WW 1003: Another Story Ruined By Keith - Windows 11, version 26H2 Is Now Available!

WW 1003: Another Story Ruined By Keith - Windows 11, version 26H2 Is Now Available!

Author: TWiT September 30, 2026 Duration: 2:48:35

Why does Microsoft keep stumbling with new devices and software design... and what happens when enthusiasts start favoring AI over old-school Office? Paul, Richard, and Leo dig into shifting loyalties and what that means for the future of the desktop. And with the release of 26H2, it's time to update your install and recovery media. The build number is 26300.9457

Windows

  • Windows 11, version 26H2 is here
  • New features, none unique: Start, Taskbar, Search, etc
  • New defaults for some features: Windows settings backup for commercial customers, etc.
  • The time a UX legend interviewed for a job at Microsoft running Windows UX
  • WSL Containers are generally available in Windows 11
  • Four new Insider builds, but only Experimental gets anything interesting: Phone companion improvements and Energy recommendations directly in Quick Settings

Software

  • Microsoft retires the Microsoft 365 Companion apps for Windows 11 that never made sense in the first place
  • Mozilla ships the new Nova UI in Firefox 157

Hardware

  • Copilot+ PC brand could be on the way out, but it was all over IFA, including on RTX Spark-based PCs
  • Microsoft launches new base Surface Pro and Laptop models with Snapdragon X2 - And a new mouse, for some reason
  • Qualcomm brought (first-gen) Snapdragon X to Googlebook, but it's also bringing X2 to Linux
  • Google quietly reveals that, yes, Chromebooks are on the way out

AI

  • Microsoft unveils the Copilot "super app" and the notion that this is basically an OS
  • Open releases about 1000 new updates for ChatGPT
  • Claude Sonnet 5.5 joins Opus 5.5
  • The AI money pit, part 127: Report details Anthropic losses, spending, and revenues. Report also does a bad job at visualizing that information

XBOX and gaming

  • Disc to digital program is live
  • Minecraft Dungeons is here with a new dimension, and it's coming to Minecraft next year too
  • Microsoft has a new casual mobile game for some reason
  • XBOX now has mythic achievements

Tips and picks

  • Tip of the week: Get the Windows 11 version 26H2 ISO
  • App pick of the week: Opera on desktop and on mobile
  • RunAs Radio this week: AI and Penetration Testing with Paula Januszkiewicz
  • Brown liquor pick of the week: Kilchoman Loch Gorm

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Sponsors:


For anyone following the vast and often intricate ecosystem of Microsoft, Windows Weekly (Video) offers a consistently insightful look behind the curtain. Hosted by Leo Laporte of TWiT, the conversation is driven by veteran Microsoft insiders Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell, whose combined expertise provides context that goes far beyond surface-level news. While the name suggests a focus on the operating system, this podcast truly serves as a comprehensive analysis of the entire company, from its consumer-facing products like Xbox and Surface to its massive enterprise cloud services and ambitious AI initiatives. Each episode feels like a detailed briefing, unpacking the strategies, successes, and stumbles of the tech giant. The video format adds a valuable layer, allowing you to see the hosts' reactions and follow along with screen shares when they delve into technical previews or software updates. You'll hear informed speculation, historical perspective, and critical debate about Microsoft's direction, making it an essential resource for IT professionals, developers, and dedicated enthusiasts who want to understand not just what is happening, but why. This is the kind of deep dive that turns complex topics into engaging discussion, offering the only Microsoft analysis you'll likely need. For those who prefer an uninterrupted experience, ad-free audio and video feeds are available through Club TWiT.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 33

Windows Weekly (Video)
Podcast Episodes
WW 992: Gassy Jack - Largest Patch Tuesday in Microsoft History! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:32:12
Microsoft's July 2026 Patch Tuesday just shattered records with hundreds of bug fixes, and AI is the force behind the surge. Are we witnessing the beginning of a safer Windows, or is this flood of vulnerabilities the new…
WW 990: Don't Be Nostalgic for Stupid - The Doom & Gloom Watch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:39:55
Windows 10's Extended Security Update program quietly gets extended for another year for consumers. Microsoft reportedly kills Surface Go products & is now selling 8 GB Surface Pro & Laptop models. And Xbox Series X & S…
WW 989: Deer Hate MSDN - Point-in-Time Restore Arrives for Windows 11 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:41:44
Windows 12 is stalled and the real reasons go far beyond software. The conversation unpacks how soaring hardware prices, AI chaos, and market confusion have Microsoft in a holding pattern. Also, Paul finally took a sledg…
WW 988: Bubbleable - XBOX Could Be Facing a Moment of Reckoning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:51:13
With major leadership shakeups and rumors of studio closures, the future of XBOX inside Microsoft suddenly looks uncertain. Is this the beginning of a Game Pass overhaul, or could XBOX face an outright split from the com…
WW 986: Liminal AI - RTX Spark, Project Solara, Scout, & Much More! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:32:00
Build 2026 is underway in San Francisco this week, and it started with a big, overly-long keynote as always. And Computex is this week, too. There's a lot going on, and some of it is fascinating. Plus, WWDC is next week…