What Is The Difference Between Windows 11 21.996.1 vs Windows 11 26h2 In 2026?

maroner pierre 65 Reputation points
2026-10-09T01:47:21.18+00:00

What can you tell me about the two different Windows 11 versions from the title/subject above?.I am now exploring Windows 11 26h2 after moving from Windows 11 21.996.1?,simply out of curiosity?.While using the Windows 11 26h2,pin to start options from the settings don't exist/not available? or were removed? .Pin to start options only exist from the start menu.How can i get the pin to start options list working after selecting for example About?.Also pin to statrt Clear protection history options list doesn't show up either,and have to put up with just how it is?...While using Windows 11 21.996.1,pin to start options list showed up after selecting About or clear protection history or Windows Updates and including all other ones that were also freely available to pin to start?.Were there newer changes made that wasn't declared to computer users,about the pin to start options that was removed from the settings?,replaced with as it instead?...

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Desktop, Start, and personalization | Other
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Hendrix-V 20,215 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-10-09T06:39:31.5566667+00:00

Hi maroner pierre,

Thanks for explaining what you’ve noticed.

The important thing first is to confirm the exact Windows builds being compared. “21.996.1” does not appear to be a standard Windows 11 version designation, so I would not want to assume that the difference you’re seeing with Pin to Start is specifically caused by moving to Windows 11 26H2.

Please press Windows + R, type winver and press Enter on the current installation. If possible, provide the Version and OS Build shown there. If you still have the corresponding build information from the previous installation, please include that as well.

Regarding Settings pages such as About, Windows Update, or Protection history, if Pin to Start is no longer offered in the current build, I would avoid making registry or system modifications solely to restore it until we can confirm whether that behavior is expected for the particular Windows build you are running.

Once the exact build numbers are known, it should be much easier to determine whether this is a version-specific change or something particular to the current installation. I’ll be happy to help narrow it down from there.

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  1. Pauli O 16,470 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-10-09T02:31:13.92+00:00

    If your Windows 11 21.996.1 refer to Windows build 21996.1 that is early, pre-release internal build of Windows 11 that was leaked online June 15, 2021, just days before Microsoft’s official announcement and it's not officiall supported Windows version.

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  2. maroner pierre 65 Reputation points
    2026-10-13T04:19:37.09+00:00

    This is the only original copy in my computer?,

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