoft-releases-windows-11-version-26h2-calls-it-a-predictable-and-low-disruption-update-with-no-compatibility-concerns\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"microsoft\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/microsoft-releases-windows-11-version-26h2-calls-it-a-predictable-and-low-disruption-update-with-no-compatibility-concerns\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">how you can get it<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/how-to-watch-microsofts-windows-and-surface-event\" target=\"_self\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/how-to-watch-microsofts-windows-and-surface-event\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"microsoft\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/how-to-watch-microsofts-windows-and-surface-event\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/5mTeMGL9LhZ9YE47vRAUKG-3000-80.jpg\" alt=\"First images of Microsoft's Surface Pro 12-inch tablet PC.\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5mTeMGL9LhZ9YE47vRAUKG.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5mTeMGL9LhZ9YE47vRAUKG.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] absolute top-0 left-0 h-full object-center object-cover w-full\" data-component-name=\"Image\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\nHow to watch Microsoft&#8217;s Windows and Surface event\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-2 mr-0 ml-0 text-base! leading-5! md:text-lg md:leading-6\">Microsoft&#8217;s October 7 Windows and Surface event is almost here. Here&#8217;s where to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/how-to-watch-microsofts-windows-and-surface-event\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/how-to-watch-microsofts-windows-and-surface-event\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"microsoft\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/how-to-watch-microsofts-windows-and-surface-event\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">watch and what to expect<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/hardware\/qualcomm\/qualcomms-snapdragon-x2-doesnt-need-the-extreme-badge-to-beat-intel-signal65-study\" target=\"_self\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/hardware\/qualcomm\/qualcomms-snapdragon-x2-doesnt-need-the-extreme-badge-to-beat-intel-signal65-study\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"microsoft\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/hardware\/qualcomm\/qualcomms-snapdragon-x2-doesnt-need-the-extreme-badge-to-beat-intel-signal65-study\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/fTCrizsYk6gYBBh6YbCSvU-2448-80.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of a silver laptop deck featuring a Snapdragon X2 Elite Copilot+PC sticker alongside Energy Star and HDMI badges.\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fTCrizsYk6gYBBh6YbCSvU.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fTCrizsYk6gYBBh6YbCSvU.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] absolute top-0 left-0 h-full object-center object-cover w-full\" data-component-name=\"Image\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/microsoft-just-cut-out-the-middleman-for-running-linux-tools-on-windows-11\" target=\"_self\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/microsoft-just-cut-out-the-middleman-for-running-linux-tools-on-windows-11\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"microsoft\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/microsoft-just-cut-out-the-middleman-for-running-linux-tools-on-windows-11\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/DgAzb6iednSKudBfjB3EgD-2880-80.jpg\" alt=\"Docker Desktop for Windows using the WSL2 backend on ARM \"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/DgAzb6iednSKudBfjB3EgD.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/DgAzb6iednSKudBfjB3EgD.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] absolute top-0 left-0 h-full object-center object-cover w-full\" data-component-name=\"Image\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\nMicrosoft adds native Linux container support to Windows 11\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-2 mr-0 ml-0 text-base! leading-5! md:text-lg md:leading-6\">Setting up Linux environments on Windows 11 often requires third-party tools, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/microsoft-just-cut-out-the-middleman-for-running-linux-tools-on-windows-11\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/microsoft-just-cut-out-the-middleman-for-running-linux-tools-on-windows-11\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"microsoft\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/microsoft-just-cut-out-the-middleman-for-running-linux-tools-on-windows-11\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">native WSL container<\/a> streamlines the process.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/windows-11-version-27h2-faq\" target=\"_self\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/windows-11-version-27h2-faq\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"microsoft\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/windows-11-version-27h2-faq\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/E39uFsZYYqVGMMpCEbQaZN-4572-80.jpg\" alt=\"Windows 11\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/E39uFsZYYqVGMMpCEbQaZN.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/E39uFsZYYqVGMMpCEbQaZN.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] absolute top-0 left-0 h-full object-center object-cover w-full\" data-component-name=\"Image\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\nWindows 11 version 27H2: Everything we know so far\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-2 mr-0 ml-0 text-base! leading-5! md:text-lg md:leading-6\">With Windows 11 version 26H1 and 26H2 built on different Windows codebases, Microsoft is planning to bring everyone back onto the same <a href=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/windows-11-version-27h2-faq\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/windows-11-version-27h2-faq\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"microsoft\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/windows-11-version-27h2-faq\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">platform release with version 27H2 in 2027<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-650d97f6-be7a-11f1-a043-51749d2371cd\">Microsoft has had to release multiple out-of-band updates in 2026. Some bugs required multiple patches to fix. It&#8217;s gotten so bad that most of our articles about Windows 11 updates are met with comments asking what will break this time.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, the commenters have been proven right several times. <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/windows-11-second-emergency-out-of-band-update-kb5078127-released-address-outlook-bugs\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/windows-11-second-emergency-out-of-band-update-kb5078127-released-address-outlook-bugs\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"microsoft\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/windows-11-second-emergency-out-of-band-update-kb5078127-released-address-outlook-bugs\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">One serious bug<\/a> made Outlook, OneDrive, Dropbox, and other cloud-backed apps inoperable. <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/windows-11-just-received-another-emergency-update-is-this-the-new-normal\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/windows-11-just-received-another-emergency-update-is-this-the-new-normal\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"microsoft\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/windows-11-just-received-another-emergency-update-is-this-the-new-normal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Another issue<\/a> froze Remote Desktop and caused audio failures. At one point users couldn&#8217;t even install a Windows 11 update, <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/windows-11-kb5079391-update-pulled-as-microsoft-scrambles-to-address-installation-issues\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/windows-11-kb5079391-update-pulled-as-microsoft-scrambles-to-address-installation-issues\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"microsoft\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/windows-11\/windows-11-kb5079391-update-pulled-as-microsoft-scrambles-to-address-installation-issues\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">forcing Microsoft to pull that update<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If Microsoft is going to undercut its events and trim down its Surface lineup, it needs to double down on reliability. Next week, we should get some answers about Microsoft&#8217;s plans.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-650d985a-be7a-11f1-b4e1-5bb90ebb7ac9\"\/>Windows and Surface event<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/7X7ZDDVtSRatCtGZj9tAkW.jpg\" alt=\"Surface Laptop Ultra\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/7X7ZDDVtSRatCtGZj9tAkW.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/7X7ZDDVtSRatCtGZj9tAkW.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Windows Central \/ Zac Bowden)<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-650d9922-be7a-11f1-9f90-2d1d99ee5699\">A boring but bug-free Windows 11 update may be a welcome change of pace, but it makes me curious about what Microsoft will discuss at its Windows and Surface event next week. Considering Windows 11 version 26H2 is already rolling out, the focus is likely the future of Windows.<\/p>\n<p>Does Microsoft have something up its sleeve? Has the tech giant learned a lesson about how to build consumer hype? Or are we due for another on-stage announcement about <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/artificial-intelligence\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/artificial-intelligence\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"microsoft\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-redirect=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/tag\/artificial-intelligence\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/artificial-intelligence\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">AI<\/a> and how new PCs can run models locally?<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m sure there are developers interested in the potential of the Surface Laptop Ultra and RTX Spark for AI development, but there are hundreds of millions of Windows users who care very little about AI. Microsoft needs to at least throw some scraps our way to keep us interested.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-shopping-with-sean\"\/>Shopping with Sean<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-2b13e9f4-be7c-11f1-b139-75eb6cf403be\">Amazon&#8217;s October Prime Day is next week, but there are already some great deals live. Competing retailers are trying to beat Amazon to the punch, resulting in big savings.<\/p>\n<p>A trio of laptops are the best deals of the week. I&#8217;m partial toward the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x because of its thin design but the Samsung Galaxy Book6 and Dell 14S are also great choices.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-collectionwidget-6d4f157332adbc58abaad84b555adfee\"\/><a id=\"elk-2b13ea62-be7c-11f1-9215-ebf0efeb5de4\"\/><a id=\"elk-7e85afa0-be7c-11f1-bf13-4b7b92267dbf\"\/><a id=\"elk-2b13ead0-be7c-11f1-9040-b9205e60c90d\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/windowscentral\/\" id=\"elk-650d9aee-be7a-11f1-8e2c-93d6d43f56da\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/windowscentral\/\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"microsoft\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:29.96%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/rX94E5y9uUKpUAhcKF7Ruj.png\" alt=\"Click to join us on r\/WindowsCentral\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/rX94E5y9uUKpUAhcKF7Ruj.png\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/rX94E5y9uUKpUAhcKF7Ruj.png\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] pull-leftinline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-650d9b52-be7a-11f1-a892-fde716747b59\">Join us on <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/windowscentral\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/windowscentral\/\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"microsoft\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reddit at r\/WindowsCentral <\/a>to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It looks like Microsoft is wrapping up its Windows and Surface efforts for 2026 to be able to&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":920594,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[49,48,61],"class_list":["post-920593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/920593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=920593"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/920593\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/920594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=920593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=920593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=920593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}