Windows 11 24H2 Arrives: Copilot+ PCs First, x86 Later This Year

Many PC users may still be unaware that Windows 11 24H2 has already begun its rollout, although it is currently available only on Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft confirmed earlier that the x86 architecture PCs, which are more widely used, will have to wait a little longer, with the update expected to arrive “later this year.”

Judging by Microsoft’s stance, Windows 11 24H2 is unlikely to appear on x86 PCs in the near term. Theoretically, it could be released as early as August, but some industry insiders speculate it may not arrive until the fourth quarter. This indirectly confirms that Microsoft has devoted most of its Windows 11 24H2 update resources to Windows on ARM, aligning with the release schedule of Qualcomm Snapdragon X series and Copilot+ PCs, which prominently feature a range of AI-assisted functionalities, the main focus of the new device promotion.

Microsoft has already switched the Canary and Dev internal preview channels to the new version, which are the most experimental channels in its product line, though users might encounter some bugs or crashes. Besides AI features, Windows 11 24H2 does not introduce major changes, such as gaming optimizations. Most of the updates are enhancements to the user experience, including support for Wi-Fi 7 and the integration of 7-zip and TAR documents in File Explorer.

This month’s Steam hardware survey report indicates that, in terms of operating systems, Windows 10 64-bit still holds the largest share at 49.42%, though this has decreased by 0.91 percentage points from the previous month, falling below half. The share of Windows 11 continues to grow steadily, increasing by 0.55 percentage points to 46.63%, narrowing the gap between the two. Judging by user trends, it may not take long for the number of Windows 11 users to surpass those of Windows 10.